Deletion of Panama from Country Group-C under MEIS corrects duplicate listing and alters exporters' reward eligibility.
Deletion of Panama from Country Group-C under the MEIS Schedule removes the entry "Panama" (Serial No.50) from Table 1 of Appendix 3B, leaving "Panama Republic" in Country Group-B, thereby clarifying country classification for application of MEIS incentives. The deletion is made under paragraph 1.03 read with paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 and is effective from the date of the Schedule's initial notification.

Rescission of border trade notices ends the special Indo Myanmar tradable items regime and restores normal cross border trade.
Rescission withdraws the prior notified special list of tradable items for Indo-Myanmar border trade at Moreh and rescinds all prior Public Notices on Indo-Myanmar border trade, effectuating transition from the special border-trade framework to normal cross-border trade under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy.

Standard Input Output Norms amended: specified import quantity added for rubber product exports alongside existing value limit.
Amendment to Standard Input Output Norms A1663 replaces the 'NIL' entry for Miscellaneous Chemicals at S. No. 10 with a prescribed import quantity of 6.6425 Kg for inputs used in exporting All Types Steel Truck Radial Tyres (Tube Type) per 100 kgs, and specifies that this quantified import requirement applies in addition to the value-wise limit already prescribed in General Notes S. No. 8.

Laboratory enlistment procedure expanded: applications for laboratory authorisation now processed under applicable FTP enlistment provisions.
Amendment revises paragraph 4.76 so that, based on an Inspection Report and recommendations, a concerned laboratory may be considered for inclusion in either paragraph 4.42 or 4.43 of the Foreign Trade Policy. Consequently, paragraph 4.76 will cover the procedure for processing applications for enlistment or authorisation of laboratories stated in paragraph 4.42 of the Foreign Trade Policy.

Average Export Obligation relief where sector exports decline, obliging regional authorities to re fix EPCG authorisation obligations.
Para 5.19 of HBP (FTP 2015 20) allows re fixation of Annual Average Export Obligation where sector/product exports decline by more than five percent; Regional Authorities must re fix EO for EPCG authorisations for 2014 15, endorse reductions in licence files and amendment sheets, and apply prior policy circulars (under Para 5.11.2 HBP 2009 14) when considering discharge or shortfall before issuing demand notices, including this stipulation in the EODC check sheet.

Focus Product Scheme eligibility limited to bicycle parts; non bicycle items are ineligible and scrips may be recovered.
Clarification: the Focus Product Scheme incentive for the tariff entry at Sl. No. 269 of Appendix 37 D (ITC HS 8481) was intended only for parts used on bicycles; other items appearing in the same description, including industrial valves not serving as bicycle parts, are not eligible. The scheme has ended, and cases where scrips were issued for non bicycle items should be reviewed and corrective action taken to recover erroneously granted claims.

Focus Product Scheme eligibility affirmed for Indian Kabuli Chickpeas, classified as edible vegetables and exempt from the pulse export ban.
The Policy Interpretation Committee concluded that Indian Kabuli Chickpeas are the same as Kabuli Chana, fall under HS subheading 07132000 as direct leguminous vegetables (not roots or tubers), are exempt from the general pulse export ban, and therefore qualify as Edible vegetables eligible for benefits under the Focus Product Scheme of FTP 2009-14; Regional Authorities are to allow FPS benefits and dispose of pending applications.

Declaration of intent under MEIS: procedure allows correcting inadvertent 'N' to claim rewards after documentation verification.
Prescribes a remedial procedure for exports under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme where exporters inadvertently marked 'N' in the reward item box on EDI-generated shipping bills between 1 June 2015 and 30 September 2015 but had declared affirmative intent. DGFT will receive transmitted item-level shipping bill data to enable electronic reward applications. Regional Authorities will verify the declaration of intent on physical Export Promotion (EP) copies before issuing rewards, and CBEC is to transmit affected shipping bills to DGFT, all subject to FTP/HBP provisions.

Interest Equalisation Scheme on Rupee Export Credit lets eligible exporters approach banks to claim retrospective benefits under RBI notification.
The Government's Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit was notified by regulatory circular and is effective from 1 April 2015; eligible exporters who availed such credit on or after that date should contact their banks to expedite decisions and claim benefits under the scheme, with operational details available in the issuing circular and on the central bank's website.

