Pre-export inspection: voluntary certification by national inspection body to facilitate EU entry of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Director General of Foreign Trade authorises that fresh fruits and vegetables exported to the European Union may be inspected and certified in India by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation to facilitate entry by providing pre-export verification; the inspection and certification is voluntary and issued under powers conferred by the Export and Import Policy 2002-2007.

Standard Input Output Norms amendments expand and modify input-output entries, adding chemical and engineering SIONs and revising norms.
Amendments to the Standard Input Output Norms under the Handbook of Procedures, Vol.2 revise and add SION entries by correcting export/import descriptions, substituting quantitative input norms, deleting specified inputs and inserting new entries. Annexure A lists targeted corrections across Chemicals, Electronics, Engineering, Plastics and Textiles; Annexure B adds detailed chemical SIONs with precise import inputs and conditional allowances; Annexure C inserts engineering SIONs defining component, raw material and packaging norms. The notice directs incorporation of these changes under Paragraph 2.4 of the Export and Import Policy.

Advance Licence expiry clarified as a fixed period from issue; certificate eligibility criteria and ISO agency entry updated.
Clarifies that the expiry date for an Advance Licence for Annual Requirement means 18 months from the date of issue. Inserts a verification clause in the chartered accountant/company secretary certificate for Export House applications claiming reduced export performance, enumerating qualifying unit and exporter categories (including small scale, cottage, KVIC/KVIB registered units, units in specified regions, specified product categories, ISO 9000 status, service and agri exporters other than grains). Amends the IS/ISO 9000 certification agency list to update the TUV India Pvt Ltd entry.

Service tax registration requirement applies only when the EPCG service is taxable under the statutory definition.
Registration with service tax authorities for EPCG applications is required only when the service provided under the EPCG licence is taxable as defined in the statutory list of taxable services; licensing and customs authorities should therefore insist on a service tax registration certificate only where the service claimed falls within those taxable service categories.

Use of DEPB scrips permitted to discharge customs duty on freely importable natural rubber, notwithstanding prior circulars.
The Policy limitation on duty-free imports does not prevent using DEPB scrips as a mode of payment of customs duty for natural rubber, which is lawfully importable on payment of prescribed duty; earlier circulars and the cited public notice do not affect this position.

Advance Licence export obligation extensions allowed on monthly composition fee proportionate to unfulfilled obligation, subject to exclusions and compliance.
RCMC will not be required for exports of shoddy and specified wool products. Advance Licence export obligations may be extended beyond 30 months on payment of a monthly composition fee proportionate to the unfulfilled FOB value vis-a -vis CIF of imports actually made; extensions are barred for former Value Based Advance Licences, where breaches, misrepresentation, fraud, or prior adjudication orders exist. Appendix 3 (IEC application) is amended with prescribed declarations and banker's certificate requirements. DEPB/DFRC applications may accept FIRC for direct negotiation of documents with a declaration linking remittance to the Shipping Bill(s).

Extension counter facility: optional local filing and scrutiny for export import applications, forwarded to JDGFT Bhopal for issuance.
An Extension Counter of JDGFT, Bhopal is set up in Raipur to collect export import applications, provide guidance, and perform initial scrutiny to remedy deficiencies before forwarding cases to JDGFT, Bhopal for issuance of licences/IEC. Original files will be retained at JDGFT, Bhopal; issued documents will be posted to the Raipur counter for delivery to exporters upon surrender of the original receipt and presentation of valid ID. Use of the counter is optional and exporters may still apply directly to JDGFT, Bhopal.

Export eligibility rules require three consecutive years of exports; concessional recognition limited to qualifying manufacturer exporters.
An exporter must have export performance in each of the three preceding years to qualify for status certificates; any year without exports disqualifies the applicant. The special concessional recognition is restricted to manufacturer exporters of specified small or regional categories, excludes merchant exporters, and requires ISO certificates covering the full three years and an explicit Chartered Accountant certification. The C.A. certificate must detail serial number and date, product, F.O.B. value, date of realisation and country of destination, with each page attested.

Bond redemption eligibility: early release allowed after two years post import if the vehicle remains untransferred.
Regional Licensing Authorities may permit early redemption of bonds on vehicle imports originally subject to a five year No Sale Period if two years have elapsed since importation and the vehicle has not been transferred during that time.

Condonation of procedural lapse in EPCG shipping documentation permitted subject to specified affidavits, declarations and verification safeguards.
Relaxation permits condonation of omission of EPCG licence number and date on shipping bills for EO discharge, subject to documentary safeguards: for direct exports a CA certified affidavit preventing double counting, a list of licences, and proof that exported goods used imported EPCG machinery; for third party exports a no objection certificate, CA certified affidavits preventing double counting, licence lists for both parties, a CA certified declaration that goods were manufactured by the licence holder, and shipping bills naming both parties. Regional Licensing Authorities may decide such cases without headquarters reference.

