Export authorisations for restricted seeds require specified affidavits, declaration of chemical treatment and compliance with seed licensing.
The SOP requires applicants for export authorisations of Restricted Seeds and Planting Materials to submit product specifications, raw material details and affidavits confirming no use of Indian germplasm and compliance with the Biological Diversity Act. Exports as seed quality demand a Seed Control Order dealer license, declaration of chemical treatment and labelling that seeds are not for consumption; non-sowing exports require an affidavit that material is not breeder/foundation/certified seed and is for consumption only.

Import authorisation requirement for low ash metallurgical coke mandates country-wise applications and documentation, with QR allocations and monitoring.
Country-wise quantitative restrictions on low ash metallurgical coke require prior import authorisation filed per supplier country on the DGFT portal with three years of import data, current year imports and source, and production capacity and actual production figures; quantities must cover the full restriction period. A Special Exim Facilitation Committee will allocate quarterly quantities, permit adjustments between quarters for excess or unutilised imports, and require first-quarter utilisation statements and surrender details. Mis-declaration leads to disqualification and DGFT may amend procedures at any time.

Pre Shipment Inspection Agency recognition enables PSIC issuance subject to calibration, bank guarantee and mapping compliance.
Nine agencies are recognised as Pre Shipment Inspection Agencies in Appendix 2G under Para 2.52(c) HBP 2023 and six existing PSIAs are authorised instrument and area additions. These agencies must, within forty five days, submit updated calibration certificates valid for at least six months, provide a valid bank guarantee, furnish additional IMC prescribed documents and update equipment to area mapping on the DGFT portal; approvals remain valid for three years or until earlier DGFT notification.

Advance authorisation for menthol reinstated; import licences may now be issued under specified HS codes.
Reinstates SION/Adhoc norms for import of menthol with immediate effect under the FTP, covering menthol under specified ITC(HS) codes, and directs Regional Authorities and Norms Committees to consider issuance and fixation of Advance Authorization/DFIA and Adhoc norms in accordance with existing policy and procedure.

Electronic filing requirement for Non Preferential Certificates of Origin now mandatory; implementation awaits the rescheduled eCoO 2.0 launch.
Launch of the enhanced Preferential Certificate of Origin platform eCoO 2.0 has been rescheduled to a later date. Separately, electronic filing of Non Preferential Certificates of Origin on the eCoO 2.0 platform is mandated to commence from the prescribed compliance start date, and Non Preferential CoO issuing agencies listed under the FTP appendix and exporters are required to ensure compliance.

Standard Input-Output Norms notification establishes input-output ratios for export of Propionic Anhydride under chemical products.
Notification under paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 fixes SION A-3683 for Propionic Anhydride exports in the Chemical and Allied Product group, prescribing per 1 kg export input quantities: Propionic Acid 1.15 kg and Acetic Acid Glacial 0.500 kg, thereby formalising the input-output ratios to be applied for export compliance.

EPCG third-party export applicability clarified: amendment applied prospectively; export obligation counted only on realised payments.
The amendment to para 5.10(c) of the HBP 2015-20 is prospective: it applies to third-party exports made against EPCG authorisations issued on or after 05.12.2017, while prior exports remain under the earlier policy. Exports up to 04.12.2017 may count the full realised shipping bill value toward EPCG obligations (subject to single counting and Average Export Obligation rules); exports from 05.12.2017 onward count only the actual payment realised through the normal banking channel into the authorisation holder's account.

Terminology correction clarifies export of mechanized jewellery includes manual processes and excludes imported mountings from net content.
The corrigendum amends Note 2 of Public Notice No. 30/2024-2025 by correcting the wording to state that the export of mechanized plain and studded jewellery also includes some manual process, and reiterates that weight of imported mountings and findings of gold or silver used in export products will not be included in determining net content of gold and silver.

Import Management System governs authorised imports of restricted IT hardware, allowing multiple applications and amendments during validity.
Importers must apply for Import Authorisation through the DGFT Import Management System portal within the announced application window; authorisations issued under the IMS are valid until the end of the calendar year. The system permits multiple applications by the same importer and allows requests for amendment to an authorisation during its validity to be submitted on the DGFT website.

Preferential Certificate of Origin modernization: eCoO 2.0 requires new filings, multi-user access, e-sign and e-wallet features.
The eCoO 2.0 platform replaces the legacy system for Preferential Certificate of Origin filings from 21.12.2024, while pending applications up to 20.12.2024 remain on the legacy platform. Authorised agencies must designate an Administrator to manage users, regional offices, payment gateway parameters, upload background-cleared stamps and signatures, map issuing officers and enable e-wallets. Issuing officers must register with official emails, obtain Administrator approval, and register digital signature tokens. Data migration of CoOs and e-wallet balances will follow stabilisation and be notified separately; CoO verification is available via a pre-login verification tool or QR code.

