Addition of Rough Marble Blocks/Slabs to Para 4.7 expands goods classified within the Handbook of Procedures.
Amendment adds Rough Marble Blocks/ Slabs as item vii to Para 4.7 of the Handbook of Procedures (Vol.1), 2009-14 by Public Notice issued under powers vested in the Foreign Trade Policy, thereby formally classifying those products within the paragraph's list of goods.

Certification authority designated: Export Inspection Council authorised to issue origin and trade-preference certificates under specified trade agreements.
Amendment to Appendix 4D of the Handbook (Vol. I) designates the Export Inspection Council, through its field offices known as Export Inspection Agencies (57 offices), as the authority authorised to issue certifications for the Global System of Trade Preferences, India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, certificates of origin under the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement, and the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, made under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014.

Export permission for edible oil in branded consumer packs allowed subject to port restrictions and weekly reporting requirements.
Export of edible oils is permitted in branded consumer packs not exceeding 5 kg per pack, subject to an aggregate ceiling of 10,000 tons for the licence period and restricted to shipments from Customs EDI-enabled ports. Weekly reports stating quantities (in kilograms), values (in local currency) and ITC (HS) codes must be submitted by Customs and the government statistical agency to the central trade authority to monitor compliance with the ceiling.

Port of Registration amendment adds specified seaports, airports, ICDs and LCSs under Foreign Trade Policy registration rules.
Director General of Foreign Trade amends paragraph 4.19 of Handbook of Procedures, vol. I under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy by adding specified seaports, airports, Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and Land Customs Stations (LCSs) to the list of locations for Port of Registration, listing the exact entries appended to each category and noting the amendment is issued in public interest.

Amendment to focus products list updates handloom product classifications, adding and deleting specified HS codes.
Amendment to the Focus Products list in Appendix 37D, Handbook of Procedures Vol. I: under HANDLOOM PRODUCTS, ITC (HS) code 52091113 is added after 52091112 and ITC (HS) code 52091119 is deleted. The modification is effected by Public Notice No. 24/2009-14 issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade for publication in the Gazette.

Admissibility of DEPB benefits: value added doormats are excluded from the DEPB entry for rubber compounded sheets.
Admissibility of DEPB entry number 507 for Rubber Compounded Sheets/Rings/Gasket is limited to that specific product and excludes doormats/rubber mats. The DEPB Committee found doormats to be value added with higher export prices; DEPB rates and value caps for entry 507 were calculated for the upstream product only, so exporters of doormats/rubber mats cannot claim benefits under that entry. DGFT issued a clarification implementing the Committee's recommendation.

Value addition requirement: revalidation of advance authorizations must meet the higher of prescribed minimum or authorization stipulation.
Revalidation of advance authorizations issued before 27 August 2009 requires maintaining value addition at fifteen percent as per the Foreign Trade Policy provisions or the higher rate stipulated in the advance authorization, whichever is higher; this clause is added to paragraph 4.23 of the Handbook of Procedures, Vol. I.

Authorization to issue trade preference and origin certificates expanded to Export Inspection Agencies under amended trade policy.
Appendix 4D designates the Export Inspection Council's field offices, operating as Export Inspection Agencies, as the authorised issuers of certification for the Global System of Trade Preferences, India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement certification, and Certificates of Origin under the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement, effected by public notice under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy.

Finished leather export norms impose specified manufacturing, testing and certification requirements enabling license-free export under defined conditions.
DGFT lists thirteen categories of finished leather that may be exported without a licence subject to specified manufacturing operations (tanning, dyeing where applicable, fatliquoring and finishing) and category-specific conditions, including chromatographic testing for dye presence, microscopic examination for finishing and wax, spectrophotometric criteria for burnishable and pull-up effects, and certification/testing by the Central Leather Research Institute for new types.

Jurisdictional reallocation of agarbattis shifts export council oversight to EPCH under Foreign Trade Policy amendment.
The product Agarbattis is removed from the jurisdiction of Basic Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics Export Promotion Council (CHEMEXCIL) and allocated to the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) in Appendix 2 of the Handbook of Procedures Vol. I, by an amendment made under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014 and issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade.

