DEPB rate amendments change export product descriptions and impose shipment declaration and export obligation rules.
DGFT amends Handbook Vol. I Appendix 28A to revise DEPB rates, product descriptions and value caps for specified chemical, engineering, textile, leather and fish products, with Annexure B rates effective from 15.4.98. Shipping Bill declarations are required for certain processed fish and aquaculture shrimp exports. A prior Public Notice is corrected. An export obligation is prescribed as 1.5 times CIF value of imported hardware including software plus 1.5 times the wage bill, with hardware obligations over four years and wage-bill obligations annually; Net Foreign Exchange follows the Software Policy definition.

Export ceiling allocation splits remaining coarse-grain entitlement between public sector and private exporters, preserving existing terms.
The circular establishes a total export ceiling for coarse-grain for the licensing year 1998-99, confirms that the overall ceiling includes an earlier released sub-ceiling, and directs bifurcation of the remaining balance between public sector undertakings and private exporters, with all other terms and conditions of prior policy communications remaining unchanged.

Special Currency Basket valuation updated for USSR deferred payment contracts, altering rupee conversion for covered protocol periods.
The notice revises the Indian rupee valuation of the Special Currency Basket for deferred payment contracts under the Indo USSR Deferred Payments Protocols of 30 April 1981 and 23 December 1985, and states that the revised valuation applies to contracts for deliveries of machinery and equipment from the erstwhile USSR to India entered into under those protocols.

Export obligation on software units defined to include imported hardware value and wage bill, with phased fulfilment and certification.
The Handbook of Procedures (Vol.1) (RE-98) is amended to require licence holders to regularise export shortfalls by surrendering a Special Import Licence at a multiple of CIF imports on a pro rata basis; to expand manufacturer exporter eligibility based on excise registration and prior exports absent penalities; to permit EPCG licences to be issued on Development Commissioner NOC without Committee reference; to add Certificate of Origin agencies and FOB reporting columns; and to prescribe a software unit export obligation measured on net foreign exchange combining imported hardware and wage bill components with staged fulfilment.

Standard input output norms amended: revised SION tables and new sectoral entries govern allowed imports against specified exports.
Amendments to the Handbook of Procedures, Vol.2 revise and add Standard Input Output Norms (SION), substituting norm tables, correcting export/import descriptions, adding alternative permitted inputs and sector notes, and introducing multiple new SION entries across Chemicals, Engineering, Food, Plastic, Textile and Miscellaneous product categories as set out in Annexures A-G for application in export-import clearances.

Bank Certificate of Export and Realisation authorised for approved export factoring agencies to certify receipt of export proceeds.
Approved export factoring firms are authorised to handle GR forms and related export documents and to issue the Bank Certificate of Export and Realisation, certifying realisation of export proceeds in the approved manner as set out in the Handbook of Procedures.

Designation of officers for Special Advance Licensing and EPCG Scheme ensures implementation and liaison for electronics export controls.
Designation of officers of the Department of Electronics to implement the Special Advance Licensing Scheme and the EPCG Scheme for export of electronic products; DGFT Policy Circular dated 28 October 1998 provides an annexed consolidated list of DOE nominated and designated officers attached to Regional Licensing Authorities, superseding the earlier list, for licensing, administrative liaison, and processing of applications under these schemes.

Export condition removal for cotton yarn changes ITC(HS) export terms under foreign trade regulation.
The Central Government amends Schedule 2 Appendix 1 of the ITC(HS) Classifications by deleting condition (iii) applicable to the cotton yarn entry at serial number six, thereby removing a specified export condition attached to that tariff entry under the Export and Import Policy and the Foreign Trade Development and Regulation Act; the amendment is issued as a public notice in the public interest.

Exchange control copy retention: authorised dealers retain and forward duty free licence originals to central bank; photocopies suffice for discharge.
Authorised dealers must retain the Exchange Control copy submitted for letters of credit or remittances and forward the original to the central bank after full utilisation with related R Returns. Licensing authorities should not insist on surrender of the Exchange Control copy and may accept a photocopy with annexures plus an authorised dealer certificate confirming surrender of the original for discharge of export obligation.

Import without licence for mulberry raw silk requires filing import returns to textile regulators promptly after customs clearance.
Designated agencies may import Mulberry Raw Silk without an import licence provided imports follow normal commercial practice and importers submit an Import Return within 15 days of customs clearance to the prescribed regulatory recipients using the Annexure A format, capturing importer details, IEC, contract particulars, quantity, value, origin, port of import and other relevant information.

