Advance Authorisation review eligibility clarified: eligible authorisations may be reviewed where no prior Norms Committee review exists.
Clarification permits Advance Authorisation holders with Norms Committee decisions before 01.04.2023 to file review applications until 31.12.2024; the addendum limits eligibility to AAs issued on or after 01.04.2019 and only where no prior Norms Committee review decision had been taken.

Review of Norms Committee decisions: extended limited time window for authorisation holders to seek review of pre existing norms.
The circular clarifies that Para 4.17 of HBP 2023 allows review of Norms Committee decisions within 12 months of website upload, and that as a one time concession authorisation holders affected by decisions taken before 01.04.2023 may file review applications until 31.12.2024; for all other cases the original Para 4.17 timeline remains applicable.

SION amendment updates export import entitlement for shea stearine, linking import quantities to oil content and customs sampling.
Amendment to SION E-125 revises the import entitlement for Shea Stearine export by tying required Shea Nuts quantity to a specified oil content benchmark, provides for pro rata adjustments in permitted import quantity for deviations in oil content, mandates customs sampling and endorsement of oil content on each Bill of Entry, requires redemption of authorizations by the Regional Authority based on the weighted average oil content so endorsed, and permits clearance of consignments after sampling without awaiting test results.

Abeyance of public notice pauses revised wastage and SION changes for precious metals while industry may submit corroborative data.
The notice places the abeyance of Public Notice No. 05/2024-which would have modified permissible wastage and Standard Input Output Norms for gold, platinum and silver-until 31 July 2024, and invites the Gem & Jewellery sector and other industry stakeholders to submit corroborative data on manufacturing workflow and wastage/recovery justifications to the Norms Committee within one month via the provided email.

Abeyance of public notice restores prior wastage norms pending industry data submission and reassessment by the trade norms committee.
Abeyance of a public notice suspends the modification of permissible wastage and Standard Input Output Norms for precious metal content in exports, restores prior wastage norms and SIONs for the interim period, and invites the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council and industry to submit corroborative data on manufacturing workflow, process wastage, and recovery to the Norms Committee for reassessment.

Wastage norms for jewellery exports revised; input output norms amended, altering permissible input content calculations for exports.
Revised wastage percentages for specified categories of exported jewellery and corresponding modifications to Standard Input Output Norms (SION) M 1 to M 7: SIONs now tie one kilogram of export product to specified import quantities of gold, platinum, or silver per SION category, and imported mountings and findings used in the export product are excluded from net content determination. The amendment is issued under the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 and Para 4.59(a)-(h) has been kept in abeyance by subsequent public notices.

Non-retrospective application: advance authorizations issued earlier remain under prior rules; no QCO amendment or clubbing allowed
Notification No. 71/2023 dated 11.03.2024 does not apply retrospectively: Advance Authorizations issued before that date remain governed by the provisions in force at issuance; amendments to include the QCO exemption on such pre existing AAs are not available, and clubbing of AAs issued under Notification No. 71/2023 with pre existing AAs is not permitted.

Exemption of mandatory Quality Control Orders: Mines included to enable imports of inputs for export manufacture.
The Ministry of Mines has been added to Appendix-2Y, the list of Departments whose mandatory Quality Control Orders are exempted by DGFT for goods imported as inputs to be utilised or consumed in manufacture of export products, ensuring that such QCO notifications do not bar import by Advance Authorisation holders, EOU and SEZ units for export production.

Minimum value addition penalty applies only to advance authorizations issued after the transitional cut off; earlier AAs follow prior rules.
The deposit requirements in Paragraphs 4.49(a)(ii) and 4.49(b) of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 - namely the deposit equivalent to 10% of CIF value and the 3% shortfall amount - apply only to Advance Authorizations issued on or after 01.04.2023; Advance Authorizations issued prior to that date continue to be governed by the provisions of the Handbook under which they were originally issued, and this clarification does not entitle applicants to refunds of fees already paid.

Suspension of SIONs: listed Standard Input Output Norms declared inoperative and suspended with immediate administrative effect.
Under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy paragraphs 1.03 and 2.04, the Director General of Foreign Trade suspends the Standard Input-Output Norms listed at Annexure "A" with immediate effect on the ground that those SIONs have been inoperative over the last five years; the measure is an administrative suspension of the listed normative entries pending further action and includes a file reference and contact for correspondence.

Import quantity correction: Filter Aid entry in SION E-124 amended, updating the previously stated import quantity for the export item.
Corrigendum corrects the import quantity for Filter Aid at S. No. 6 linked to SION E-124 (Refined Sunflower Oil, Edible Grade) in Public Notice No.01/2024 dated 9 April 2024, invoking powers under Paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, and replacing the previously published import quantity with the corrected figure.

