Validity period amended to within two years from date of issue, replacing licensing year reference in public notice.
The words "of the licensing year 2005-2006" in Para 2 of Public Notice No. 27 (RE-2005)/2004-2009 are corrected to read "within two years from the date of issue of this Public Notice", effecting a change in the operative time limit. The correction is made under the authority of paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy and issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade in public interest.

Focus Product Scheme: notified list of eligible product categories and conditions for entitlement under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Notification designates Appendix 37D as the schedule of products qualifying for benefits under the Focus Product Scheme pursuant to Para 3.10 of the Foreign Trade Policy. Appendix 37D lists eligible items by product code and ITC(HS) headings across categories: value added leather and footwear; sports goods, fireworks and stationery; handicrafts (subject to an FOB value cap in the Drawback Schedule); handloom products bearing the Handloom Mark; and specified value added fish products, thereby defining the scope and operational constraints for entitlement to scheme benefits.

Prohibition on production capacity enhancement for units using plastic waste now mandated under amended foreign trade procedures.
Amendment prohibits enhancement of production capacity for industrial units that utilize plastic waste or scrap by modifying Sub para 5(ii) of Appendix 14 I C in the Handbook of Procedures, Vol. I, made under the delegated powers of the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-2009 to prevent authorization of capacity increases where plastic waste/scrap is used.

Export Obligation crediting: Exports under EPCG and specified duty exemption schemes can discharge EPCG obligations.
The Handbook of Procedures, Vol. I is amended to replace a reference in Paragraph 5.7.2 with Paragraph 5.4(iv) of the Foreign Trade Policy, and Paragraph 5.7.5 is revised to state that exports or deemed exports made under the EPCG Scheme or under Duty Exemption and Remission Schemes (Chapter 4) in respect of the same manufactured export product shall be counted towards discharge of the export obligation under the EPCG Scheme.

DEPB rate correction increases graphite product rate and confirms earlier effective date for compressors' DEPB entitlement.
Amendments to the Schedule of DEPB rates correct the DEPB rate for graphite products at Sr. No. 331 to 7% effective 26.05.2005, and make the 7% DEPB rate with a value cap of Rs. 1120 per piece for hermetically sealed compressors at Sr. No. 588 effective from 21.03.2005, pursuant to powers under the Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedures.

Export obligation for spice value add imports revised to a short fixed timeframe; ports, authorisations and agencies updated.
Amendments revise authorisations, delete the phrase "DFIA for annual requirement" and an application fee entry, substitute a paragraph cross reference, add specified seaports, airports, ICDs and LCSs to authorised lists, require that imports of spices for value addition meet the export obligation within a fixed short timeframe, and add an agency to the Appendix for issuance of non preferential Certificates of Origin.

Registration for testing permitted: R&D-imported vehicles may be registered under CMVR for limited endurance and evaluation tests.
The prohibition on registration and road use for vehicles imported for R&D applies only to passenger use; for limited testing purposes such as endurance and evaluation tests, the imported vehicle may be registered in accordance with the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojana eligibility expanded to specified Gram Udyog products; KVIC/KVIB registration required for benefits.
Amendment adds specified Gram Udyog Products to Appendix 37A for Vishesh Krishi and Gram Udyog Yojana benefits, subject to the condition that only products exported by or sourced from KVIC/KVIB registered units qualify. The Aayaat Niryaat Form is amended to require a KVIC/KVIB registration certificate or, where applicable, a supplier's registration plus a sourcing certificate to claim scheme benefits.

Zero-duty wheat imports permitted for a specified quantity under the Foreign Trade Policy, limited to STC procurement and designated ports.
Importation of wheat is authorized at zero duty pursuant to an ad hoc exemption and paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy; a specified aggregate quantity may be imported within the prescribed timeframe only through the State Trading Corporation and only via designated ports, thereby coupling a tariff concession with procedural limits on importer and entry points.

Bank guarantee requirement for removal of capital goods applies where unit lacks two years' export history under amended procedure.
Units seeking removal of capital goods or inputs must furnish a bank guarantee equivalent to the duty foregone to the Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs/Central Excise where the unit has not been in existence for two years or has not engaged in export of agriculture, horticulture or aquaculture products; the guarantee remains until the unit completes the two year requirement.