Export freedom for mulberry silk waste not carded or combed after deletion of prior registration requirement.
The ITC(HS) classification entry for mulberry silk waste not carded or combed has been amended to delete the prior restriction requiring export against a registration certificate from the Central Silk Board, making the item free for export without that administrative condition.

DEPB schedule amendments require exporters to declare constituent items in shipping bills when claiming DEPB benefits.
Amendments to the Schedule of DEPB rates add a requirement that exporters declare constituent items and their DEPB entry numbers in Shipping Bills when claiming DEPB for composite products, and correct, add or amend DEPB rate entries and corresponding value caps across engineering, chemicals, plastics, electronics and miscellaneous product groups.

Export deadline extension permits shipment of unutilized quota onions under prior notifications until the revised closing date.
The notice authorises an extension of the shipment timeline for unutilised balance quantities of onions released under quota to specified State Trading Enterprises pursuant to Notification No. 50 and Public Notice No. 7, invoking the Export and Import Policy delegation to permit shipment up to the prescribed extended cut-off date while leaving other quota conditions and the ITC(HS) classification entry operative.

Trade notice amendments expand DEPB calculation, delete SEZ references, and remove invalidation provisions for advance licences.
Amendments delete SEZ references in one notice; permit inclusion of commission in total FOB for DEPB claims where not shown in Column 14 of the Bank Realisation Certificate; remove the prohibition on invalidating Advance Licences after exports where a Policy Circular allows invalidation post-fulfilment of export obligation by the ultimate exporter; and delete another notice while directing exporters to the Export Facilitation/Grievance Committee for grievance redressal.

Subcontracting rules updated: direct export from job worker premises allowed only with excise registration and return of tooling.
The notice amends subcontracting rules allowing temporary transfer of moulds, tools and drawings to subcontractors provided they are returned to EOU/EPZ/EHTP or SEZ bonded premises after job completion; permits direct export from job worker premises only if registered with Central Excise and not via third parties; prescribes that SEZ job work for DTA units be exported from the SEZ with export documents in the DTA's name. It revises deemed export claim procedures and application documents for Advance Licence and adds/expands Agri Export Zones in Appendix 15.

SION amendments: revised input-output norms impose precise import entitlement metrics and new component accountability rules.
Amendments to SION under Paragraph 2.4 revise Handbook of Procedures, Vol.2 by correcting descriptions, substituting norms, adding alternative inputs, and inserting new entries across Chemicals, Engineering, Plastic and Textile product lists. The notice prescribes precise import entitlement metrics tied to export quantities (kg/kg, net-to-net, per unit), introduces detailed component lists and accountability/specification conditions, and adds general notes on fuel caps and textile GSM flexibility to govern permitted inputs for exports.

Deemed export benefits: branch offices may apply under Advance Licence rules and retrospective relaxations permit conversions and direct negotiation.
Branch offices of registered exporters may apply for deemed export benefits under the requirements of para 4.2 and para 4.3 of the Handbook of Procedures (Vol I). Issuing offices will, on specific request, endorse status certificates (including golden status certificates) expiring on the relevant date with a two year deemed extension. Retrospective relief for licences issued before the policy date includes permitting direct negotiation with prior RBI permission and submission of a FIRC in lieu of a BRC, permitting conversion of shipping bills under para 2.56, and allowing Advance Licences for intermediate supplies against invalidation as per para 4.13.

Special currency basket value revised for deferred payment contracts under Indo USSR protocols, altering rupee valuation and applicability.
Revision of the Special Currency Basket rupee value by the Reserve Bank of India, declared effective from the specified date, applying to deferred payment contracts concluded under the Deferred Payments Protocol dated 30 April 1981 and the Protocol dated 23 December 1985 between the Government of India and the erstwhile USSR.

Preferential quota allocation for white sugar requires a regulatory certification endorsement and designation of a sole authorised exporter.
A preferential export quota of white sugar is allocated from the free sale portion of the prior season's production for export to the EU, subject to a mandatory certification endorsement referencing the preferential sugar regulation and common code of sugar; export under this quota is restricted to a single authorised agency designated as the sole exporter.

Fuel entitlement applications under advance licence updated, including indigenous supply deemed-export benefits and export-obligation extension mechanisms.
Applications for fixation or modification of fuel entitlement under the Advance Licence scheme must be made to the Advance Licencing Committee with the Appendix 10H data sheet; Advance Licence holders may procure fuel indigenously via Advance Release Orders or Back to Back Inland LCs. Indigenous fuel suppliers are eligible for deemed export benefits or may issue a disclaimer enabling the Advance Licence holder to claim such benefits. A new Appendix 10H prescribes required data and declarations, and fuel import entitlement applicants must enclose permission under Section 44 of the Electricity (Supply) Act and commissioning intimation.