Online modification of Importer Exporter Code now required; applicants must use DGFT portal and pay the prescribed fee online.
The Director General of Foreign Trade notifies that amendments to both electronic and physically issued Importer Exporter Codes (IECs) are operationalised for online processing from 21 September 2015; applicants must use the DGFT website "Modify your IEC" option and complete online payment through net banking or credit/debit cards, and henceforth modifications in IEC will be done online only.

Amendment to Appendices updates nominated agency designation and imposes export obligation period for specified imported inputs.
The Public Notice inserts The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd. as a Nominated Agency in Appendix 4B and corrects Appendix 4J to record that Natural Rubber imported under the pre-import condition is subject to an Export Obligation Period of six months from the date of clearance of each import consignment by Customs.

Niryat Bandhu Programme: Online Certificate Program to train first generation exporters and MSMEs in export procedures and facilitation.
Announcement of an Online Certificate Program in Export and Import Business under the Niryat Bandhu Programme to train first generation exporters and MSMEs on export processes, interfacing with customs/excise/banks, and accessing DGFT schemes. Delivered via live online broadcast with help desk support and live Q&A, the course is run in collaboration with a premier institute; participants register online, pay a participant fee while the Government subsidises the balance, and classes begin in early October as a trade facilitation and capacity building measure.

Border Haat trade permits approved local goods exchange in Tripura markets using local currency or barter for personal consumption.
Trade in designated Border Haats in Tripura permits limited cross-border exchange of specified local goods between India and Bangladesh at two named sites. Permitted categories include vegetables and food items, minor forest produce excluding timber, cottage industry products, small agricultural and household implements, and various consumer goods. Item-specific clarification is by the Haat Management Committee. Vendors must be residents within a five kilometre radius. Exchanges are permitted in local currency and/or barter, subject to an individual daily purchase ceiling for bona fide personal or family consumption, and foreign exchange rules are suspended within the Haats.

Notification of new SION entry enables specified import inputs for exported dipped belting fabrics under Foreign Trade Policy.
Notification authorises new SION entry J-377 for Dipped Belting Fabrics (EP) Conveyor Duck/Synthetic Fabrics of Nylon 6/66 & Polyester 840 Denier and above, specifying an export quantity of one metric tonne and prescribing permitted import inputs with allowable quantities: polyester pet chips, spin finish oil, relevant industrial yarn (nylon 6/66), V.P. latex, resorcinol, formaldehyde and a bonding agent.

Exemption from Azo dye testing for textile imports updated to apply to specified countries, with appendices amended.
A new Appendix to the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 establishes an exemption from testing for Azo dyes in imported Textiles and Textile Articles originating from specified countries (European Union, Serbia, Poland, Denmark and China) and is inserted into the FTP Appendices and Ayat Niryat Forms so such imports will not be subject to sample testing for Azo dyes under the existing testing regime.

Election rules: Committee of Administration elections use the final voter list; members must register contact details before deadline.
Elections to the Committee of Administration will use the final voter list for financial year 2015 16; panels and regions are grouped under the Election Rules and Articles of Association with specified seat allocations per panel, and elected office bearers will include six Regional Chairpersons, one Vice Chairperson and one Chairperson. Members were notified via registered e mail and an online link for notices and the final voters list, and ordinary members who have not registered e mail ids and mobile numbers were instructed to submit membership and contact details to the Election Authority by the prescribed deadline.

Applicability of EPCG third-party exports clarified, para now governs third-party shipments made on or after policy effective date.
Para 5.10(d) of the Handbook of Procedure, 2015 20 applies to third party exports effected on or after the policy effective date, including exports under EPCG authorisations issued before that date; third party exports effected prior to the effective date remain governed by the antecedent policy/procedure applicable at the time.

Extension of Letter of Permission allows Board discretion to consider existing EOUs' textile reprocessing continuations.
An enabling proviso to Appendix-6B maintains the prohibition on textile reprocessing activities for EOUs but empowers the Board of Approval to consider and decide extensions of the Letter of Permission for existing units engaged in such activities, allowing case-by-case continuation despite the general ban.

Jurisdictional selection for MEIS/SEIS claims requires filing at chosen RA or SEZ Development Commissioner, with TRA for manual ports.
Exporters must elect a single jurisdictional Regional Authority based on the IEC-endorsed address at the start of the financial year; IEC holders with SEZ/EOU units must apply to the concerned Development Commissioner, SEZ, for MEIS/SEIS benefits, while entities with both SEZ/EOU and DTA units must file DTA claims with the RA and SEZ claims with the DC. Duty credit scrips are issued with a single port of registration equal to the port of export and must be registered at that port before use; SEZs are non-EDI ports and require scrip registration at the SEZ port and TRA issuance by the DC for use at other ports.