Supplier registration requirement governs import eligibility and enables deregistration and enforcement against noncompliant parties.
Amendments require registration of overseas suppliers with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and listing under Appendix 5-B for imports; registration applies only to suppliers directly contracting with Indian importers. The new regime for imports from registered sources is given prospective effect with a transitional rule allowing certain shipments to be processed under the Pre-Shipment Inspection regime. Violations will lead to deregistration of suppliers and possible action against the Indian importing firm, and specified administrative routes are provided for filing registration applications.

Import licence requirement clarified: items not covered by the circular will be subject to an import licence.
Correction to Policy Circular No. 29(RE-2005)/2004-09 amends the final sentence of paragraph 8 to read: "However, if it is not covered under the said circular, it will be subject to an import licence." The corrigendum makes clear that items not covered by the circular require an import licence under the import licensing regime.

Special Economic Zone jurisdiction updated: Kandla SEZ now covers Kutch district, units in Kandla and Surat, and Gujarat EOUs.
Amendment to Appendix 1 designates the Development Commissioner (and deputies) as the regional authority for Kandla Special Economic Zone, supplying contact details, and specifies territorial jurisdiction: Kutch District, units in Kandla and Surat SEZs, and approved EOU/SEZs located in Gujarat, issued as a public notice under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy for administrative implementation.

Standard Input Output Norms amended; new SION entries added and multiple product input quantities and descriptions corrected.
Amendments to the Standard Input Output Norms revise product-specific input allowances, correct descriptions and quantities in the Handbook of Procedures, Vol.2, add new SION entries for chemicals, plastics and food products, and prescribe precise import to export input ratios and composition limits for affected items.

Import of second hand capital goods: freely importable without a specific licence; customs accept importer declaration distinguishing from remanufactured goods.
Import of second hand capital goods is freely importable and not subject to the restriction on remanufactured goods; customs requiring a specific licence for second hand capital goods is incorrect. Customs may accept an importer's declaration at clearance stating the goods are second hand and not remanufactured, enabling clearance under the free category.

Mandatory digital signature and EFT payments for specified export licences; online filing compulsory, manual submissions prohibited.
All applications for specified export authorisations must be submitted online with a digital signature and licence fees paid via the DGFT-designated banks' EFT gateway. Third-party DEPB claims based on EDI DEPB shipping bills must be filed through the DGFT ECOM mode only and manual DEPB applications will not be accepted; Regional Licensing Authorities must verify admissibility of third-party claims from submitted documents before approval.

Preferential export quota adjustment for white sugar increases EU allocation to remedy short delivery under trade policy powers.
Amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy public notice increases the preferential export quota for white sugar to remedy short delivery of the EU allocation for the 2004-2005 quota year, made under Paragraphs 2.1, 2.4 and 2.29 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2004-2009 and issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade as a public interest notification.

Importability of compressors using non-ozone depleting substances allowed; registration requirement not applicable, permitting customs clearance.
Clarification that registration under the Ozone Depleting Substances rules applies only to compressors using ozone depleting substances; compressors filled with non-ozone depleting substances or containing no refrigerant gas are exempt from that registration requirement, and customs may allow their import and clearance accordingly.

Notification of Annual Supplement to Handbook of Procedures under Foreign Trade Policy; updated appendices now in effect and available online.
Notification exercising Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy to incorporate an Annual Supplement into the Handbook of Procedures (Volume I), stating the Annual Supplement and Appendices are available on the Directorate General of Foreign Trade website and that the update takes effect from 1 April 2006.

Import restriction on sandalwood: imports allowed only with DGFT licence issued in consultation with environment ministry.
Import of sandalwood is restricted and allowed only against an import licence issued by the DGFT in consultation with the Ministry of Environment and Forest; the ceiling for each licensing year will be monitored by that Ministry. Licences are valid for one year and not revalidatable. Applications must be submitted on the Aayaat Niryaat Form to DGFT headquarters with a Certificate of Origin, a phyto sanitary certificate, species/quantity/source details, stated purpose, proof of legal registration for processing units or past performance for traders, and, for subsequent imports, utilisation certificates and transit permits. The Exim Facilitation Committee will consider applications and may specify conditions.