MEIS eligibility expanded to include non-basmati rice, granting export incentive for the specified retrospective export period.
Amendment to Appendix 3B, Table 2 adds specified HS codes for husked (brown) rice, parboiled rice, other parboiled categories and broken rice, making these non-basmati rice items eligible for MEIS benefits at the prescribed incentive rate for exports made with effect from 26.11.2018 up to 25.03.2019.

Town of Export Excellence designation: Bhadohi added for carpets under Appendix of the Foreign Trade Policy.
An amendment to Appendix 1B of the Hand Book of Procedures 2015-20 designates Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, as a Town of Export Excellence for carpets and other floor coverings under powers conferred by paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy, formally notifying its inclusion in the list of towns recognised for focused export promotion within the Handbook framework.

EPCG authorisation validity extended; existing authorisations to be endorsed by RA without fee to reflect longer term.
The validity period of EPCG Authorisation is fixed at 24 months from the date of issue under the Handbook of Procedures amendment. Authorisations issued prior to the Public Notice whose validity had not yet expired are eligible for extension to the new term upon submission to the concerned Regional Authority, which must endorse the authorisation without charging any fee.

Stock and Sale authorisations for SCOMET now permit post-reporting transfers and pre-approved re-exports to specified countries.
Amendments allow Indian principal companies or wholly owned subsidiaries to export eligible SCOMET items to affiliated foreign "stockists" on the basis of an End Use Certificate and corporate relationship proof, with IMWG granting authorisations for initial export and in-principle re-export approval to specified countries. Transfers from the stockist to end users within the same country and re-exports to IMWG-approved countries do not need separate prior authorisation but require post-reporting and are subject to the stockist country's export controls; re-exports to other countries require separate DGFT application with end-user certificates and supporting documentation for IMWG verification.

Radiation portal monitor installation requirement extended; non compliant ports risk derecognition for un shredded scrap imports.
Designated sea ports are permitted to import un shredded metallic scrap until the extended deadline provided they install and operationalize Radiation Portal Monitors and Container Scanners; ports failing to meet the requirement by the deadline will be derecognised for import of un shredded metallic scrap.

Amendment of appendix: revised jurisdictional listings for export promotion councils and registration guidance for exporters and services.
Amendment revises Appendix 2T of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20 to update jurisdictional listings of Export Promotion Councils, specifying that EOUs & SEZ Units cover all products except spices (which require Spices Board registration) and enumerating service categories under the Services Export Promotion Council, accompanied by contact and office details.

Online issuance of RCMC is mandatory; non-compliance will forfeit Registering Authority status under the trade policy.
Export Promotion Councils issuing RCMCs must adopt online issuance and upload issued certificates to the Departmental server; those remaining manual must shift to online mode or cease to act as the Registering Authority for RCMCs under the Foreign Trade Policy. Councils already issuing online must ensure centralised uploading via the prescribed link.

Track and Trace compliance for pharmaceutical exports extended, postponing parent-child packaging upload requirement to a later date.
Extension of the mandatory Track and Trace system implementation for export consignments of pharmaceutical drug formulations to require maintenance of the parent-child packaging relationship and uploading of that relationship on the Central Portal. The amendment to the Handbook of Procedure delays the implementation deadline and applies to both small-scale and non-small-scale manufactured drugs, preserving the procedural requirement for recording and uploading parent-child relationships across packaging levels as part of export compliance.

Caution against dealing: alleged supplier non performance prompts advisory to exercise enhanced due diligence before transactions.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued a trade advisory warning regulatory authorities and export promotion councils that MSRL Group Limited (also trading as M/s Milestone Resourcing LLC), Miami, faced complaints of failing to supply goods after receiving advance payments from Indian importers; stakeholders are directed to exercise due diligence before transacting with these entities, and the notice is issued with the approval of the Director General of Foreign Trade.

Export authorisation for restricted items: streamlined online/offline filing, ministry NOC, EFC review and RA licence within 30-45 days.
DGFT requires applicants for export of items classified as Restricted under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 to file ANF 1 and ANF 2N with supporting purchase/contract orders and proof of fee payment via its online portal or at the Facilitation Counter; exported applications are pre screened and forwarded to the concerned Technical Ministry within three working days, applicants must cure deficiencies within three days, Technical Ministries are expected to provide NOC/comments within 30 days, applications with NOC/comments go to the EXIM Facilitation Committee, and upon EFC approval DGFT(HQ) issues an authorisation and the Regional Authority must issue the export licence within three working days (overall 30-45 days).