Consumption register requirement amended: importers must maintain specified registers for authorised and actual-user imports under the handbook change.
Importers must maintain a Consumption Register for items imported under an Authorisation and separately for items imported under actual user condition, recording their consumption; the register is to be retained for the period specified and scheme-specific retention periods apply. Appendix-4G is replaced by Appendix-4H.

Enlistment procedure for appendix applications centralized; submissions must now go to the central authority instead of regional offices.
The Public Notice amends Para 2.90(d) of the Handbook of Procedures 2015-2020 to require that agencies seeking enlistment in Appendix 2I submit their applications as per Annexure I to Appendix 2I to the Director General of Foreign Trade instead of to the concerned Regional Authority, thereby centralizing the application filing process.

Additional duty credit scrips available for eligible exporters; submit letter to RA with prior application and shipping bill details.
Eligible exporters who previously claimed Focus Product Scheme benefits but qualify for additional Market Linked Focus Product Scheme duty credit scrips may submit a letter to the concerned Regional Authority with prior application reference, file number, shipping bill details, product description and Public Notice serial number; the RA shall verify the claim and issue a supplementary scrip upon satisfaction.

MEIS reward rate revisions notify additions, amendments and description corrections with immediate effect under the FTP.
Notification updates the MEIS reward schedule in Table 2 of Appendix 3B by adding 110 ITC(HS) lines, amending reward rates for numerous previously notified ITC(HS) lines across country groups A, B and C, and correcting descriptions for specified HS codes. All additions, rate amendments and description corrections are declared to have immediate effect and supersede earlier notified entries, thereby updating the country group based reward entitlements under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme.

Permission for export through inland container depots expanded to additional ICDs; sampling and CLRI testing unchanged.
Permission for export of Finished Leather, Wet Blue and EI Tanned Leather is extended to additional inland container depots, and the existing procedures for drawal of samples and testing and certification by the Central Leather Research Institute continue to apply.

Services Exports from India Scheme extension extends applicable reward period for listed services and preserves other terms.
Amendment to Note 1 of Appendix 3D of Public Notice No. 3/2015-20 extends the period during which the services and notified reward rates under the Services Exports from India Scheme apply, and specifies that the list of services and rates is subject to review from the revised review commencement date; all other contents of the Public Notice remain unchanged.

Allocation of export quotas for sugar ensures duty free shipments under CXL and TRQ with certification and reporting requirements.
Specified quantities of sugar are allocated for export under the CXL Concessions to the EU and under the Tariff Rate Quota to the USA for the stated 2015-2016 period; these exports are duty free subject to notified conditions. Certificates of Origin for EU CXL shipments must be issued by the competent national authority and EUR forms endorsed by Customs at shipment; Certificates of Origin for preferential US shipments, if required, shall be issued by the designated national certifying authority. Reporting obligations under the governing notification remain applicable.

Declaration of intent under MEIS permits submitting physical shipping bills to secure reward claims when 'N' was inadvertently marked.
Declaration of intent under MEIS must be indicated on EDI shipping bills; for exports between 1 April 2015 and 31 May 2015 where 'N' was inadvertently marked, exporters may electronically file MEIS applications and submit physical free shipping bill copies to the RA, which shall examine them and grant rewards in accordance with FTP/HBP; from 1 June 2015 only shipping bills transmitted by Customs to DGFT will be considered for MEIS.

Certificate of Origin authorization: ISSME permitted to issue non-preferential certificates under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Authorization under the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020 adds the specified agency to Appendix 2E as an authorized issuer of Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential), enabling the agency to sign and issue non-preferential Certificates of Origin in accordance with the policy framework and procedural requirements.

Export promotion responsibility shifted for sesame and niger seed to IOPEPC, updating appendices under the foreign trade policy.
The Directorate amends Appendix - 2T to reassign sesame seed and niger seed from the Shellac and Forest Products Export Promotion Council to the Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion Council, updating the Appendices and Aayat Niryat forms so the oilseeds council assumes export promotion responsibility for those commodities.

Temporary import/export exhibits: either Customs bond/security or ATA Carnet now suffices for six month temporary admission without authorisation.
Amendment to Para 2.63(a) permits temporary import/export of freely importable/exportable exhibition exhibits and related construction or decorative materials for up to six months on a re-export/re-import basis without Authorisation upon submission of either a bond/security to Customs or an ATA Carnet, replacing the prior requirement to submit both instruments.