Inputs actually used requirement restricts duty-free import to only inputs used in exported goods, superseding earlier guidance.
Notification No. 31 requires that inputs actually used in manufacture of the export product must be the only inputs imported under the authorisation, and that imported inputs must be used in the export product; accordingly Policy Circular No.30 (10.10.2005) is withdrawn and duty-free imports under Chapter 4 of the FTP shall be governed by Notification No. 31, with any inconsistent prior communications deemed superseded.

Unintended benefit prevention under Incremental Export Incentivisation Scheme urges enhanced RA scrutiny and stakeholder feedback.
Notice seeks suggestions to prevent unintended benefit under the Incremental Export Incentivisation Scheme by requiring Regional Authorities to apply enhanced scrutiny to claims involving substantial export growth, including requesting evidence of manufacture or purchase (excise/sales tax returns), checking supplier export history and current export quantum, and calling for any other supporting evidence to justify entitlement; stakeholders are invited to submit feedback to the specified email address by the stated deadline.

Port of Registration inclusion: Kattupalli Sea Port added enabling exporters to access relevant export promotion benefits.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade amends paragraph 4.19 of the Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I) to include Kattupalli Sea Port, Tamil Nadu, as a Port of Registration by Public Notice dated 29 July 2013, thereby enabling exporters using Kattupalli Sea Port to avail export promotion benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy; the revised Handbook will later alphabetize the port name.

Validity of IEC remains irrespective of unit status, allowing de-bonded units to retain and modify their IEC.
An IEC remains valid irrespective of a firm's status as DTA or as an EOU/SEZ/EHTP/STP/BTP. On de-bonding the unit need not surrender the IEC; the jurisdictional DC/SEZ will forward the original IEC file to the concerned RA, which becomes custodian and permits the de-bonded unit to modify the IEC. De-bonded units are eligible for benefits from the RA under the Foreign Trade Policy. The IEC issued by the RA also continues to remain valid where a DTA unit converts to an EOU or SEZ/EHTP/STP/BTP.

Agri Infrastructure Incentive Scrip compliance: non-compliant applications must be promptly corrected or will be summarily rejected.
Exporters with deficient applications for the Agri Infrastructure Incentive Scrip must rectify identified deficiencies by the specified final date; failure to do so will result in summary rejection of the applications and no further correspondence will be entertained.

Personal hearing under FTP para 2.49.2 granted monthly; exporters and importers may apply with prescribed supporting documents.
Personal Hearing under the Foreign Trade Policy is available to exporters/importers aggrieved after review (excluding adjudication orders). Requests must be addressed to DGFT with the header "Request for PH before DG under Para 2.49.2 of FTP." Hearings are scheduled at Udyog Bhawan on the second Tuesday of each month (3:00-4:00 PM) or the next Tuesday if that day is not a working day. The covering page must list applicant name and IEC, contact details, representative's name and designation, subject and justification for reconsideration, date/file number of the decision, review date by PRC/competent authority, reason for rejection, preferred PH date, and count of indexed, paginated enclosures.

Focus Product Scheme additions expand export incentive eligibility for specified HS lines under amended Appendix 37D.
DGFT public notice amends the Handbook of Procedures by adding numerous HS tariff lines to the Focus Product Scheme in Appendix 37D, extending export incentive eligibility (at the scheme rate) to specified product groups-including aeronautical equipment, optical and measuring instruments, medical and diagnostic apparatus, pharmaceuticals and vaccines, jute products, and select electronic components-effective 15 August 2013; it also deletes Copper Sulphate (THUTIA) from Appendix 37A Table 2 with immediate effect.

Modification of Export Product Description updates SION entries to specify Simethicone and Activated Polydimethyl Siloxane formulations.
Exercising powers under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy and paragraph 1.1 of the Handbook of Procedure (Vol. I), the Directorate General of Foreign Trade amends SION A-3530 to Activated Polydimethyl Siloxane (Simethicone 100% USP/EP/BP) and SION A-3529 to Simethicone (Simethicone Emulsion BP/USP/EP), thereby modifying the export product descriptions to include formulation-specific specification references.

SION input-output norm notification sets required inputs for export of fatty alcohol under Foreign Trade Policy.
Notification of SION A-3643 prescribes input-output norms for the export product "Fatty Alcohol (Cetyl, Stearyl, Ceto-Stearyl)" under the Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedure, specifying permitted input items and their allowed quantities per kilogram of exported fatty alcohol (Palm Fatty Acid Distillate and Copper Chromite Catalyst).

SION modification updates export product designation and revises permitted input list, adding inputs and adjusting allowed quantities.
Modification of SION A-1442 widens the export product designation to include a product variant and revises the technical SION parameters by adding new permitted inputs and reducing the allowed quantities of certain existing inputs for the specified acetate product, pursuant to powers under the Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedure.

