Tariff Rate Quota access under India Mauritius CECPA: online TRQ applications extended and allocation mechanism clarified.
The Public Notice amends the TRQ framework under India-Mauritius CECPA by revising covered tariff lines and TRQ quantities and by prescribing that TRQ imports comply with the revised Annexure III and the applicable Customs notification. Applications must be submitted online via the DGFT portal with a pre purchase agreement from an eligible Mauritian exporter. Allocation will be made equally among eligible applicants; TRQ authorisations will be issued electronically, transmitted to the Customs EDI system and imports permitted only upon electronic debiting in that system.

Mandatory e-filing of Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin extended; agencies must onboard by deadline or face de-notification.
The DGFT extended the deadline for mandatory electronic filing of Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin via the Common Digital Platform to 31st October 2021 while allowing manual submissions until then. Issuing agencies must complete onboarding onto the platform by the deadline or face de-notification; a revised notified list of onboarded agencies will be published thereafter.

Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential) authorization: three agencies added to Appendix enabling issuance under FTP administration
Director General of Foreign Trade authorizes three named agencies to issue Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential), adding Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs, Urban Exim Care Association and Federation of Industries & Associations to Appendix 2E of the Foreign Trade Policy, thereby expanding the list of bodies permitted to sign and issue non-preferential Certificates of Origin under the policy framework.

Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential) issuance moved to all India jurisdiction; electronic filing via Common Digital Platform required.
Agencies enlisted under Appendix 2E are authorized to issue Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential) on an all India jurisdiction basis; new enlistments will likewise cover all India and branch office enlistments need not be filed separately. Enlisted agencies must complete mandatory electronic onboarding on the Common Digital Platform for issuance of electronic CoO (NP), and applications for CoO (NP) may be made by registered/head/branch offices or factories to any Appendix 2E agency.

Tariff Rate Quota allocation enables preferential sugar exports to the USA, subject to certification and reporting conditions.
Allocation designates 8,424 metric tonnes of raw and refined sugar to the USA under a Tariff Rate Quota for 1 October 2021-30 September 2022; exports under the TRQ are classified as Free subject to the notified Nature of Restrictions. Certificate of Origin for preferential export shall be issued by the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Mumbai, and prescribed reporting and other country specific certification obligations continue to apply.

Export quota for syringes limited; online applications required in specified monthly windows, eligibility documentation needed, licences valid one month.
Export of Syringes with or without Needles is subject to fixed month-wise quotas and must be applied for online through DGFT's ECOM system within specified monthly windows. Applications will be examined under the Handbook of Procedures (para 2.72). Licences granted are valid for one month and are not eligible for revalidation. Eligibility requires documentary proof of manufacture, a purchase order/invoice, and an undertaking on company letterhead confirming domestic commitments are fulfilled; all documents must be self-attested and submitted with the online application, with incomplete or late submissions excluded.

Tariff rate quota allocation for sugar to EU allows quota-based exports subject to certification and reporting requirements.
Allocation of 5841 metric tonnes of raw and refined sugar to the EU under the Tariff Rate Quota for 2021-22 is notified. Exports under this TRQ are Free subject to the conditions of the governing notification; Certificate of Origin for preferential export shall be issued by the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Mumbai. The quota will be operated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and exporters must comply with the prescribed reporting and certification requirements.

Mandatory electronic filing of Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin extended; paper-based submissions temporarily permitted pending agency onboarding.
The mandatory move to electronic filing for Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin is extended to 31st October 2021, allowing issuing agencies to continue paper-based submission until that date. The Common Digital Platform now supports Non-Preferential CoO applications, and all Appendix 2E agencies must complete on-boarding by the deadline or face possible de-notification; technical queries may be directed to ddg2egov-dgft[at]gov[dot]in.

Extension of installation deadline for radiation portal monitors and container scanners; updated compliance timeline issued for seaport operators.
The Directorate amends Para 2.54(d)(v)(ii) of the Handbook of Procedures under the Foreign Trade Policy to extend the deadline for installation and operationalisation of Radiation Portal Monitors and Container Scanners at designated sea ports, requiring port operators and responsible stakeholders to complete procurement, installation, testing and commencement of operations within the newly prescribed compliance period.

Extension of Handbook of Procedures validity under FTP provision through substitution of expiry date references.
The Public Notice amends the Handbook of Procedures, 2015-20 by substituting existing expiry references in specified paragraphs so that the operative end date in para 1.01 is replaced with 31.03.2022, and corresponding date references in paras 3.20(a) and 4.12(vi) are similarly replaced, thereby extending the validity of the Handbook until the revised date.

