Export obligation periods clarified with pre-import condition from customs clearance, altering compliance timelines for specified imported inputs.
Amendment to Appendix-4J fixes export obligation periods subject to a pre-import condition measured from customs clearance for specified import items, including differentiated periods for categories of spices, drugs from unregistered sources, tea, coconut oil, silk, raw sugar, precious metals for gem and jewellery, penicillin from unregistered sources, natural rubber, notified SION/norm items, maize, walnut, and wheat. Fabrics under the Special Advance Authorization Scheme have their obligation period counted from authorisation issue and may be extended per the Handbook. Certain items are excluded from the table.

E-Commerce Export Hubs streamline pre-screening, electronic GST to customs linkage, and QR coded package clearance for faster exports.
ECEH operators must electronically capture and validate arriving goods against the GST document, pre screen for description, classification and EXIM policy compliance, modify the GST document if discrepancies arise, and feed validation data into Customs Systems. Upon buyer identification the operator files a Shipping Bill linked to pre screened GST documents, coordinates Customs supervised packing with QR coded packages, files Cargo Ready Report, effects goods registration via QR scanning, triggers RMS assessment or examination as required, and facilitates transshipment and export reporting to establish GST compliance.

Waiver of destruction certificate: shipping bills accepted and re export rules relaxed, duty and interest remain payable.
Paragraph 4.49(g)(i) and (ii) now permit submission of all types of shipping bills in lieu of a destruction certificate and remove the requirement to re export unutilised duty free imported drugs to the same supplier; exports after the Export Obligation period that match the Advance Authorisation's description can substitute for a destruction certificate but do not waive liability for applicable customs duty and interest on the unutilised quantity.

Certificate of Origin system upgrade: new eCoO platform operational, migration timelines and onboarding requirements for issuers.
Launch of Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 establishes a revamped platform with multi-user IEC access, Aadhaar e-sign options, integrated dashboard and e-wallet. Issuing agencies must onboard, appoint Administrators and Officers, upload stamps and signature images (background removed), register digital signature tokens, and map officers to regional offices. Legacy eCoO 1.0 will complete pending applications while new non-preferential filings move to eCoO 2.0; preferential CoO remains on legacy system until rollover. DGFT website credentials will sync with eCoO 2.0. Wallet balances migration will occur later; support materials and helpdesk are provided.

eBRC API integration enables exporters to certify electronic BRCs via ERP linkage and bulk uploads.
The DGFT requires exporters to self-certify eBRCs by reconciling bank-provided IRMs with invoice or Shipping Bill details on the DGFT portal. It introduces a bulk upload spreadsheet template for concurrent certification of multiple eBRCs and an API integration to link exporter ERP/accounting systems with the eBRC system for near-real-time retrieval of IRM/ORM data and eBRC request/verification. API use requires online registration authenticated to the IEC holder and places responsibility on exporters for managing API consumer access; compliance must follow DGFT eBRC generation rules and data validation requirements.

Delegation of approval powers allows senior nominated officers to issue SCOMET authorizations when agencies concur, subject to ex post facto IMWG review.
Amendment permits issuance of SCOMET authorizations, in cases deferred by IMWG where all agencies submit concordant comments/views/NOCs, with approval of the Chairman or an officer nominated by the Chairman/DGFT (not below the rank of Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade/Under Secretary), subject to bringing such cases before IMWG subsequently for approval on an ex post facto basis.

Export policy harmonisation: Chapters 40-98 mapped to 8 digit ITC(HS) codes; comments due 11 Aug; no substantive changes.
DGFT proposes harmonising Chapters 40-98 of Schedule II (Export Policy) by mapping the description based export policy to 8 digit ITC(HS) codes as a concordance without substantive policy change; stakeholders may comment by 11.08.2024 and, subject to comments, the chapters will be re notified. The draft retains existing export statuses (Free/Restricted/Prohibited) and chapter specific policy conditions, including documentary, certification and authorisation requirements for selected items (for example forest products, sawn timber from imported logs, and items produced from animal by products).

Abeyance of regulatory amendment: Public Notice kept in abeyance; prior wastage norms and SIONs restored for interim reassessment.
DGFT places Public Notice No. 05/2024 in abeyance until 31 August 2024 under powers of the Foreign Trade Policy; prior wastage norms in the Handbook of Procedures 2023 and SIONs M1 to M7 are restored for the interim period while permissible wastages and SIONs are reassessed following representations from the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council.

Steel import monitoring: new SIMS portal replaces old system; importers must file registrations on the new platform.
The Ministry of Steel is launching SIMS 2.0 at https://sims.steel.gov.in from 25.07.2024 at 2:00 pm, discontinuing SIMS 1.0 on the DGFT website immediately while preserving access to previously submitted SIMS 1.0 applications for viewing or download; importers must file new SIMS applications on SIMS 2.0 and may use the provided helpdesk telephone numbers and email for assistance.

Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme: installation certificate timelines and composition fee regimes revised to ease compliance.
The Handbook of Procedures is amended to extend the installation certificate submission period from six months to three years with RA granted further extension up to the valid EO period on payment of an annual composition fee; spares provision deleted. Tiered fixed composition fee schedules replace earlier fee rules for extension and regularisation of first block EO, apply retrospectively to FTP (2015-20) authorisations, and non refundability of paid composition fees is reiterated. Extensions beyond six years may be granted as two one year extensions or two years in one go, subject to specified composition fees and PRC levy rules.

Unique Document Identification Number verification enables immediate online authenticity checks of DGFT-issued electronic documents via the official portal.
A Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) embossed on each electronically-issued DGFT document may be entered on the DGFT website (Services Info for Customs Authorities Verify UDIN) without login credentials to download the complete electronic document; the downloaded electronic copy is authoritative for comparing and verifying any paper copy.

Composition fee for value-add shortfall reduced, lowering penalty obligation for exporters under authorisation when value addition is below minimum.
Amendment revises Para 4.49(b) of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023: where the Export Obligation is fulfilled in quantity but Value Addition falls below the minimum prescribed, the Authorisation holder must deposit a reduced composition amount calculated as a percentage of the FOB value shortfall, payable in Indian Rupees online via the DGFT website; the change lowers the composition fee to streamline compliance.

Interest Equalisation Scheme extension clarified: cap per IEC specified, applies only to MSME manufacturer exporters, no new UIN.
Clarification to the extended Interest Equalisation Scheme for Pre and Post shipment Rupee Export Credit caps the benefit at Rs. 1.66 crore per IEC for 1 July 2024 to 31 August 2024, restricts applicability to MSME Manufacturer Exporters eligible for the 3% IES benefit (excluding MSME merchant exporters eligible for 2%), and confirms no revised UIN is required where a FY 2024-2025 UIN already exists.

Interest Equalisation Scheme extension: relief confined to MSME exporters for a short capped period; non MSME claims excluded.
Extension of the Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre and post shipment rupee export credit is granted for an additional two months to 31 August 2024, applicable only to exporters qualifying as MSMEs, operating as a fund limited measure with a capped outlay and otherwise on the same terms and conditions; claims from non MSME exporters will not be entertained beyond the prior cut off date and RBI guidelines remain applicable.

Tariff Rate Quota scheme updated to specify covered imports, quotas and eligible applicants under amended procedure.
Amendments revise the procedure for imports under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) Scheme, mandating compliance with the stated Customs Notification and specifying HS-coded agricultural and dairy products with allocated TRQ quantities. Eligibility for quota allocation is tied to listed entities by commodity: dairy cooperatives for milk powder/cream; national and state agricultural cooperatives for maize; and dairy bodies, national agricultural cooperative, Central Warehousing Corporation, and state cooperatives for oils. Maize TRQ remains subject to a judicial order that conditions imports.

Addition of areas of operation for pre shipment inspection agencies expands authorised jurisdictions; agencies must update certificates and contacts.
The DGFT, under the Foreign Trade Policy and the Handbook of Procedure, 2023, adds areas of operation for nineteen specified Pre Shipment Inspection Agencies to Appendix 2G in terms of Para 2.52(c), with immediate effect. The notice expands each agency's authorised jurisdictions and branch listings and requires the notified agencies to update their MRAI/ISRI/IFIA membership certificates and office addresses/contact details within a short compliance period to maintain accurate records.

SEZ import exclusion: specified jewellery items excluded from the recent import restriction when brought by SEZ units.
Administrative clarification: imports of the specified jewellery items falling under the cited ITC (HS) classifications, when imported by SEZ units other than FTWZ units, are outside the scope of the earlier import restriction notification, relying on the applicable SEZ regulatory provisions to exempt such imports from that notification.

Export obligation periods under Appendix 4J revised, changing pre import timelines for specified inputs and advance authorisations.
Amendments revise the Export Obligation Periods in Appendix 4J of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023, prescribing new timelines measured from the date of clearance of each import consignment by Customs for specified inputs under pre import conditions and Advance Authorisations. The Public Notice lists the revised periods for each listed import item, confirms immediate effect of the amendments, and invites stakeholder comments within fifteen days to the DGFT email address provided.

Import restriction clarification: re import of unsold exhibition jewellery may be cleared without import licences under export provisions.
DGFT clarifies that re-importation of unsold jewellery exported for exhibition under Handbook export provisions may be cleared by customs without import licences, subject to applicable customs procedures, notwithstanding a recent amendment changing certain jewellery items from Free to Restricted import classification.

RCMC requirement for medical devices: temporary issuance by existing EPCs to preserve RoDTEP eligibility and customs clearance.
RCMC issuance for medical devices is temporarily delegated to existing Export Promotion Councils until the dedicated EPC for Medical Devices becomes operational and onboards the DGFT Common Digital Platform; Customs must accept such RCMCs to preserve RoDTEP eligibility and facilitate export clearance.