Safeguard measures discontinued on Isopropyl alcohol imports; IPA now free under import policy without quantitative restrictions.
Country wise safeguard Quantitative Restrictions on imports of Isopropyl Alcohol instituted by Notification No. 64/2015-20 (effective 01.04.2023-31.03.2024) have been discontinued with effect from 01.04.2024, and imports of Isopropyl Alcohol are now Free and not subject to any policy condition.

Advance Authorisation discharge options clarified: export obligation may be met by physical exports or specified domestic supplies.
Holders of Advance Authorisation issued on or after 01.04.2015 may discharge export obligation by physical exports or domestic supplies under para 7.02(A)(a). For authorisations issued on or after 10.01.2019, options also include supplies to EOUs/STP/EHTP/BTP under para 7.02(A)(b) and supply of capital goods against EPCG under para 7.02(A)(c), provided exemption from applicable anti-dumping, countervailing, safeguard or transition product specific safeguard duties has not been availed. Deemed export authorisations have the same options and conditions.

Import monitoring registration: ARN and FSSAI licence required for melon seeds to secure customs clearance.
Importers must apply online to the Melon Seeds Import Monitoring System, submit advance shipment information and the registration charge to obtain an Automatic Registration Number; registration is required within ten days of the Bill of Lading and one ARN is limited to one country of origin and one port while covering multiple consignments and Bills of Lading with mandatory upload of Bill of Lading copies. At import clearance the ARN and a valid FSSAI Manufacturer Licence for melon seeds must be presented to Customs.

Modification of SION input-output norms revised import entitlements for export of refined sunflower oil edible grade.
Modification of SION E-124 revises input entitlements for export of Refined Sunflower Oil (Edible Grade). For one MT of exported refined oil the amended import items and quantities include Crude Sunflower Oil (Edible Grade) (FFA 0.5-1.8%) at 1.033 MT, Caustic Lye (48%) 2.500 kg, Phosphoric acid 0.165 kg, Citric acid 0.020 kg, TONSIL Bleaching earth 2.000 kg and Filter Aid corrected to 3.600 kg. The change is made under Paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 and affects export entitlement calculations.

Digitisation of trade forms mandates exclusive online submission and electronic access to codes and certificates for applications.
Directive requires exclusive online submission of digitized Aayat Niryat Forms (ANFs) and Appendices via the DGFT website, with IEC details, RCMC and MSME Udyam status electronically accessible and not required to be uploaded. Professional certifications for certain forms are being enabled for direct digital certification; until digital signatures are available, certified copies may be uploaded. All deficiency letters and responses must be exchanged solely through the DGFT online system.

Bank authorisation to import precious metals updated: specified banks permitted to import gold and/or silver under Appendix provisions.
Amendment updates the Handbook appendix to specify two authorised lists: banks authorised by the central banking authority to import both gold and silver, and banks authorised to import only gold. Each named bank is granted import permission for the specified metal(s) within the stated policy-year validity window, and the public notice effects an update to the Appendix listings that governs entitlement to import under the Handbook of Procedures.

General Authorization for export of information security items requires documented end use, IMWG review, and mandatory quarterly post shipment reporting.
Notification provides a one-time General Authorization for Export of Information Security items (GAEIS) under SCOMET Category 8A5 Part 2, requiring an online application, IMWG review, technical descriptions, End User Certificates from all supply chain entities, list of destination countries, company undertaking, certified internal compliance programme, and AEO T2 certification; re exports need import provenance. Pre export evidence, quarterly post shipment reporting for three years, five year document retention, explicit exclusions for military/WMD uses and embargoed destinations, non revalidatable limited validity, and DGFT discretion to suspend or revoke are mandated.

General Authorization for export of telecommunication items permits one time licensed exports subject to end use controls and reporting.
A one time General Authorization for Export of Telecommunication items (GAET) permits export of specified SCOMET telecommunication goods excluding technology/software and items in Annexure I, subject to an online application, technical descriptions, end use certificates from all supply chain entities, internal compliance certification, AEO T2 status, and inter ministerial review. Prior to export, executed EUCs, contractual proof of permitted end use and signatory contacts must be submitted. Quarterly post shipment reporting for three years and five year record keeping are mandatory; GAET is excluded for military or WMD related uses and may be suspended or revoked for non compliance.

Interest equalization scheme extended with a per IEC cap imposed for the upcoming quarter affecting export credit claims.
Interest Equalization Scheme is extended until 30.06.2024 with a temporary per IEC cap imposed for the quarter commencing 01.04.2024; exporters must observe this ceiling when claiming interest equalization on export credit for that quarter, as communicated in the Trade Notice implementing the notified extension.