Prohibition on specified leather-industry inputs restricts lactic acid, synthetic resins and hydroxy ethyl cellulose use.
Addition to the Handbook of Procedures (Vol.2) prescribes a footnote under SION G-7 and G-46 for Leather and Leather Products (Product Code G) that bars lactic acid as a deliming agent, prohibits synthetic resins and hydroxy ethyl cellulose across chemical headings, and disallows products labelled as fillers because formulated leather-chemical products (supported by technical data sheets) are used in the leather industry.

Lost shipping bill or BRC procedure permits replacement documents and safeguards for duty free entitlement subject to specified conditions.
A procedure allows acceptance of duplicate or certified copies of lost original EP shipping bills or original BRCs to process EODC, No BG/LUT endorsement under Advance Authorisation/DFIA, or transferability endorsement under DFIA, subject to an application fee, exporter affidavit with surrender undertaking, and an indemnity bond to indemnify the Government; submission of a reconstructed shipping bill exempts the fee, affidavit and indemnity bond requirements.

TED refund claim processing clarified: delayed applications within twelve months processed under amended HBP provision; prior grants not reopened.
Applications filed after six months from the end of the option period but within twelve months of the originally exercised option period, including time-barred, pending or rejected claims, must be processed under the amended HBP provision for delayed TED refund claims. Cases where benefits were already granted with applicable late cut on or before the public notice cutoff are final and shall not be reopened or enhanced.

DEPB rate additions take immediate effect under Foreign Trade Policy powers, adding engineering and chemical products.
Additions to the Schedule of DEPB rates are made effective immediately under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy and Paragraph 1.1 of the Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I), adding DEPB entries for Engineering Products (Product Code 61) - Brass Cages for Ball and Roller Bearings (rate 4), Pressed Ball Bearing Cages (rate 2), Pressed Taper Roller Bearing Cages (rate 5) - and for Chemicals (Product Code 62) - Cefeclor (rate 4).

Handbook amendment adds a recognised chamber listing under the Foreign Trade Policy, updating authorised trade facilitation contacts.
Amendment to the Handbook of Procedures under the Foreign Trade Policy inserts the Greater Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industries with contact details into Appendix-4-C (Gujarat) of Handbook of Procedures Vol. I, the Director General of Foreign Trade making the addition under powers conferred by paragraph 2.4 and issuing the public notice as an administrative update to inform exporters and relevant officials.

Destruction of unregistered imported raw material permitted after payment of customs duty and interest in presence of excise authority.
Unregistered raw material under the Advance Authorisation remains prohibited from domestic consumption, but the holder may use inputs to produce other export goods, re-export the same imported material to any foreign buyer, or destroy inputs/finished products in the presence of the jurisdictional excise authority upon payment of applicable customs duty with interest; documentary evidence must be filed and where the export obligation period has expired, a composition fee is payable to extend the obligation.

Metallic scrap import conditions: pre shipment inspection and designated-port clearance required to permit unshredded consignments only.
Shredded consignments of specified metallic waste and scrap are permitted through all ports; consignments from certain foreign locations must be shredded. Import of unshredded, compressed or loose scrap requires a pre shipment inspection certificate from approved agencies and a contract clause certifying absence of arms, explosives or radioactive contamination and classification as metallic scrap, and such imports must clear only through a prescribed list of designated ports.

Advance authorization restrictions bar use of generic export entries for cotton bed made ups and renumber related notes.
The DGFT adds a General Note forbidding advance authorization for export of Cotton Bed Linen, Bed Covers, Bed Sets, Pillow Covers and Cushion Covers under generic made ups export entries where those exports correspond to specified SION serials within Textiles (Product Code: J), and renumbers earlier General Notes 16 and 17 to become General Notes 18 and 19.

Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojana benefits restored for specified spice and oilseed exports; applications to be reopened and reconsidered.
Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojana benefits are made available retroactively for exports of Cashew, Pepper, Chilly, Cardamom and Sesamum Seeds exported between 1 April 2004 and 31 August 2004, with specified ITC HS codes provided; Regional Authorities are directed to reopen and reconsider rejected applications and to accept filings until the prescribed final cut off date.

New official PIN code allocated for DGFT correspondence; use it to ensure prioritized mail delivery.
An individual postal PIN code has been allocated exclusively for the Directorate General of Foreign Trade's New Delhi headquarters; all regional licensing authorities, exporters and importers are required to use this new PIN in correspondence with DGFT HQ with immediate effect so mails can be segregated and delivered on priority.

