Export policy harmonisation: Chapters 40-98 mapped to 8 digit ITC(HS) codes; comments due 11 Aug; no substantive changes.
DGFT proposes harmonising Chapters 40-98 of Schedule II (Export Policy) by mapping the description based export policy to 8 digit ITC(HS) codes as a concordance without substantive policy change; stakeholders may comment by 11.08.2024 and, subject to comments, the chapters will be re notified. The draft retains existing export statuses (Free/Restricted/Prohibited) and chapter specific policy conditions, including documentary, certification and authorisation requirements for selected items (for example forest products, sawn timber from imported logs, and items produced from animal by products).

Abeyance of regulatory amendment: Public Notice kept in abeyance; prior wastage norms and SIONs restored for interim reassessment.
DGFT places Public Notice No. 05/2024 in abeyance until 31 August 2024 under powers of the Foreign Trade Policy; prior wastage norms in the Handbook of Procedures 2023 and SIONs M1 to M7 are restored for the interim period while permissible wastages and SIONs are reassessed following representations from the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council.

Steel import monitoring: new SIMS portal replaces old system; importers must file registrations on the new platform.
The Ministry of Steel is launching SIMS 2.0 at https://sims.steel.gov.in from 25.07.2024 at 2:00 pm, discontinuing SIMS 1.0 on the DGFT website immediately while preserving access to previously submitted SIMS 1.0 applications for viewing or download; importers must file new SIMS applications on SIMS 2.0 and may use the provided helpdesk telephone numbers and email for assistance.

Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme: installation certificate timelines and composition fee regimes revised to ease compliance.
The Handbook of Procedures is amended to extend the installation certificate submission period from six months to three years with RA granted further extension up to the valid EO period on payment of an annual composition fee; spares provision deleted. Tiered fixed composition fee schedules replace earlier fee rules for extension and regularisation of first block EO, apply retrospectively to FTP (2015-20) authorisations, and non refundability of paid composition fees is reiterated. Extensions beyond six years may be granted as two one year extensions or two years in one go, subject to specified composition fees and PRC levy rules.

Unique Document Identification Number verification enables immediate online authenticity checks of DGFT-issued electronic documents via the official portal.
A Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) embossed on each electronically-issued DGFT document may be entered on the DGFT website (Services Info for Customs Authorities Verify UDIN) without login credentials to download the complete electronic document; the downloaded electronic copy is authoritative for comparing and verifying any paper copy.

Composition fee for value-add shortfall reduced, lowering penalty obligation for exporters under authorisation when value addition is below minimum.
Amendment revises Para 4.49(b) of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023: where the Export Obligation is fulfilled in quantity but Value Addition falls below the minimum prescribed, the Authorisation holder must deposit a reduced composition amount calculated as a percentage of the FOB value shortfall, payable in Indian Rupees online via the DGFT website; the change lowers the composition fee to streamline compliance.

Interest Equalisation Scheme extension clarified: cap per IEC specified, applies only to MSME manufacturer exporters, no new UIN.
Clarification to the extended Interest Equalisation Scheme for Pre and Post shipment Rupee Export Credit caps the benefit at Rs. 1.66 crore per IEC for 1 July 2024 to 31 August 2024, restricts applicability to MSME Manufacturer Exporters eligible for the 3% IES benefit (excluding MSME merchant exporters eligible for 2%), and confirms no revised UIN is required where a FY 2024-2025 UIN already exists.

Interest Equalisation Scheme extension: relief confined to MSME exporters for a short capped period; non MSME claims excluded.
Extension of the Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre and post shipment rupee export credit is granted for an additional two months to 31 August 2024, applicable only to exporters qualifying as MSMEs, operating as a fund limited measure with a capped outlay and otherwise on the same terms and conditions; claims from non MSME exporters will not be entertained beyond the prior cut off date and RBI guidelines remain applicable.

Tariff Rate Quota scheme updated to specify covered imports, quotas and eligible applicants under amended procedure.
Amendments revise the procedure for imports under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) Scheme, mandating compliance with the stated Customs Notification and specifying HS-coded agricultural and dairy products with allocated TRQ quantities. Eligibility for quota allocation is tied to listed entities by commodity: dairy cooperatives for milk powder/cream; national and state agricultural cooperatives for maize; and dairy bodies, national agricultural cooperative, Central Warehousing Corporation, and state cooperatives for oils. Maize TRQ remains subject to a judicial order that conditions imports.

Addition of areas of operation for pre shipment inspection agencies expands authorised jurisdictions; agencies must update certificates and contacts.
The DGFT, under the Foreign Trade Policy and the Handbook of Procedure, 2023, adds areas of operation for nineteen specified Pre Shipment Inspection Agencies to Appendix 2G in terms of Para 2.52(c), with immediate effect. The notice expands each agency's authorised jurisdictions and branch listings and requires the notified agencies to update their MRAI/ISRI/IFIA membership certificates and office addresses/contact details within a short compliance period to maintain accurate records.

