Common Service Provider designation requires specified documentary proof for EPCG applications under amended ANF 5A immediately.
Amendment adds designation/certification guidelines for Common Service Providers to ANF 5A for EPCG applications, requiring submission of IEC, RCMC, description of services, a minimum six user list with names and IECs, the Terminal/Export Excellence location, product category to be serviced, and prior registration with relevant indirect tax authorities.

Definition of service provider broadened to include job workers for CSP under EPCG, subject to DoR exemption compliance.
The definition of service provider for Common Service Providers under the EPCG scheme includes job workers who perform manufacturing or processing services (e.g., knitting, dyeing, printing, embroidering, labelling, cutting) for multiple exporters without exporting themselves; such arrangements must comply with the Department of Revenue exemption Notification No. 16/2015 Customs.

MEIS reward rates updated: extensive additions and amendments to Appendix 3B alter eligible goods and rates effective immediately.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, under paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020, notifies immediate additions of 2,901 ITC (HS) code lines to Table 2 of Appendix 3B to the MEIS schedule and establishes specified reward rates for those goods; some entries remain subject to export policy restrictions.

Refund of Terminal Excise Duty allowed where duty paid from CENVAT credit; safeguards required to prevent duplicate claims.
Refund of Terminal Excise Duty (TED) is allowable under FTP where no ab-initio exemption applied and the duty was paid using CENVAT credit, subject to all FTP conditions and safeguards to ensure the TED has not been or will not be claimed by any other mechanism. No refund is permitted where ab-initio exemption existed.

Free Sale & Commerce Certificate eligibility clarified: merchant exporters may obtain it by furnishing manufacturer details in Annexure A.
Merchant exporters may obtain a Free Sale & Commerce Certificate by providing manufacturer particulars in Annexure A of Appendix 2H; the Regional Authority will record the manufacturer/exporter name as submitted by the applicant in Annexure B, thereby satisfying the proforma requirement under Para 2.37 of the Handbook of Procedure.

Incremental export incentive: guidance on issuing duty credit scrips, tightened scrutiny, and sanctions for irregular claims.
Guidance requires RAs to re-open files and issue supplementary duty credit scrips for incremental export growth after deducting initial scrips, subject to due diligence and enhanced scrutiny. It reiterates that entitlement is based on bona fide incremental exports, prohibits benefits where base-period exports were non-existent or understated to bypass checks, and mandates prescribed filing, CA certification, and single-RA processing for EDI ports. RAs must investigate multiple inconsistent applications, initiate FT (D & R) Act actions including DEL placement and penalties, report errant Chartered Accountants, and conduct post-issuance verification for high-growth claims.

Pre-shipment inspection agency recognition: Melt Enterprises Ltd added to authorised PSIA list; instrument approvals and scope adjusted.
Pre-shipment inspection agency recognition is conferred on Melt Enterprises Ltd., UK by inclusion in Appendix 2G, authorising it to issue Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificates for a three-year period and listing approved spectrometers and survey meters for PSIC issuance. The notice also re-notifies and limits the instrument authorisation for M/s. Asia Inspection Agency Co. Ltd., Thailand to two specified Radcomm instruments, thereby restricting that agency's authorised inspection equipment.

Simultaneous benefit choice: exporters may surrender either SHIS or zero duty EPCG, subject to refund, interest and conditions.
Notification allows exporters who were incorrectly granted simultaneous Status Holder Incentive Scheme (SHIS) and zero duty EPCG benefits to choose one scheme and surrender the other, prescribing that unutilized scrips may be surrendered, utilized or transferred amounts are treated as utilized for refund and interest purposes, refund of utilized amounts is to be paid in cash with interest under the Customs Act, EPCG may be converted to concessional-duty authorizations by payment of differential duties plus interest in lieu of surrender in certain cases, payment may be made by cash or debiting valid duty credit or original SHIS scrips for the refundable amount (interest to be paid in cash), and erroneous issuance will not attract penal action.

Replenishment of Gold granted as one time relief for exporters of gold jewellery to claim from nominated agencies, subject to conditions.
A one time exemption permits exporters of gems and jewellery manufactured from gold during the specified period to claim replenishment of gold from Nominated Agencies within 120 days of the Public Notice, despite earlier RBI circular omissions; eligibility covers exporters who exported via overseas exhibitions under paragraph 4A.18(a)(i) and those who booked gold with Nominated Agencies by depositing the prescribed earnest money, subject to realisation of export proceeds and compliance with all Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedures conditions.

Minimum Value Addition requirements expanded to cover silver and platinum jewellery exports, detailing category-specific standards and retroactive applicability.
Amendment to paragraph 4.61 of the Hand Book of Procedures 2015-2020 prescribes category-specific Minimum Value Addition standards for export of gold, silver and platinum jewellery and articles, including plain jewellery, studded jewellery, fully mechanized manufacture, medallions and coins (excluding legal tender), and mechanized findings and mountings, and states these standards apply from 01.04.2015.

