Correction to regulatory reference: EO Period paragraph for textiles and DCPC revised, clarifying EO applicability under import provisions.
Correction to a prior public notice amends the paragraph citation in Appendix 2Y of the Foreign Trade Policy, clarifying the Export Obligation (EO) Period applicable to products of the Ministry of Textiles and DCPC imported under enabling provisions for inputs subject to mandatory Quality Control Orders, by replacing the previously cited paragraph with the corrected paragraph reference that governs EO computation and compliance.

DGFT includes 16 pre shipment inspection agencies in Appendix 2G; approvals valid three years; instrument annexure attached.
DGFT includes sixteen agencies in Appendix 2G authorising them to issue Pre Shipment Inspection Certificates effective from the Public Notice date, with approvals valid for three years or until further DGFT notification. Two existing agencies are allowed additional instruments as annexed. The notice revises areas of operation and requires notified PSIA to update membership certificates and office contact details within thirty days. The annexure lists approved instruments, calibration validity and IMC comments, noting both compliant and deficient items.

Exemption from mandatory Quality Control Orders expanded to include chemical and petrochemical sector inputs for export manufacturing.
The DGFT amended Appendix 2Y to add the Department of Chemicals & Petro-chemicals to the list of departments whose mandatory Quality Control Orders are exempted for goods utilised in manufacture of export products, applicable to imports by Advance Authorisation holders, Export Oriented Units and Special Economic Zones. The amendment takes immediate effect and specifies that the EO Period for textile and chemicals & petrochemical products is regulated under para 2.03(A)(i)(g) of the FTP, 2023.

Deemed export compliance revised to simplify EODC applications by reducing documentary and certification burdens for suppliers and exporters.
Amendment to Para 2(b) of ANF 4F sets required evidence for Deemed Exports EODC applications: system generated GST e invoices and e way bills (with certified alternatives where unavailable); shipping bill copy endorsed with intermediate supplier name and file/authorisation numbers where applicable; e BRCs; and a supplies/consumption statement certified by an independent Chartered Accountant.

Relaxation of Bill of Export requirement permits alternative evidence for SEZ supplies under Advance Authorisation/DFIA made before July 2017
The DGFT has relaxed the Bill of Export submission requirement for supplies to SEZ unit/developer/co-developer under Advance Authorisation/DFIA made prior to 01.07.2017. In lieu of the Bill of Export, exporters may submit: (a) ARE-1 with the AA/DFIA file number attested by jurisdictional Central Excise/GST authority, (b) evidence of receipt of supplies by the SEZ recipient, and (c) evidence of payment by the SEZ unit to the exporter, to establish discharge of export obligation.

Value addition requirement for spices: higher threshold where both export and import items fall in same chapter, otherwise reduced.
Amendment to Appendix 6B conditions the higher value addition obligation for spices on both exported and imported items falling within the same spice tariff classification; where they do not, a reduced value addition requirement applies, aligning Appendix 6B with Chapter 4 of the FTP/HBP.

Advance Authorisation review eligibility clarified: eligible authorisations may be reviewed where no prior Norms Committee review exists.
Clarification permits Advance Authorisation holders with Norms Committee decisions before 01.04.2023 to file review applications until 31.12.2024; the addendum limits eligibility to AAs issued on or after 01.04.2019 and only where no prior Norms Committee review decision had been taken.

Review of Norms Committee decisions: extended limited time window for authorisation holders to seek review of pre existing norms.
The circular clarifies that Para 4.17 of HBP 2023 allows review of Norms Committee decisions within 12 months of website upload, and that as a one time concession authorisation holders affected by decisions taken before 01.04.2023 may file review applications until 31.12.2024; for all other cases the original Para 4.17 timeline remains applicable.

SION amendment updates export import entitlement for shea stearine, linking import quantities to oil content and customs sampling.
Amendment to SION E-125 revises the import entitlement for Shea Stearine export by tying required Shea Nuts quantity to a specified oil content benchmark, provides for pro rata adjustments in permitted import quantity for deviations in oil content, mandates customs sampling and endorsement of oil content on each Bill of Entry, requires redemption of authorizations by the Regional Authority based on the weighted average oil content so endorsed, and permits clearance of consignments after sampling without awaiting test results.

Abeyance of public notice pauses revised wastage and SION changes for precious metals while industry may submit corroborative data.
The notice places the abeyance of Public Notice No. 05/2024-which would have modified permissible wastage and Standard Input Output Norms for gold, platinum and silver-until 31 July 2024, and invites the Gem & Jewellery sector and other industry stakeholders to submit corroborative data on manufacturing workflow and wastage/recovery justifications to the Norms Committee within one month via the provided email.