Standard Input Output Norms amendment substitutes import item descriptions, updating SION entries C1708 and C1789.
Director General issues amendments to the Handbook of Procedures, Vol. II, substituting import item descriptions: for SION Entry C-1708, item no. 6 is replaced with "Plywood / Pine Lumber / FIR Lumber"; for SION Entry C-1789, item no. 1 is replaced with "Relevant Woven Wire Cloth in SS 316L / SS 904L".

EPCG authorization eligibility expanded to permit applications from branch offices and manufacturing units to regional authorities.
EPCG authorization applications may be submitted by a Regional Office, Head Office, Branch Office, or Manufacturing Unit of an eligible exporter to the concerned Regional Authority. Paras 4.2 and 4.3 of HBP Vol.-1 apply mutatis mutandis to the EPCG scheme, so the same conditions and procedural checks in those provisions govern issuance of EPCG authorizations when applications are made by such offices or units.

SION amendment corrects import item description permitting Sodium Dithionite imports linked to finished leather export norms.
Amendment corrects the Standard Input Output Norms (SION) entry G-7 in the Handbook of Procedures, Vol. II by rectifying a spelling mistake in import item S.No.20. The Public Notice updates Annexure A to record the import description as Sodium Dithionite (Hydrose) and specifies the allowed import quantity corresponding to the export item Finished Leather from Hide of Cow/Buffalo.

EPCG redemption: Foreign exchange to be counted under FTP Chapter Five; Circular 25 is inapplicable to EPCG authorizations.
Circular No. 25 (SFIS) is not applicable to the EPCG Scheme; EPCG authorizations are to be issued and redeemed under Chapter Five of the FTP and HBP Vol. I, and Regional Authorities must not apply the SFIS circular when counting foreign exchange earnings for EPCG redemption.

Metallic scrap import controls require pre shipment inspection and documentation; unshredded scrap limited to designated ports.
Imports of specified metallic waste and scrap are permitted subject to documentation and inspection: shredded scrap may enter through all ports if accompanied by a pre shipment inspection certificate showing radiation levels within natural background and a contract declaring no radioactive contamination; unshredded compressed or loose scrap requires a certificate confirming absence of arms, ammunition or explosive material and verification that the goods meet internationally accepted scrap classification standards, and may be imported only through a listed set of designated ports. Agencies issuing certificates must be listed under Appendix 5 after application and vetting.

RCMC option: status holders may choose an alternative authorized issuer for registration, expanding issuing authority options.
Amendment to paragraph 2.63(ii) of the Handbook of Procedure, Vol. I permits a status holder the option to obtain the Registration cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) from the Federation of Indian Exporters' Organisation as an authorized Registering Authority, under powers of paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy, communicated by public notice dated 10 November 2009.

VKGUY and FPS/FMS benefits allowed on self attested EP shipping bill copies when backed by affidavit, indemnity and bank confirmation.
Applicants seeking VKGUY and FPS/FMS benefits when the original EP cum Exchange Control copy of the Shipping Bill has been negotiated with a bank must submit an Affidavit and Indemnity Bond stating the handover, a confirming letter from the bank, and a self attested photocopy of the Shipping Bill; the Regional Authority will impose an entitlement reduction in accordance with applicable procedure.

Inter-ministerial committee membership expanded to include Department of Financial Services representative, amending prior committee constitution.
Constitution of an Inter-Ministerial Committee to redress exporter issues is administratively modified to add a representative from the Department of Financial Services to the committee's membership, amending the earlier constitution provided by Circular No. 7 dated 16.09.09 and effectuated with the approval of the competent authority.

Value addition requirement limits enhancement of advance authorisations by imposing minimum value add conditions on later exports.
For advance authorisations issued prior to 27.08.2009, enhancement of CIF/FOB value is conditioned on minimum value addition thresholds: where exports occur after 27.08.2009, a minimum value addition of 15% applies to that export component; where exports occurred prior to 27.08.2009, enhancement is subject to a minimum value addition of 15% or the value addition declared in the original application, whichever is lower.

Reduction of Export Obligation: EPCG holders receive proportional relief where sector exports declined, and RAs must re-fix obligations.
Implements relief under Para 5.11.2 of the Handbook of Procedure (2009-14) allowing EPCG Authorization holders in sectors/product groups with a measured export decline in 2008-09 to receive proportional reduction in their Annual Average Export Obligation for 2008-09; a list of affected product groups with percentage declines is enclosed and Regional Authorities are directed to re-fix obligations accordingly.