System-driven approval of MEIS claims enables automated clearance for eligible EDI shipping bills subject to specified exclusions and conditions.
System-driven MEIS processing for EDI shipping bills enables automated approval of eligible claims while preserving manual RA processing for other cases. Applicants must declare Project Exports status; IEC and RCMC validity, jurisdictional filing rules, and reactivation of disallowed shipping bills are mandatory pre-conditions. Eligible system-approved applications are printable and attested at Regional Offices and dispatched per applicant's chosen mode. Reactivation of disallowed or cancelled shipping bills requires RA examination and a formal request to DGFT EDI Division with supporting shipping bill identifiers.

Deemed export benefits: amended forms and procedures streamline claims for TED, duty drawback and interest.
Amendments to Appendices and ANFs under Chapter 7 of the FTP/HBP 2015-20, effective 5.12.2017, standardise procedures and documentary formats for claiming deemed export benefits. The changes update notified agency lists and prescribe formats for Project Authority Certificates, Certificates of Payments, DBK I/II/IIA statements with certification requirements, and ANF-7A/ANF-7B application templates for TED/duty-drawback claims, brand-rate fixation and interest on delayed refunds, together with checklists of supporting documents and undertaking/declaration obligations.

Export Oriented Unit compliance: updated approval, monitoring, NFE calculation and DTA sale procedures enforce reporting and fiscal obligations.
Amendments to Chapter 6 appendices and Aayat Niryaat Forms of FTP/HBP 2015 20, effective 5 December 2017, update approval, sectoral, monitoring and compliance procedures for EOU/EHTP/STP/BTP units. They prescribe documentary and verification criteria for automatic approvals, Board of Approval composition and powers, standard formats for LOP/Legal Agreement, sector specific conditions, DTA and advance DTA sale rules, detailed QPR/APR reporting and NFE calculation methodology, CST reimbursement procedures, and exit/revival/conversion mechanics, along with jurisdictional contacts and standardised ANF application forms.

CXL quota allocation for preferential sugar exports to EU establishes certificate of origin and customs endorsement requirements for release.
A quantity of ten thousand tons of raw and/or white sugar is allocated under the CXL concession for export to the EU for 01.10.2018-30.09.2019; exports remain 'Free' subject to notified restrictions. Release into the EU requires a Certificate of Origin issued under Articles 55-65 of Regulation (EEC) No. 2454/93 and compliance with Regulation (EC) No. 891/2009; export authorization entries must reference CXL Concessions Sugar Serial No. 09.4321. The Certificate of Origin will be issued by the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Mumbai, and the EUR Form must be endorsed by Customs. Reporting obligations under the existing export notification continue.

Export authorisations for SCOMET items allowed temporarily for display or tenders, subject to IMWG conditions and mandatory return.
Authorisations for export of SCOMET items for display/exhibition/tenders/RFP/RFQ/NIT will be considered by Chairman IMWG on a temporary export basis subject to conditions: no end user certificate; no commercial transaction; quantities commensurate with purpose; no technology transfer enabling exchanges; no authorisation for UNSC sanctioned or high risk destinations; submission of proof of event and participation; an undertaking that items remain in exporter custody, will be returned within 90 days or permitted extension, and Bill of Entry for return will be submitted; approvals by Chairman IMWG with ex post confirmation by IMWG.

Export authorization for SCOMET items allows repair or replacement exports subject to documentation and IMWG approval.
Authorization framework permits export of SCOMET items for repair or replacement either to the original foreign supplier/OEM or, for indigenous items, back to the original ultimate end user. No End Use details or End Use Certificate are required. Applications must include proof of import/export, contractual obligation for repair/replacement, and an undertaking specifying SCOMET category, unchanged specifications, permitted repair/replacement under original terms, and arrangements to return or evidence destruction of defective items. Chairman IMWG considers and may approve applications, with subsequent ex post facto confirmation by IMWG.

Authentication of trade notifications: DGFT-signed notifications carry Central Government approval via Commerce Minister, clarifying validity.
Notifications published by the DGFT in the Gazette are issued with Central Government approval through the Commerce & Industry Minister under the foreign trade statutory framework and Foreign Trade Policy; the Director General of Foreign Trade signs these Notifications as the authenticating officer on behalf of the President under the Government of India Authentication Rules, 2002 and a Ministry of Commerce order.

SEIS online application module delayed; exporters instructed to apply after the newly scheduled availability date.
Availability of the SEIS E.Com module for filing applications on the newly notified ANF 3B is postponed to 20.09.2018. Although ANF 3B was notified and earlier communication indicated module access from 01.09.2018, testing delays require exporters and trade members to apply online only after 20.09.2018; the Directorate expresses regret for the inconvenience.

Export obligation intimation under EPCG: filings to Regional Authorities may be made without a digital signature requirement.
Authorisation holders under the EPCG Scheme must intimate the Regional Authority about fulfilment of the export obligation and average exports within three months of block completion; Para 5.14(b) of the Handbook of Procedures 2015-20 is amended to permit such intimation without a digital signature.