Pass Book Scheme credits: finalise admissible claims and grant credits by the specified deadline; no further extensions permitted.
The circular directs Designated Authorities of the Pass Book Scheme and Commissioners of Customs to finalise pending admissible credit claims and grant credits positively by 31.10.1998, and states that no further extensions will be allowed.

DEPB entitlement affirmed for exports under escrow accounts, policy circular clarifies benefit claims for counter-trade exports.
Grant of DEPB benefit is confirmed for exports under counter-trade arrangements where export proceeds realised through Escrow Accounts qualify for DEPB eligibility; this circular modifies an earlier clarification and records administrative approval following consultation with financial authorities.

End Use Certificate requires importer declaration limiting use and prohibiting transfer or re export; exporter must supply confirmed order.
The End Use Certificate requires the end user to state quantity and type of import, exporter details and the specific manufacturing use, and to certify non use for other purposes and prohibition on transfer or re export; the exporter must furnish a copy of the confirmed export order to customs and DGFT at the time of shipment.

Export classification amendment: specific commodity entries removed from the ITC(HS) schedule, altering covered items.
The Central Government amended Schedule 2 Appendix 1 of the ITC(HS) Export and Import classifications by deleting the words "Powder milk" and "ghee and" from Column 2 of Serial Number 29, thereby modifying the schedule's catalogue of commodities under the export/import classification regime for the policy period.

Export ceiling for wheat products set, to be allocated by APEDA with mandatory exhaustion reporting and monthly statements.
A ceiling of one lakh MTs of wheat products is released for export in licensing year 1998-99 and placed at the disposal of APEDA for allocation under its procedures. APEDA must ensure total exports do not exceed the ceiling, report exhaustion to the Ministry of Commerce (EP Agri. II) and the issuing office, issue a trade notice (five copies to the office), and furnish monthly statements with exporter name, quantity allowed, FOB value and destination.

Export ceiling for coarse-grains allocated to APEDA with strict allocation, reporting and monthly disclosure obligations imposed.
An annual export ceiling for coarse-grains is allocated to APEDA for distribution; the annual ceiling is inclusive of previously released allocation. APEDA must ensure the overall ceiling is not exceeded, report exhaustion of the ceiling to the Ministry of Commerce and DGFT, and furnish monthly statements listing exporter name, quantity allowed, FOB value and destination to the Ministry (EP Agri.II) with a copy to the DGFT Statistical Division.

Import permission for mulberry raw silk: specified public agencies allowed licence-free import, subject to returns filing.
Import of Mulberry Raw Silk is exempted from the import licence requirement for specified public and state trading agencies despite the item being listed in the Negative List under the Export and Import Policy, 1997-2002, using powers under Paragraph 4.11. Eligible entities include national and state handloom corporations, Central Silk Board, STC and MMTC. Imports under this exemption require submission of an import return in the format of Annexure A detailing importer identity, IEC, contract and quantity, country and port of import, and other particulars for the reporting period.

Application filing deadlines and deficiency rectification requirement tightened; late rectifications will be rejected for status grant or renewal under policy
A fixed timetable for status applications requires filing by 30 November, deficiency notices by 15 December, and rectification by 31 December; applications with deficiencies corrected after 31 December shall be rejected. Additional procedural amendments require DEEC endorsements for supplies to EOUs/EPZs under Special Imprest Licence, simultaneous endorsement of certain applications to drug and narcotics authorities with record-keeping declarations, expanded certificate disclosure in Appendix 20E, an annual SIL filing option against April-March export proceeds, and a new Appendix 19A MOU for Star/Super Star Trading House recognition.

Import classification relief for certain paper goods extends free import facility to shipments arrived but not yet cleared by Customs.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade directs that the relief provided by Notification No.15 (17.8.98) for goods under Heading 48.11 is extended to cover consignments which have already been shipped or arrived but have not yet been cleared by Customs, thereby allowing those uncleared consignments to avail themselves of the free-import facility.

Import permission for wheat by roller flour mills allowed under actual user condition, subject to milling-only and APEDA notification.
Roller flour mills may import wheat under the Actual User condition directly or through authorised trading agencies for milling purposes only; produced flour may be sold domestically or exported. Importers must inform APEDA of import and export details within fifteen days in a prescribed format, and APEDA will monitor those records. This Public Notice supersedes the earlier notice regarding wheat imports.