Extension of recognition validity for Pre shipment Inspection Agencies, providing a short-term administrative continuation of recognition status.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy and relaxing Para 2.55(d) of the Handbook of Procedure, extends the recognition validity of Pre-shipment Inspection Agencies (PSIAs) listed in Appendix 2G of A&ANF whose tenure expired on 31.12.2019 (including those previously extended to that date) further up to 31.03.2020.

Terminology correction: 'millers/refiners' replaces 'millers/traders' to clarify beneficiary scope under the trade notice administrative guidance.
Corrigendum rectifies a typographical error in paragraph 2 of the earlier trade notice by replacing the phrase "millers/traders" with "millers/refiners", clarifying that the operative reference applies to millers and refiners rather than traders.

Export authorisation for SCOMET items: temporary demo and exhibition exports allowed subject to conditions, approvals, and return obligations.
Amendment to Para 2.79D sets procedures for temporary export authorisations of SCOMET items for demo/display/exhibition/tenders/RFP/RFQ/NIT: Chairman IMWG grants approvals subject to no end user certificate, no commercial transactions, prohibition of transfers to UNSC sanctioned or high risk destinations, limits on quantities, and submission of event proof, participation documents and a firm undertaking that items remain in exporter custody and will be returned with Bill of Entry within the prescribed period. Imported items may be re exported to the original supplier or OEM on proof of import and undertakings; other foreign recipients require additional verification. All authorisations are placed before IMWG ex post facto.

HSN code correction for Urad imports requires applicants to use the revised classification in quota applications.
Corrigendum rectifies the Exim/HSN code from 0713 31 90 to 0713 31 10 and amends the item description from Vigna radiata to Vigna mungo, effective upon Gazette publication; Trade Notice No. 44/2019-2020 requires applicants for the additional Urad import quota to state HSN code 07133110 when applying for the quota.

Radiation Portal Monitors compliance extended; non-compliant ports to be derecognised for import of un-shredded metallic scrap.
DGFT extends the deadline for installation and operationalisation of Radiation Portal Monitors and Container Scanners at designated sea ports to 31.03.2020; ports failing to comply by that date will be derecognised for the import of un shredded metallic scrap effective 01.04.2020.

Import quota allocation for urad expanded; millers and refiners must apply online with capacity proof and meet the deadline.
Allocation of additional urad import quota for fiscal year 2019-20 is restricted to Millers/Refiners with documented refining/processing capacity who must submit ANF-2M online plus a copy by email, pay the prescribed fee, and submit a self certified capacity certificate. One application per IEC is allowed. The EFC will allocate quota considering processing capacity, quantity applied for and number of applicants; available quota will be distributed equally or up to the applied quantity, and successful applicants must ensure consignments reach Indian ports by the fiscal year end without extension.

Import quota on Urad pulses restricts imports to millers and refiners under DGFT procedure, with treaty exemptions.
Import of Urad is restricted and subject to an annual quota, with imports under the quota permitted only to Millers/Refiners pursuant to procedures to be notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade; the restriction excludes Government import commitments under bilateral or regional agreements or memoranda of understanding.

Proof of exports requirement amended to permit self attested Exporter's shipping bill copy in place of E.P. copy.
Para 4.68(a) of the Handbook of Procedures 2015-20 is amended to allow submission of a self attested Exporter's copy of the shipping bill as proof of exports for gold, silver and platinum jewellery and articles, in place of the E.P. copy. The remaining proof of export requirements-customs attested tax invoice under GST rules and bank certificate/e BRC of realization in Appendix 2U-remain unchanged.

Preferential Certificate of Origin must be filed and issued through the online platform for Nepal exports under SAFTA and SAPTA.
Preferential Certificate of Origin for exports to Nepal under SAFTA and SAPTA must be applied for and issued only via the DGFT online CoO platform. Exporters must register on the portal, use a Class II or Class III digital signature embedding the firm's IEC for electronic verification, and ensure IEC details in the DGFT-IEC database are up to date. The portal provides registration guidance, auto-populates certificate fields from IEC data, and offers support through manuals, FAQs, a complaint ticket system, a toll free helpline and an email helpdesk.

Additional MEIS benefit limited to exports with let export date until year-end, with annexed product exceptions.
The Director General of Foreign Trade limits previously notified additional 2% MEIS incentive rates to exports with Let Export date until 31 December 2019, except for the product entries listed in the annexure; this amendment modifies Appendix 3B, Table 2 and confirms that the incremental benefit notified earlier will not apply after the stated Let Export date save for the annexed ITC HS codes.

Pre-shipment inspection agency recognition: new agencies added with limited validity subject to compliance and bank guarantee.
Specified private and international entities are added to Appendix 2G as Pre Shipment Inspection Agencies authorised to issue Pre Shipment Inspection Certificates under the HBP regime; approval is conditional on listed instrument calibration and documentation. Recognition is limited (three years or until earlier notification) and the PSIC scheme will end after installation of equipment at entry ports by the stated deadline. Agencies must submit outstanding Bank Guarantees by the cut off date and keep membership certificates and contact details current as a condition of continued recognition.