Shifting of capital goods under EPCG permitted during export obligation period subject to fresh installation certificate and conditions.
Shifting of capital goods under the EPCG Scheme is permitted throughout the export obligation period to other units listed in the IEC and RCMC, provided a fresh installation certificate is produced to the concerned RA within six months of shifting. Certificates may be issued by the jurisdictional customs authority or an independent Chartered Engineer, and where the latter is used a copy must be sent to the customs authority. Initial installation certificates must be produced within six months of import, with a one time extension available on payment of a composition fee.

Photograph removal from IEC: IEC is now PAN based and should not be treated as an identity card, affecting RCMC processing.
The IEC format change dispenses with a photograph on IEC printouts and has led to EPCs denying RCMC applications lacking photographs. Clarification: from 9.8.2018 IEC is a PAN based system generated code and is no longer to be treated as an identity card for identity verification; stakeholders should accept electronic IECs without photographs for RCMC and related trade formalities.

Advance authorization norms for spices redeemable on Spices Board sample analysis reports; regional authorities need not refer to norms committee.
Regional Authorities may redeem advance authorisations for spices on the basis of Sample Analysis Reports furnished by the Spices Board, Cochin, without sending such applications to the Norms Committee; this applies to pending and future cases. While redeeming, RAs must ensure that samples were drawn for the entire export quantity, and the circular references the existing practice of furnishing consolidated monthly reports of such redemptions to Norms Committee IV at DGFT(HQ).

License application status: online viewing available for import and export authorizations, include ECOM reference; website status informational only.
Applicants for import, Non SCOMET export and SCOMET export licences must include the ECOM reference with their PDF application and supporting documents. Application status can be viewed on the DGFT website under Exporter Facilitation Restricted Licenses Application Status for SCOMET Restricted Import Licences, Non SCOMET Licences, or Restricted Import Licences. Website status is updated as inputs arrive from administrative Ministries/Departments and may lag; the displayed status is informational only and the actual signed minutes uploaded on the website must be used to regularise an Authorization.

Minimum import quantity relief: import of 125 MT of peas allowed per contract irrespective of prior advance payments.
Importers of peas (Exim Code 07131000) may import 125 MT (5 FCL) or the entire contract quantity per contract irrespective of advance payments made before 25.04.2018; Regional Authorities shall issue or amend Registration Certificates to allow such imports and applicants should approach their jurisdictional RAs for registration or enhancement of contracts.

Status of norms fixation: exporters can view advance authorisation status online; displayed status is informational only.
An online facility on the DGFT EDI portal lets exporters with Advance Authorisations obtained via self-declaration view the status of norms fixation; the portal status is updated periodically, is informational only, and regularisation must be based on actual signed minutes uploaded on the DGFT website.

Acceptance of installation certificate permits RAs to waive penalty where installation occurred within prescribed period subject to no investigation.
Regional Authorities may accept installation certificates under the EPCG Scheme without imposing a penalty as a one time relaxation for authorizations issued up to 31.03.2015, provided the capital goods were installed within the prescribed period and the EPCG authorization is not under investigation or adjudication; the relaxation is available until 31.03.2019 and penalties already paid will not be refunded.

MEIS eligibility expanded for HS Code 63029100 to match existing code rates and markets for the prior period.
Director General of Foreign Trade amends Appendix 3B, Table 2 to make HS Code 63029100 eligible for MEIS for exports in the period 01.04.2015 to 30.09.2015, aligning its rates and destination markets with those applicable to HS Code 63029190 and specifying that eligibility is granted without late cut.

Importer-Exporter Code applications will be auto-generated; digital signatures no longer required and PAN will be auto-verified.
Integration of the CBDT PAN web service with the DGFT IEC system enforces PAN automatic verification, removes PAN copy submission and waives digital signature for fresh IECs and amendments; online applications therefore require only address proof and a cancelled cheque or bank certificate, IECs will be auto-generated on submission with fees and documents, and post-verification by Regional Authorities with penalties for false information is required.

MEIS rate enhancement raises export incentive rates for specified HS codes, effective for exports made thereafter.
Amendment increases MEIS incentive rates in Appendix 3B, Table 2 for specified ITC HS 2017 codes, prescribing enhanced rates applicable to exports made on or after the notified effective date and re-notifying HS code 62142010 at 5% to correct a prior mis-notification.

Importer-Exporter Code automation: IECs system-generated, filed without digital signatures and modified online with RA post verification.
Applications for Importer Exporter Code must be filed online in ANF 2A with applicable fees and scanned documents; IECs will be system auto generated and notified by e mail/SMS for viewing and printing. Applicants must upload a cancelled cheque with the entity's pre printed name or a bank certificate in ANF 2A(1) format and address proof. Regional Authorities will perform post verification. Modifications are to be made online with signed applications and supporting documents, except that cancellation of numeric IECs and PAN changes in numeric IECs must be requested from the jurisdictional RA, who must ensure transfer of liabilities and update the central server.