Abeyance of public notice restores prior wastage norms pending industry data submission and reassessment by the trade norms committee.
Abeyance of a public notice suspends the modification of permissible wastage and Standard Input Output Norms for precious metal content in exports, restores prior wastage norms and SIONs for the interim period, and invites the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council and industry to submit corroborative data on manufacturing workflow, process wastage, and recovery to the Norms Committee for reassessment.

Wastage norms for jewellery exports revised; input output norms amended, altering permissible input content calculations for exports.
Revised wastage percentages for specified categories of exported jewellery and corresponding modifications to Standard Input Output Norms (SION) M 1 to M 7: SIONs now tie one kilogram of export product to specified import quantities of gold, platinum, or silver per SION category, and imported mountings and findings used in the export product are excluded from net content determination. The amendment is issued under the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 and Para 4.59(a)-(h) has been kept in abeyance by subsequent public notices.

Non-retrospective application: advance authorizations issued earlier remain under prior rules; no QCO amendment or clubbing allowed
Notification No. 71/2023 dated 11.03.2024 does not apply retrospectively: Advance Authorizations issued before that date remain governed by the provisions in force at issuance; amendments to include the QCO exemption on such pre existing AAs are not available, and clubbing of AAs issued under Notification No. 71/2023 with pre existing AAs is not permitted.

Exemption of mandatory Quality Control Orders: Mines included to enable imports of inputs for export manufacture.
The Ministry of Mines has been added to Appendix-2Y, the list of Departments whose mandatory Quality Control Orders are exempted by DGFT for goods imported as inputs to be utilised or consumed in manufacture of export products, ensuring that such QCO notifications do not bar import by Advance Authorisation holders, EOU and SEZ units for export production.

Minimum value addition penalty applies only to advance authorizations issued after the transitional cut off; earlier AAs follow prior rules.
The deposit requirements in Paragraphs 4.49(a)(ii) and 4.49(b) of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 - namely the deposit equivalent to 10% of CIF value and the 3% shortfall amount - apply only to Advance Authorizations issued on or after 01.04.2023; Advance Authorizations issued prior to that date continue to be governed by the provisions of the Handbook under which they were originally issued, and this clarification does not entitle applicants to refunds of fees already paid.

Suspension of SIONs: listed Standard Input Output Norms declared inoperative and suspended with immediate administrative effect.
Under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy paragraphs 1.03 and 2.04, the Director General of Foreign Trade suspends the Standard Input-Output Norms listed at Annexure "A" with immediate effect on the ground that those SIONs have been inoperative over the last five years; the measure is an administrative suspension of the listed normative entries pending further action and includes a file reference and contact for correspondence.

Import quantity correction: Filter Aid entry in SION E-124 amended, updating the previously stated import quantity for the export item.
Corrigendum corrects the import quantity for Filter Aid at S. No. 6 linked to SION E-124 (Refined Sunflower Oil, Edible Grade) in Public Notice No.01/2024 dated 9 April 2024, invoking powers under Paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, and replacing the previously published import quantity with the corrected figure.

Safeguard measures discontinued on Isopropyl alcohol imports; IPA now free under import policy without quantitative restrictions.
Country wise safeguard Quantitative Restrictions on imports of Isopropyl Alcohol instituted by Notification No. 64/2015-20 (effective 01.04.2023-31.03.2024) have been discontinued with effect from 01.04.2024, and imports of Isopropyl Alcohol are now Free and not subject to any policy condition.

Advance Authorisation discharge options clarified: export obligation may be met by physical exports or specified domestic supplies.
Holders of Advance Authorisation issued on or after 01.04.2015 may discharge export obligation by physical exports or domestic supplies under para 7.02(A)(a). For authorisations issued on or after 10.01.2019, options also include supplies to EOUs/STP/EHTP/BTP under para 7.02(A)(b) and supply of capital goods against EPCG under para 7.02(A)(c), provided exemption from applicable anti-dumping, countervailing, safeguard or transition product specific safeguard duties has not been availed. Deemed export authorisations have the same options and conditions.

Import monitoring registration: ARN and FSSAI licence required for melon seeds to secure customs clearance.
Importers must apply online to the Melon Seeds Import Monitoring System, submit advance shipment information and the registration charge to obtain an Automatic Registration Number; registration is required within ten days of the Bill of Lading and one ARN is limited to one country of origin and one port while covering multiple consignments and Bills of Lading with mandatory upload of Bill of Lading copies. At import clearance the ARN and a valid FSSAI Manufacturer Licence for melon seeds must be presented to Customs.