Restriction on import of peas extended by import policy amendment; imports now recorded as 'Restricted' under Chapter Seven import controls.
The Central Government amended the Import Policy for Chapter 7 to place peas (Pisum sativum) under a Restricted import entry for the relevant Exim Code, with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade issuing a trade notice to communicate the notification and its commencement. Imports of peas must comply with the revised restricted import policy entry as recorded in Schedule 1 (Import Policy).

MEIS rate increase for fresh onions announced, enhancing export reward eligibility for qualifying shipments under a public notice.
An amendment to Appendix 3B, Table 2 of the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme increases the MEIS reward rate for Onions, Fresh or Chilled for exports made from the date of publication of the Public Notice until 30 June 2019, with immediate effect.

Self-contained minutes requirements to record items, HS codes, quantities, UOM and FOB/CIF values for transparency and reuse.
Minutes of Norms Committees must be self-contained and include export and import items with ITS(HS) codes where feasible, list quantities, unit of measure and FOB/CIF values instead of stating "as applied for," and, for any amendments to ad-hoc norms, reproduce complete details rather than only the amended portion to ensure transparency and enable reuse for advance authorisations.

Ratified norms validity extended; other applicants may use those norms to obtain advance authorizations during their validity.
Norms ratified by any Norms Committee on or after 01.04.2015 for Advance Authorizations under paragraph 4.07 shall be valid for the remainder of the Foreign Trade Policy period or for three years from ratification, whichever is later, and, since the Norms Committee decisions are published as minutes on the DGFT website, other applicants for Advance Authorization are eligible to apply for and obtain authorizations based on those ratified norms on a repeat basis during their validity.

Advance Authorisation revalidation: second six month revalidation permitted to align imports with fulfilled export obligation via online form.
Regional Authorities may grant a first six month revalidation of an Advance Authorisation and a further second six month revalidation from the expiry of the first where required to make imports proportionate to export obligation already fulfilled; both revalidation requests must be filed online in ANF 4D. The change amends the Handbook of Procedures under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy to provide the second six month revalidation facility for original authorisation holders.

Definition of raw sugar clarified as specific HS classifications for preferential TRQ export to the USA.
The term raw cane sugar is defined for TRQ purposes as all kinds of raw cane sugar having HS Code 170113 and 170114 at six digit level, replacing the generic reference to "raw sugar" in the allocation procedure, and thereby notifying those six digit HS classifications as the operative product description for preferential export under the Tariff Rate Quota to the USA.

EPCG import permissions expanded to allow PUF panels for chilled/cold storage for export and furniture for hospitals.
Amendment to Appendix 5F permits pre fabricated Polyurethane Foam (PUF) panels/doors for use in chilled rooms and cold storages set up by processing units for storage of pre frozen and frozen marine products meant for export under the EPCG Scheme, and permits furniture, fixtures, flooring and furnishing materials for hospitals, thereby expanding permitted capital goods imports under the EPCG framework.

MEIS eligibility updated for Sal Oil, Kokam Oil and Mango Butter, granting export incentive benefits.
Two HS codes have been added to Appendix 3B, Table 2 of the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), making Sal oil (Kokam) and Mango Butter (cultivated) eligible for MEIS benefits at the prescribed rate for exports made from the date of publication. Eligibility is contingent on the Shipping Bill description matching the Table 2 description; the entries are also added to the Annexure of the earlier public notice.

Importer Exporter Code issuance requires firm-name IEC, address proof and pre-printed cancelled cheque or bank certificate.
The IEC is issued in the name of the firm; the person submitting the application is recorded as the applicant whose mobile and email are used for verification. Two documents must be uploaded: address proof of the firm (specified list) and either a pre-printed cancelled cheque or a bank certificate in the prescribed format. If address documents are in another name, an NOC from that name in favour of the firm is also required. Proprietorships may use proprietor-name evidence and proprietor-name cheques.

Re-export authorisations for imported SCOMET items to original supplier or OEM allowed subject to documentary and risk conditions.
Authorisations for re-export or return of imported SCOMET items to the original foreign supplier or OEM are permitted where reasons like obsolescence, order cancellation, or dead-on-arrival are proven; applications must include proof of import, evidence supporting the reason for return, proof of contractual obligation to return, and an undertaking specifying items and SCOMET category. No End Use or End Use Certificate is required, exports to UNSC sanctioned or high risk entities are prohibited, and approvals are granted by the Chairman IMWG and later placed before IMWG for confirmation.