Harmonisation of export policy: DGFT proposes an 8 digit ITC(HS) Schedule II and invites comments by 27 Nov 2024.
DGFT proposes to replace description based export policy with a harmonised Schedule II using 8 digit ITC(HS) codes aligned to Finance Act, 2024 tariff codes; an updated draft for Chapters 01-98 is circulated for consultation, comments invited by 27.11.2024, after which the draft will be finalised and notified. The draft preserves chapter level Free/Restricted/Prohibited classifications and commodity specific policy and licensing conditions referencing CITES, Wild Life (Protection) Act, APEDA registration, pre shipment inspection, health and origin certificates, and specialised certification regimes where applicable.

Standard Input Output Norms notified for Clobetasol Propionate, setting input allowance of Betamethasone under chemical products.
A new Standard Input Output Norms entry SION A-3682 has been notified for Clobetasol Propionate under Chemical and Allied Products, specifying Betamethasone as the permitted input at an allowance of 0.95 kg per 1 kg of exported Clobetasol Propionate, issued under powers of the Foreign Trade Policy to govern exporter entitlement and related compliance.

Port of export amendment: Amritsar Airport added as authorised export point for gold, silver and platinum jewellery shipments.
Amendment adds Amritsar Airport to the authorised ports of export in Para 4.71 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 for exports under schemes of gold, silver and platinum jewellery; airfreight and Foreign Post exports may be effected through Amritsar Customs House in addition to the previously listed Customs Houses, while courier exports through specified Custom Houses remain permitted up to the existing FOB value per consignment.

Exemption from mandatory Quality Control Orders expanded to include inputs imported for export manufacture, effective immediately.
Amendment to Appendix 2Y adds the Ministry of Heavy Industries to the list of Ministries/Departments whose notifications on mandatory Quality Control Orders are exempted by the DGFT for goods imported as inputs to be utilized/consumed in the manufacture of export products by Advance Authorisation holders, EOUs and SEZ units, making the exemption effective immediately.

Wastage norms for jewellery exports revised and input-output norms updated, changing permissible metal content calculations.
The amendment revises permissible wastage percentages for gold, silver and platinum jewellery exports by category and by handcrafted versus mechanised processes, and excludes imported mountings and findings from net content calculation. It also updates SION M-1 to M-8 to set input-to-output ratios for gold, platinum and silver per kilogram of exported jewellery or articles, aligned with the new wastage rates and differentiated by production method.

Abeyance of public notice restores prior wastage norms and SIONs for jewellery exports during interim period.
Public Notice No. 05/2024 modifying wastage and Standard Input-Output Norms for precious-metal jewellery is placed in abeyance until 31st December 2024 under powers of the Foreign Trade Policy. During this interim, pre-existing wastage norms in the Handbook of Procedures and the earlier Standard Input-Output Norms for jewellery items are restored pending finalisation of revised SIONs.

Modification of SION for Shea Stearine: revised import entitlements tied to Shea Nut oil content adjustments.
Modification of SION E-125 prescribes the imported inputs and quantities allowed per 1 MT export of Shea Stearine, provides an oil-content based pro rata adjustment to permitted Shea Nut import quantities, requires Customs to sample and endorse oil content on each bill of entry with regional redemption of authorizations based on weighted averages, and states that import clearances must not be held pending test results; the SION is issued with a defined validity period pending reassessment.

Annual RODTEP Return required for exporters claiming RoDTEP; non-filing suspends benefits and attracts composition fees.
Filing of an Annual RODTEP Return (ARR) is required to assess inputs and actual taxes and duties for RoDTEP claims; eligible exporters must submit ARR in the Appendix-4RR format by the prescribed deadline, with non-reporting leading to denial or suspension of benefits and delayed filing subject to composition fees and eventual resumption conditions. Records substantiating ARR must be retained for the prescribed period and ARRs may be assessed or risk scrutinised, with excess claims liable to refund or surrender and potential cessation of benefits for non regularisation.

Electronic submission of Appendix 4H certificates enables digitally signed certifier uploads, streamlining verification for Advance Authorization and DFIA redemptions.
DGFT has implemented an electronic system for Appendix 4H submission where exporters submit drafts online to registered Certifying Authorities, who may review, amend and digitally sign certificates (Aadhaar e-sign or DSC). Signed Appendix 4H certificates are automatically attached to AA/DFIA redemption applications, stored in a repository for tracking and download, and made accessible to DGFT Regional Authorities for verification.

No Objection Certificate requirement: NOC not required for Acetic Anhydride procured from SEZ units under Certificate of Supplies.
Paragraph 4.08(ii) requires Regional Authorities to endorse Advance Authorisations to designated agencies and impose a condition that an NOC from the Drug Controller and Narcotics Commissioner is obtained before effecting imports. DGFT clarifies that this NOC requirement will not apply where an Advance Authorisation holder procures Acetic Anhydride from a unit located inside an SEZ against a Certificate of Supplies, provided the material is manufactured by that SEZ unit.