IEC de-activation for non-updated records to be implemented; affected holders can reactivate by online updation.
A phased de-activation of IECs that have not undergone the required annual electronic updation will be implemented; IECs without updation since 01.01.2005 are targeted for de-activation subject to a final opportunity to update online. Applications already submitted and pending regional approval will be excluded. De-activated IECs may be automatically reactivated following successful online updation by the holder, and the updated status will be transmitted to the Customs system without manual intervention.

Tariff rate quota allocations under India-Mauritius CECPA: applications invited with a relaxed eligibility condition and online submission requirement.
Invites applications for allocation of Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) under India-Mauritius CECPA for the financial year 2021-22 by relaxing condition (ii)(f) of Annexure III to Appendix 2A to allow grant of import authorizations for the current year. Applications must be submitted online as per the extant procedure notified by DGFT Trade Notice, with a last date for receipt specified in the public notice.

Refund procedure for restricted import authorisation fees enables applicants to withdraw applications and apply online for fee refunds.
Applicants who applied for Restricted Import Authorisation for specified pulses may withdraw their application on the DGFT portal and then apply online for a refund via Services e-Miscellaneous Payment Service Apply for Refund, supplying the original file number and a validated bank account in the IEC holder's name; DGFT login credentials and an e-sign or Digital Signature Certificate are required.

Relief in Average Export Obligation for sectors with over 5% export decline; EPCG annual EO to be re fixed and endorsed.
Reduction of the Average Export Obligation is authorised for EPCG authorisations where a sector/product group experienced over five percent decline in exports year on year; annexures list affected product groups for the two comparative year pairs. Regional Authorities must re fix annual EO for the affected years, endorse reductions in licence files and issue amendment sheets. Regional Offices must consider prior policy circulars on EO shortfalls before issuing demand notices or EODC and include this stipulation in the EODC check sheet.

Tariff Rate Quota expansion permits specified imports under India Mauritius CECPA with prescribed import procedure and quota allocation.
The amendment adds specified items to the Tariff Rate Quota under India Mauritius CECPA with identified HS codes, in quota tariffs and quantities, establishes a 7.5 million piece apparel TRQ with a requirement that at least 5 million pieces be manufactured from yarn/fabric sourced from India, and prescribes Annexure III procedures: pre purchase agreement, Certificate of Origin at clearance, electronic application in prescribed ANFs by the annual deadline, equal allocation among eligible applicants, electronic issuance of TRQ authorisations by DGFT and electronic debiting in Customs ICES.

Import quota for Myanmar pulses requires certified Certificate of Origin and DGFT NOC before customs clearance.
Bilateral MoU imports of Myanmar-origin Urad and tur are subject to an annual import quota admitted through private trade, permitted only via five specified ports and conditional on a Certificate of Origin certified by Myanmar authorities and emailed to DGFT. Indian importers must submit the scanned certificate plus IEC details to DGFT at the prescribed email; DGFT will verify against the issuing authority's copy and, if matched, issue an NOC enabling Customs clearance.

Import quota for pigeon peas: imports permitted subject to Certificate of Origin and receipt of NOC for customs clearance.
Imports of 50,000 MT of tur (pigeon peas) from Malawi for 2021-22 are authorised only through five specified ports and require a Certificate of Origin certified by Malawi's Customs and Excise Division with Government stamps. The Malawi designated authority must send a scanned certificate to DGFT's email; the Indian importer must send the scanned certificate and its IEC to the same address. DGFT will compare documents and issue an NOC, upon which Customs may clear the consignments.

Export controls on COVID-19 rapid antigen kits: licensing required with application window, quota allocation, and documentary eligibility.
Export authorization for COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing kits is subject to a fixed quota and must be sought online through the DGFT ECOM system within the prescribed application window; export licences, if granted, will be valid for six months and applications will be examined per the Handbook of Procedures. Eligibility requires documentary proof of manufacture, supporting purchase orders or invoices, and a manufacturer's undertaking certifying that domestic commitments have been fulfilled. All documents must be self attested and incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Export quota restrictions on diagnostic kits permit licensed exports subject to eligibility, documentation, online application and time limited validity.
Applications for export of specified diagnostic kits and reagents must be filed online within the prescribed window, be examined under the Handbook of Procedures, and include documentary proof of manufacture, commercial documents, IEC, and a manufacturer's undertaking confirming domestic commitments have been met; all documents must be self attested and incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Extension of precious metal compliance deadlines: six-month one-time relief with repatriation limits tied to RBI guidelines.
Where the last date for exports, replenishment, imports or drawal of precious metal as computed under Paras 4.82-4.84 fell between 01.02.2021 and 30.06.2021, that last date is extended by six months; relaxation for repatriation/forex realisation equals the originally allowed period plus six months or as per RBI guidelines, whichever is less.