Special Advance Authorization scheme establishes export obligation period from date of authorisation and requires online filing.
Introduces a procedural framework for the Special Advance Authorization scheme for apparel and clothing accessories under Chapters 61-62: applications must be filed online, digitally signed, by the IEC holder (including specified offices). A new provision makes listed Handbook provisions applicable to the scheme where consistent. Appendix 4J adds fabrics (including interlining) with an Export Obligation Period measured from the date of issue of the authorisation and subject to further extension under existing Handbook mechanisms.

Special Advance Authorisation scheme restricts imports to fabrics, requires minimum value addition and a pre import actual user condition.
The Special Advance Authorisation Scheme permits online authorisation for exporters of apparel and clothing accessories, limits allowable imports to relevant fabrics including interlining, confines exports to items under Chapters 61 and 62, and requires a minimum value addition of 15%. DGFT EDI will calculate value addition automatically (using FOB exports and CIF imports, treating inputs claiming All Industry Rate drawback as 22% of FOB). Fabric is subject to pre import actual user condition, must be physically incorporated into exports, is non transferable except for permitted job work, and only physical exports fulfil export obligations.

MEIS reward rate for onions notified; exporters eligible for the published reward rate for shipments made until year end.
The Director General of Foreign Trade has added an ITC (HS) classification for onions (fresh or chilled) to Table 2 of Appendix 3B under the MEIS and notified a specific MEIS reward rate for that entry, effective immediately for exports made up to the end of the stated eligibility period.

Grievance redressal committee established for trade policy grievances, defining scope, composition and meeting frequency at HQ and zonal levels.
A Grievance Redressal Committee is constituted under Paragraph 9.08 of the HBP, 2015-2020 at DGFT headquarters and at Zonal RAs to ensure speedy redressal of trade and industry grievances under the Foreign Trade Policy. The committee will meet quarterly at HQ and monthly at Zonal RAs. Its terms of reference are to review overdue grievance cases for speedy disposal, address sector-specific grievances, and suggest policy and procedural reforms. Composition includes senior DGFT officials, policy officers, representatives of trade and export promotion councils, and special invitees from departments from which grievances are received.

Removal of mandatory bonding requirements allows EOUs and park units to operate without compulsory customs warehousing constraints.
Amendments remove mandatory warehousing and bonding formalities for EOUs and units in STP/EHTP/BTP by deleting requirements to obtain private bonded/warehousing licences and to execute customs/central excise bonds, replacing references to "bonded premises" with "premises of the unit," and substituting bond officer endorsements with jurisdictional officer endorsements; related form fields capturing bonding dates and consent are deleted and CST reimbursement and conversion procedures are adjusted accordingly.

Clubbing of advance authorisations allowed for annual requirements where exports and imports comply with notified SIONs.
Facility of clubbing shall also be available for Advance Authorisations for Annual Requirement issued during the cited Foreign Trade Policy periods, wherever exports and imports have taken place as per notified Standard Input Output Norms (SION) available in the Handbook of Procedures.

VKGUY benefit eligibility for grape exports packed in imported containers affirmed; FOB value need not exclude packing costs.
DGFT clarified that grapes packed in imported packing material are not within the FTP ineligible category relied on by some field formations, and exporters are entitled to VKGUY benefits on the full FOB value without deducting the cost of imported packing material; this position follows consultation with the Drawback Directorate and corresponds with customs authority guidance on duty drawback treatment for such packing.

Ex officio membership expanded to include President Laghu Udyog Bharti, altering composition of Board of Trade.
Reconstitution of the Board of Trade updates its ex officio membership to include the President, Laghu Udyog Bharti, New Delhi, to ensure MSME representation. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issues the revised list of ex officio members comprising presidents and chairmen of major trade bodies, export promotion councils and commodity boards, confirming the updated composition with competent authority approval.

Re-fixation of Export Obligation permitted where sectoral exports declined, authorities to adjust EPCG obligations accordingly.
Para 5.19 of the HBP (FTP 2015-20) allows re-fixation of Annual Average Export Obligation where a sector/product group's exports declined by more than five per cent in 2015-16 versus 2014-15; Regional Authorities must re fix EPCG annual average export obligations for 2015-16, endorse any reduction in licence files and amendment sheets, and, when discharging EO, consider prior policy circulars before issuing demand notices, with such consideration reflected in the EODC check-sheet.

De-listing of inspection agency bars issuance of pre-shipment inspection certificates following adjudication for mis-declaration under trade policy.
Following a show cause notice and adjudication for mis-declaration in a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate, the Director General of Foreign Trade, under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020, has deleted M/s. Trans Border Safety Control Inspection Services LLC, USA from Appendix 2G, rendering the agency ineligible to issue Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate and formally de-listing it from the list of recognized inspection agencies.