SION amendment expands allowable import input to include Lauryl Myristyl Alcohol alongside Lauryl Alcohol for export input norms.
Amendment to SION A-1486 alters import item 1 description from Lauryl Alcohol to Lauryl Alcohol/Lauryl Myristyl Alcohol for Sodium Lauryl Sulphate 90%; allowed input quantities against 1 kg export are: Lauryl Alcohol/Lauryl Myristyl Alcohol 0.780 Kg, Chloro Sulphonic Acid 0.441 Kg, Sodium Hydroxide 0.175 Kg, and E.D.T.A Tech 0.0005 Kg.

Eligibility of educational services for SEIS: services to NRI students qualify, sponsored Indian students excluded.
Educational services provided by Indian institutes to Non-Resident Indian students qualify for SEIS benefits under the FTP 2015-20 when the student is a foreign consumer; services to Indian students sponsored by NRIs are excluded because they are not foreign consumers. This clarification was issued by the DGFT in consultation with the Department of Commerce.

SEIS e application activation delayed; electronic module now scheduled to accept ANF 3B-based applications through the portal.
Activation of the electronic application module for the Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) is postponed; the SEIS E com module will accept applications based on ANF 3B from the newly scheduled availability date. Exporters and Regional Authorities are instructed to submit SEIS claims through the E com portal using ANF 3B, and the Directorate regrets the delay and notes issuance with approval of the competent authority.

MEIS rate enhancement for specified dairy HS codes increases export incentives for shipments within the notified period.
Amendment to the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme Appendix 3B increases the MEIS incentive rate for a specified list of dairy-related HS codes by revising Table 2. The change is effective for exports made from the date of publication of the public notice until the notified cut-off date and applies only to the enumerated tariff lines.

Removal from approved pre shipment inspection agency list - entity ceases recognition under the Foreign Trade Policy framework.
Removal of M/s Supreme International FZC from Appendix 2G of the Appendices and Aayat Niryat Forms results in the entity no longer being listed as an approved Pre-shipment Inspection Agency under the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20, effected by Public Notice No. 40/2015-2020 issued under paragraph 2.04 of the Policy.

SEIS e-com module activation delayed; exporters instructed to apply only through the new online application once operational.
The Directorate announces that the SEIS online e com module implementing ANF 3B will be activated after completion of minor modifications and testing necessitated by mid term incentive rate changes; exporters are instructed to apply for SEIS only through the new online module once it becomes operational.

REX registration free: exporters must not be charged and DEL status does not bar registration for EU GSP preference.
REX registration permits exporters to self certify origin for EU GSP preferential tariffs. DGFT reiterates REX registration is free; agencies must not charge exporters, in accordance with Public Notice No. 51. Regional and Local Authorities should register applicants for REX even if they are under DEL, because REX enrollment is an administrative facilitation to access EU GSP preferences rather than a benefit under the Foreign Trade Policy.

SCOMET licensing centralisation announced, with industry invited to submit feedback via shared spreadsheet for procedural simplification.
DGFT centralises SCOMET licence administration and maintains live status of licence applications online; it has published a publicly accessible Google spreadsheet 'To do list for SCOMET Policy/Procedure' for industry to record outstanding issues and submit new suggestions. Stakeholders including EPCs, exporters and regional authorities may add entries; DGFT will consider submissions and update the status of actions taken to simplify licensing procedures.

Pre-import condition relaxation permits EODC regularisation where RAs did not endorse pre-import limits and trade completed within validity.
A one-time relaxation allows regularisation and issuance of EODC for Advance Authorisations/DFIAs for Natural Rubber and Silk where the RA did not specifically endorse a pre-import condition on the condition sheet and where exports and imports were completed within the authorisation's stipulated validity; the relief is limited to EODC regularisation, prohibits any further exports or imports, and does not waive pre-import requirements for IGST exemption.

Tariff Rate Quota allocation for raw sugar to USA permits export under Free non-levy quota with origin certification.
Allocation under the Tariff Rate Quota designates 8424 metric tons of raw cane sugar (HS codes 170113 and 170114) from the non-levy Free quota for preferential export to the USA for the US fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018 and ending September 30, 2019; exports under this allocation are subject to the governing TRQ conditions and reporting obligations, and require a Certificate of Origin issued by the specified issuing authority in Mumbai, with other certification requirements to be observed.