Exhibition exhibits import-export rule permits temporary entry without authorisation when bond or ATA Carnet provided.
Exhibits and construction or decorative materials required for temporary exhibition stands may be imported or exported on a re-export/re-import basis without authorisation upon submission of a bond or security to Customs or an ATA Carnet; items in the 'Prohibited' category or on the SCOMET List are excluded from this facility.

Import quota correction: errata revises pet coke import allocation and imposes environmental guideline compliance for imports.
Errata to Public Notice No.50/2015-2020 amends the subject to specify Raw Pet Coke allocation for CPC manufacturing, requires imports to comply with Ministry of Environment guidelines, corrects the CPC manufacturing industry allocation to 0.7 Million MT, and limits relevant import authorisations' validity to 31.3.2019.

Territorial jurisdiction revised for DGFT Regional Authorities altering RA boundaries and specified district and UT inclusions.
Revision of territorial jurisdiction for DGFT Regional Authorities amending Appendix 1A: Ludhiana's jurisdiction covers Punjab with specified district exclusions; Mumbai's jurisdiction covers Maharashtra areas not allocated to Pune or Nagpur RAs and includes Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Goa; Chennai's jurisdiction covers Tamil Nadu excluding areas under Madurai and Coimbatore RAs and includes the Union Territory territories of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. The changes take immediate effect.

MEIS dispatch tracking lets exporters view Speed Post dispatch particulars while RAs update records in the MEIS module.
A system-driven automated approval of MEIS claims is operational and RAs must record Speed Post number and date in the R & I online module (File Update Speed Post details); exporters can view these dispatch particulars via the DGFT MEIS ECOM module under Query Dispatch details Select File No to track MEIS shipments.

Amendment to MEIS appendix: addition and correction of HS codes altering export incentive eligibility under scheme
A new HS code 38123100 (mixtures of oligomers of TMQ) is added to MEIS Appendix 3B Table 2 with the rate specified in the Public Notice, effective for exports from 01.01.2017; concurrently, HS codes at serial 3115 and 4284 are amended from 50079000 to 50079090 and from 63049220 to 63049229 respectively, effecting technical corrections to tariff classifications for MEIS applicability.

BIS licensed refineries and mints: Appendix added to Foreign Trade Policy listing authorised units for trade compliance.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has inserted Appendix 2X into the Appendices and Aayat Niryat Forms of the Foreign Trade Policy to list refineries and mints that have obtained BIS licence, specifying firm names, BIS licence numbers and licence validity dates as compiled from the BIS website, thereby establishing an official registry for administrative reference and trade compliance.

Certificate of Origin fees established; preferential issuance and post verification under trade agreements now subject to prescribed fee rules.
Fees are now chargeable for issuance of preferential Certificates of Origin and for post verification of self certified Rules of Origin certificates under Free Trade Agreements, as detailed in Appendix 2K. Tatkal certificates are discontinued and certificates will be delivered within one working day. REX self certification for EU GSP remains free for registration; competent local authorities will undertake post verification on request and may charge the prescribed fee and recover TA/DA from exporters.

Preferential Certificate of Origin fees established and post verification charges under EU GSP defined for single and multiple units.
Appendix 2K of the FTP, 2015-2020 is amended to prescribe application fees: a fee for issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin and fees for post verification of self certified Certificates of Origin under EU GSP and verification under other FTAs; agencies may charge TA and DA from the unit as per government rates.

Wastage norms and value addition prescribed for gold religious idols clarifying separate treatment for plain and studded items.
Prescribes wastage norms and value addition for gold religious idols (gods and goddess) of the stated carat eligibility by adding specific wastage percentages for plain and studded items to Para 4.60 and distinct value-add thresholds for plain, colour-gem-studded, and diamond-studded idols to Para 4.61 of the Handbook of Procedures 2015-20, thereby establishing manufacturing loss allowances and processing value-add criteria for export compliance.

Import quota allocation for pet coke limited by court order; DGFT sets application, environmental consent and reporting rules.
Import quota allocation for Calcined Pet Coke and Raw Pet Coke is implemented under a Supreme Court limit, with half the annual ceiling available for the current fiscal year. Eligible industrial users must apply to DGFT using ANF 2M and ANF-1, provide unit capacity and SPCB/PCC consent, pay the fee and submit documents by email. The Exim Facilitation Committee will allot quota and Regional Authorities will issue time-limited import authorizations; licensees must report consignments, return unutilised quota for redistribution, and submit a consolidated post-import report.