Conversion of DTA units to export-oriented status requires approval, legal undertaking and bonded licence; pending authorisations managed accordingly.
Conversion of DTA units into EOU/EHTP/STP/BTP requires project approval and Letter of Permission, execution of a Legal Undertaking with the Development Commissioner, and obtaining a private bonded licence from Customs/Central Excise via a B-17 bond. Outstanding advance authorizations require customs stock verification, submission to the Regional Authority for calculation of unfulfilled export obligation within the valid period, RA no-objection endorsement before bond execution, and payment of duties, interest and penalty where obligation periods have expired. EPCG obligations are added to future export obligation of the EOU.

EDI port applicability narrowed: non-EDI exports require consolidated applications, port registration at export port, no post-scrip splits.
Amendments specify that the cited Handbook procedures apply only to EDI-enabled ports; for non-EDI exports exporters must file a separate consolidated application for all shipments at each non-EDI port (not treated as supplementary even if periodicity repeats), the port of registration shall be the port of export, and the facility of splits shall not be allowed after issue of scrip.

RCMC issuance eased for multi-product exporters in North Eastern States allowing Shellac & Forest Products EPC registration except board-covered products.
Multi product exporters with head office or registered office in the North Eastern States may obtain RCMC from the Shellac & Forest Products Export Promotion Council; products administered by APEDA, the Spices Board and the Tea Board are excluded. This amendment, made under the Foreign Trade Policy powers, adjusts the authorized issuer of RCMC for qualifying exporters while preserving board specific product jurisdictions.

Proof of landing acceptance expanded: tracking report now qualifies for Focus Market Scheme benefits for exports in specified period.
Amendment to the Handbook of Procedures, Vol. I, adds a tracking report from goods carrier evidencing arrival of export cargo at the destination Focus Market as an acceptable additional proof of landing for grant of Focus Market Scheme benefits for exports made during the specified eligibility period, supplementing the documents already prescribed for proof of landing.

End-use certification for boric acid imports: advance authorizations can be deemed End-Use Certificates when Actual User condition is met.
Regional Authorities may endorse an End-Use Certificate clause on Advance Authorizations permitting duty-free import of boric acid for non-insecticidal use where the applicant or supporting manufacturer is an Actual User; the endorsement deems the Advance Authorization as the End-Use Certificate. Authorization holders must account for boric acid quantities at the time of EODC or bond waiver application. Imports solely for re-export with change in physical form remain subject to CIB registration.

Ban on export of non-basmati rice clarified: consignments handed to customs before notification remain exempt from the ban.
Where procedural or policy changes operate to the exporter's disadvantage, they do not apply to consignments already handed over to customs for examination or to exports for which shipping bills were filed and let export dates were given prior to the notification; accordingly the ban on export of non-basmati rice does not apply to such consignments and customs authorities should permit their clearance in line with the Handbook of Procedures exemption.

Revision of Standard Input Output Norms updates product descriptions and import item allowances for exported pharmaceuticals.
The Director General amends the Handbook of Procedures, Vol.2, revising Standard Input Output Norms: correcting SION A-373 to read "Propranolol Hydrochloride" and adding/revising SION entries that specify export products with corresponding permitted import inputs and quantitative input norms for SION A-290 (Metformin HCL with specified inputs) and SION A-60 (Ampicillin Anhydrous from Pen G route with a listed set of input items and allowed quantities).

DEPB addition: rolled aluminium plates and sheets included under export incentive schedule, providing specified duty entitlement under trade policy.
Corrigendum adds a new DEPB schedule entry for rolled aluminium plates, sheets and strips including corrugated forms to the Engineering product list, specifying a DEPB rate and an open value cap; the amendment is issued under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedures and takes effect from the notice date.

Standard Input Output Norms updated to add a SION for heavy weight drill pipes with specified input component norms.
Amendment to the Handbook of Procedures adds a new Standard Input Output Norms entry for heavy weight drill pipes specifying the export item by diameter, length and coating, and prescribing allowed import inputs and their quantitative norms including plain seamless pipe, steel bar stock, coating material, hard banding material and threading inserts per exported unit.

Recognition criteria for agencies issuing Certificates of Origin require specified organisational, staffing and activity standards or risk de listing.
Notification prescribes recognition criteria for agencies authorised to issue Certificates of Origin (Non Preferential) in Appendix 4C: applicants must be non profit entities registered as a Company, Society or Trust (excluding proprietorships/partnerships), have at least 1000 sq. ft. office space, employ a minimum of five payroll staff with at least two technically qualified, and show proof of conducting at least three export promotion events in a licensing year. Regional inspections by an FTDO/Asstt. DGFT officer plus an assistant must verify application details and criteria. Existing enlisted agencies must furnish documentary proof of compliance by the specified deadline or face cancellation and de listing.