Transitional arrangement allows exporters to apply under earlier Chapter three schemes using prior Handbook procedures after notification.
The amendment provides a transitional arrangement allowing exporters who exported goods or rendered services up to the notification date to apply for scrips under earlier Chapter three schemes by filing applications with the jurisdictional Regional Authority in the forms and with documents prescribed in the corresponding earlier Hand Book of Procedures; clause (b) is deleted and specified incentive schemes must continue to be filed as per their respective Hand Books of Procedures.

MEIS reward rate amendments revise HS-code specific export incentives, restricting eligibility for Japan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Amendments to MEIS Table 2 (Appendix 3B) revise reward rates for 118 ITC (HS) codes, replacing existing rates with new rates effective from the corrigendum's operative date. Specific tariff lines are annotated: codes marked with an asterisk are eligible for the revised reward only for exports to Japan; codes marked with a hash are eligible for the revised reward only for exports to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The corrigendum corrects and partially modifies the prior public notice thereby updating the operative MEIS schedule.

MEIS reward rate revisions: country group reclassification, schedule deletions/additions, and handicraft eligibility certification required.
Amendments to the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) revise Appendix 3B by reclassifying specified countries between country groups, deleting listed ITC (HS) lines, amending reward rates for numerous HS codes (including differential rates for handicraft versus non handicraft items), and adding HS lines whose benefits are admissible only for certified handicraft products; certain codes are marked to restrict rewards to exports to Japan or to Japan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Changes are made under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 and are effective immediately.

Online payment facility for e-IEC enables applicants to pay fees via cards and netbanking, with specified processing charges.
Operationalisation of online payment facility enabling applicants to pay application fees for issuance of online Importer Exporter Code (e-IEC) and other online filings through credit/debit cards and electronic fund transfer from a specified list of banks. The notice frames the measure as trade facilitation and digitalisation to support paperless, round-the-clock online functioning. It prescribes transaction processing charges for credit and debit card payments and a separate net-banking charge structure, with service tax additionally payable, and includes an annexed list of participating banks.

Tariff Rate Quota allocation adds raw sugar export quantity to USA under FTP, subject to certification and reporting.
An additional quantity of raw cane sugar from the non-levy (Free Sale) quota has been allocated for export to the USA under the Tariff Rate Quota for the US fiscal year 2015, supplementing the previously notified quantity; such exports are classified as 'Free' subject to the Nature of Restrictions, reporting requirements, and certification conditions, with Certificate of Origin for preferential exports to be issued by the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Mumbai, and other specified compliance obligations to be observed.

Certificate of Origin (Non Preferential) authorisation expanded to three additional agencies for export documentation compliance.
Authorisation under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020 enlists three agencies-Federation of Kutch Industries Associations (Gujarat), Indian Merchants' Chamber (Delhi) and National Chamber of Industries & Commerce (Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand)-in Appendix 2E, thereby authorizing them to issue Certificate of Origin (Non Preferential) and updating the Appendices & Aayaat Niryaat Forms of the FTP 2015-2020 with their serial placements.

Pre shipment inspection area amendment updates PSIAs' authorised regions and grants an extension to submit prescribed bank guarantees.
Amendment revises the Area / Region of Operation for specified Pre Shipment Inspection Agencies listed in Appendix 2G, updating the territorial scope for each named agency while leaving other PSIAs unchanged. All PSIAs in Appendix 2G are permitted an extension of time to furnish the prescribed Bank Guarantee as set out in Public Notice No.21 and Public Notice No.19, with the notice supplying administrative contact details for compliance.

Processed metallic scrap import rules: mandatory pre shipment certification and scanning, with importer liability for contaminated consignments.
Import of specified processed metallic scrap is allowed only at ports with Scanner/Radiological Detection Equipment, conditional on submission of a prescribed self-declaration cum legal undertaking and a Pre shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the consignment as processed metallic scrap free of explosive or radioactive material. Mandatory scanning at arrival is required; importer must furnish a bank guarantee and a contract with the exporter accepting return of contaminated consignments. False declarations entail re export obligation, forfeiture of security and further action under foreign trade and customs laws.

Trade facilitation mobile app offers policy, procedures, code lookup and application status via Android download.
DGFT has released a free Android mobile application to facilitate access to trade information and services, including Foreign Trade Policy, Foreign Trade Procedures, policy statements, Appendices and ANFs, downloadable forms, Minister's speech, ITC(HS) code lookup, MEIS rate lookup, application status tracking and social media updates; the app is available on Google Play Store via the keyword "DGFT" or the provided link, with DGFT contact details for support.

Visiting hours for trade meetings enable walk-in consultations with senior DGFT officers on working days for streamlined engagement.
Formalizes an open door policy allowing exporters, members of the trade, IEC holders and non officials to meet officers of the rank of Assistant DGFT and above without prior appointment between 3.00 PM and 5.00 PM on working days from Monday to Thursday, while permitting prior appointments when parties prefer to specify issues in advance to ensure effective consultations.