SEZ import exclusion: specified jewellery items excluded from the recent import restriction when brought by SEZ units.
Administrative clarification: imports of the specified jewellery items falling under the cited ITC (HS) classifications, when imported by SEZ units other than FTWZ units, are outside the scope of the earlier import restriction notification, relying on the applicable SEZ regulatory provisions to exempt such imports from that notification.

Export obligation periods under Appendix 4J revised, changing pre import timelines for specified inputs and advance authorisations.
Amendments revise the Export Obligation Periods in Appendix 4J of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023, prescribing new timelines measured from the date of clearance of each import consignment by Customs for specified inputs under pre import conditions and Advance Authorisations. The Public Notice lists the revised periods for each listed import item, confirms immediate effect of the amendments, and invites stakeholder comments within fifteen days to the DGFT email address provided.

Import restriction clarification: re import of unsold exhibition jewellery may be cleared without import licences under export provisions.
DGFT clarifies that re-importation of unsold jewellery exported for exhibition under Handbook export provisions may be cleared by customs without import licences, subject to applicable customs procedures, notwithstanding a recent amendment changing certain jewellery items from Free to Restricted import classification.

RCMC requirement for medical devices: temporary issuance by existing EPCs to preserve RoDTEP eligibility and customs clearance.
RCMC issuance for medical devices is temporarily delegated to existing Export Promotion Councils until the dedicated EPC for Medical Devices becomes operational and onboards the DGFT Common Digital Platform; Customs must accept such RCMCs to preserve RoDTEP eligibility and facilitate export clearance.

Correction to regulatory reference: EO Period paragraph for textiles and DCPC revised, clarifying EO applicability under import provisions.
Correction to a prior public notice amends the paragraph citation in Appendix 2Y of the Foreign Trade Policy, clarifying the Export Obligation (EO) Period applicable to products of the Ministry of Textiles and DCPC imported under enabling provisions for inputs subject to mandatory Quality Control Orders, by replacing the previously cited paragraph with the corrected paragraph reference that governs EO computation and compliance.

DGFT includes 16 pre shipment inspection agencies in Appendix 2G; approvals valid three years; instrument annexure attached.
DGFT includes sixteen agencies in Appendix 2G authorising them to issue Pre Shipment Inspection Certificates effective from the Public Notice date, with approvals valid for three years or until further DGFT notification. Two existing agencies are allowed additional instruments as annexed. The notice revises areas of operation and requires notified PSIA to update membership certificates and office contact details within thirty days. The annexure lists approved instruments, calibration validity and IMC comments, noting both compliant and deficient items.

Exemption from mandatory Quality Control Orders expanded to include chemical and petrochemical sector inputs for export manufacturing.
The DGFT amended Appendix 2Y to add the Department of Chemicals & Petro-chemicals to the list of departments whose mandatory Quality Control Orders are exempted for goods utilised in manufacture of export products, applicable to imports by Advance Authorisation holders, Export Oriented Units and Special Economic Zones. The amendment takes immediate effect and specifies that the EO Period for textile and chemicals & petrochemical products is regulated under para 2.03(A)(i)(g) of the FTP, 2023.

Deemed export compliance revised to simplify EODC applications by reducing documentary and certification burdens for suppliers and exporters.
Amendment to Para 2(b) of ANF 4F sets required evidence for Deemed Exports EODC applications: system generated GST e invoices and e way bills (with certified alternatives where unavailable); shipping bill copy endorsed with intermediate supplier name and file/authorisation numbers where applicable; e BRCs; and a supplies/consumption statement certified by an independent Chartered Accountant.

Relaxation of Bill of Export requirement permits alternative evidence for SEZ supplies under Advance Authorisation/DFIA made before July 2017
The DGFT has relaxed the Bill of Export submission requirement for supplies to SEZ unit/developer/co-developer under Advance Authorisation/DFIA made prior to 01.07.2017. In lieu of the Bill of Export, exporters may submit: (a) ARE-1 with the AA/DFIA file number attested by jurisdictional Central Excise/GST authority, (b) evidence of receipt of supplies by the SEZ recipient, and (c) evidence of payment by the SEZ unit to the exporter, to establish discharge of export obligation.

Value addition requirement for spices: higher threshold where both export and import items fall in same chapter, otherwise reduced.
Amendment to Appendix 6B conditions the higher value addition obligation for spices on both exported and imported items falling within the same spice tariff classification; where they do not, a reduced value addition requirement applies, aligning Appendix 6B with Chapter 4 of the FTP/HBP.