Onion import facilitation to bolster domestic supply and mandate expeditious customs clearance of consignments.
Allowance of onion imports to augment domestic supply and check retail prices by directing expedited clearance of import consignments. The Government, having imposed an export prohibition on onions, has authorised imports as a supply-side measure and emphasised the need for rapid processing at ports to restore market availability, instructing Customs field formations to issue suitable directions for expeditious customs clearance.

Service export reporting: STP units must file monthly SERF returns to capture specified services export data.
STP units must file monthly the Service Exports Reporting Form (SERF) prescribed in Annexure VI of Appendix 6E to the designated officer in STP, reporting services classified in Annexure V. The amendment inserts Clause 6(A) into Appendix 6E and adds Annexures V and VI, while retaining existing requirements for EOUs/EHTP/STP/BTP to maintain accounts and file digitally signed quarterly and annual reports to the designated officer and Customs/Central Excise authorities.

Certificate of Origin authorization expanded: new agency authorised and regional chamber name updated, affecting Appendix listings.
Authorization is granted to a Delhi trade body to issue Certificate of Origin (Non Preferential) and is added to the Appendix list of authorised agencies. The public notice also amends the Appendix listings by changing a regional federation's recorded name from a combined state designation to a Telangana only designation, removing the prior entry and inserting the updated entry in the Handbook of Procedures.

Exporters must update incorrect PAN or resolve duplicate IECs by the deadline or face suspension and deactivation.
IECs with incorrect PAN or where multiple IECs exist against the same PAN must be corrected by written application to the jurisdictional RA: incorrect PANs require a letter on IEC letterhead with a self certified PAN copy (changes not permitted via the online module); duplicate IECs require separate written requests to suspend/cancel other IECs, with RAs to take action after due diligence and to suspend multiple IECs if no holder request is received, permitting reactivation only on written request with required documents. Representations or personal hearings may be submitted if correction cannot be completed before the deadline.

Designated port restriction for scrap imports now includes Kattupalli; scrap consignments must enter only through listed ports.
Enlistment of Kattupalli Port as a designated port is effected by amendment to Para 2.54(d)(iv) of the Handbook of Procedure (2015-20): import of scrap is permitted only through the listed designated ports, with Kattupalli added to the list, and no exceptions are allowed including for EOUs and SEZs, under powers conferred by paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy.

Tariff rate quota for crude soya oil under India Mercosur PTA allows imports subject to origin and pre purchase requirements.
A tariff rate quota of 30,000 MT for Crude Soya Oil (HS 1507 10 00) from Paraguay under the India Mercosur PTA is established and incorporated into Appendix 2A. Imports under the TRQ must comply with Customs Notification No. 57/2009, require a pre purchase agreement with an eligible Paraguayan exporter, and a Certificate of Origin for clearance. Import authorizations must be filed electronically in prescribed ANF forms by 28 February for allocation in the next financial year, with allocation divided equally among eligible applicants and the quota measured by the Indian financial year (1 April-31 March).

Import deadline extension for Toor pulses; Urad and Moong deadlines remain unchanged; non-compliance invites FTDR Act proceedings.
The competent authority extended the import arrival deadline for Toor pulses to 15th November, 2019, while the original deadline for Urad and Moong remains unchanged. Importers holding quotas who fail to import by the respective deadlines will face debarment from future quota allotment and initiation of proceedings under the FTDR Act.

Territorial jurisdiction update: Revised regional jurisdictions for DGFT notified, redefining Regional Authorities' territorial coverage and administration.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, issues a Public Notice revising Appendix amendments to Appendix 1A and thereby notifies revised territorial jurisdictions for DGFT Headquarters and its Regional, Joint, Additional and Deputy Directorates. The amendment reallocates States, Union Territories, districts and specified local areas to particular Regional Authorities, aligns the change with O & M Instructions Nos. 7/2019 and 8/2019, and incorporates the revised Appendix into the Appendices and Aayat Niryat Forms for administrative and licensing purposes.

Drawback rate amendment: refund of duty-paid inputs allowed at All Industry Rate; brand-rate claims require formal application.
Amendment of Chapter 7 removes the words 'basic custom' from paragraph 7.02 and revises paragraph 7.06 to require applications in the prescribed form with supporting documents to the RA or DC for fixation of brand rate; it clarifies brand rate claims where basic customs duty paid is relied upon. It reaffirms that drawback is normally payable at the All Industry Rate where no CENVAT credit was availed by the supplier, and permits applications for brand rate where the All Industry Rate is unavailable or is less than four fifths of duties actually paid on inputs; refund of drawback on duty paid on inputs is allowed on the All Industry Rate.