Registration certificate requirement limited to exports of non-basmati rice and wheat to Bangladesh and Nepal via non-EDI land crossings.
Registration certificates are required for exports of non-basmati rice and wheat only when exported to Bangladesh and Nepal through non-EDI Land Custom Stations; such RCs must be obtained by online application from DGFT Regional Authorities (Kolkata and Patna), and will be issued through the DGFT online system, with no change in policy for other destinations.

Deputation appointment for Console Operator posts: applications required with service eligibility, qualifications, and mandatory clearances.
Seven Console Operator posts are to be filled on deputation/absorption with pay regulated under DoPT rules; eligibility requires holding analogous posts or prescribed service in specified pay scales plus essential qualifications in statistics, mathematics, engineering or computer science and experience in electronic data processing and programming. Deputation normally not to exceed three years and a maximum age for appointment by deputation/absorption is prescribed. Applications in triplicate must include the prescribed proforma, five years' ACRs, vigilance clearance and integrity certificate forwarded through proper channel within the stipulated period.

Appellate Authority designation centralises appeals from regional adjudication orders under the foreign trade regulatory framework.
The Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Chennai, is appointed as the Appellate Authority for adjudication orders issued by Regional Authorities of the South Zone, consolidating appellate jurisdiction for those orders under the administrative instruction referenced in the Office file and the O&M instruction dated 13.6.2013.

Pre-shipment inspection agencies updated: a new authorised PSIA is added to the approved list, altering inspection provider options.
Addition of a new Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency to Appendix 5 of the Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I) is notified, naming the agency, providing head office and branch office contact details, and specifying its areas of operation; the amendment takes immediate effect under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy and updates the roster of authorised inspection providers available for exporters.

Deemed export benefits require international competitive bidding, with a mega power project exception for tariff based awards.
Deemed export benefits under Para 8.2(f) of the FTP are unavailable for Non Mega Power Projects and are available only if supplies are made under International Competitive Bidding, except that Mega Power Projects awarded via tariff based competitive bidding (or with requisite power tied up similarly) qualify without ICB. Supplies under ICB are exempt from Terminal Excise Duty; supplies not under ICB are eligible for refund.

Online registration for export certificates becomes mandatory, shifting RC applications to digital submission with transitional hard-copy issuance.
Registration Certificates for exports of cotton, cotton yarn, non-basmati rice, wheat and sugar must be applied for online; until the Message Exchange System with CBEC is in place applicants must bring a printed copy of the online application plus Letter of Credit or Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate as applicable and the Export Contract when collecting the hard-copy RC. Grant of RCs will continue in hard form initially, with electronic copies available on request and full electronic transmission to follow once MES is operational.

Transaction cost reduction initiative to identify export procedural impediments and recommend digital, paperless processing reforms.
Constitution of a Second Task Force on Transaction Cost to identify causes of high export transaction costs, locate administrative impediments and procedural complexities, compare India's export procedures with major competitors, and recommend guidelines drawn from global best practices. The Task Force must also suggest measures to increase transparency and move toward paperless processing through digital platforms, and solicit suggestions from central and state ministries, trade bodies and industry via the designated contact point.

Transfer of imported firearms permitted with certification by shooting authorities after specified waiting periods, subject to Arms Act compliance.
Amendment permits a Renowned Shooter to transfer an imported firearm for sporting pursuit to an upcoming shooter certified by a recognized shooting authority after a prescribed waiting period from import; the transferee may later transfer or resell to a buyer similarly certified for sporting use after a further waiting period from first sale. Transfers remain subject to the Arms Act and state/local police rules, and certifying authorities must maintain records.

Incremental Export Incentivisation Scheme: ANF 3F required to claim entitlement based on verified incremental exports and CA certification.
ANF 3F is prescribed as the mandatory application form to claim benefits under the Incremental Export Incentivisation Scheme for exports in Jan-Mar 2013 vis-a -vis Jan-Mar 2012. The form requires export performance figures for both periods, computation of incremental growth and entitlement, port of registration, and split-certificate requests. Applications must be accompanied by a Chartered Accountant certificate verifying shipping bills, Let Export and BRC details, eligible destinations, proof of landing, and annexed shipment-level data as specified in the Handbook of Procedures.

Document submission facility expanded to accept multiple files; staggered call dates instituted to manage processing and reduce exporter visits.
The counter shall accept all documents an exporter brings even if they relate to more than three files, to facilitate trade and reduce transaction costs. To enable proper processing, the counter will give staggered call dates in sets of three files per party so sections can process files in manageable batches.