Treatment of SEZ-sourced capital goods: treated as imports, enabling EPCG spares import with reduced export obligation.
Capital goods sourced from a Special Economic Zone are treated as imported goods, making import of spares for those capital goods eligible under the EPCG scheme with a reduced export obligation; EPCG authorisations for spares are also permitted consistent with prior policy clarification.

SEZ port code issuance: authorised codes must be used in DGFT filings under the Foreign Trade Policy and SEZ rules.
The Directorate General has allocated specific SEZ port codes to fifty eight listed SEZs and directs applicants to use those codes on the DGFT server wherever a port code is required under the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 and the SEZ Act and Rules, standardising electronic identification for procedural filings.

Registration conditions for sugar export: increased RC limit, CAD permitted and extended shipment period.
The circular raises the maximum quantity per registration certificate, permits Cash Against Documents alongside Letter of Credit and FIRC (to be specified on application), extends the export completion period for RCs, allows split RCs for multiple ports within the overall RC limit, and conditions additional RCs on proof of export of at least half the total permitted quantity; prior release orders remain governed by their original terms.

Import restriction on Areca nut permitted only for actual users or where SIONs explicitly authorize its use.
Importation of Areca nut (i.e. Betel nut) as an input is permitted only when it is specifically listed in the SION for the export product, or when imported by an actual user whose SION either names the input or whose product's SION includes a generic description that reasonably covers Areca nut.

Registration requirement for sugar exports: contracts must be registered and exports reported promptly or face compliance penalties.
Export of sugar is permitted free provided export contracts are registered with DGFT; exporters must pre-notify by e-mail, file a hard-copy application with the RA including proof of advance payment, Annexure I undertaking, IEC copy and supplier details. DGFT issues a Registration Certificate permitting export to be completed within 30 days; suppliers must notify DGFT after supply. Non performance attracts debarment and penal action under the Foreign Trade (D&R) Act. Subsequent RCs require proof of prior export. RC holders must submit immediate consignment reports on LEO and a consolidated report within 35 days with shipping documentation.

SION notification for Tubular Bags creates import-content requirement of high tenacity polyester yarn for exports.
A SION notification (entry J-375) for Tubular Bags (Gauntlet) in the Textiles Product Group prescribes that exports of Tubular Bags made from High Tenacity Polyester Filament Yarn require a corresponding quantity of High Tenacity Polyester Filament Yarn as the identified import input. The notice creates a SION where none existed previously and records the operative product description, the input material, and the applicable input norm for export compliance.

Cotton registration conditions require specified advance payment evidence and timely hard copy submission after email application.
Issuance of cotton Registration Certificates is subject to a maximum quantity per application; emails exceeding that limit will be rejected. Email applications must state the letter of credit or FIRC with instrument number and date in the message body. After emailing, applicants must submit a hard copy of the application and a printout of the email to the Regional Authority within two working days. Multiple emails are prohibited; an acknowledgement will be sent on receipt and submissions from other email ids are discouraged.

Cotton registration procedure requires pre-filing email, hard-copy application and permits split RCs within overall entitlement.
Applications for registration of raw cotton export contracts must be filed at designated Regional Authorities after a pre-filing e-mail to [email protected] with specified subject details; a printout of that e-mail must accompany the hard-copy application in the proforma under Notification No.63. Split Registration Certificates are permitted for multiple ports or buyers provided the aggregate quantity stays within the applicant's entitlement, and all split RCs are treated together as the applicant's single RC.

Indo China border trade item additions expand permitted import and export lists while preserving land customs station limits.
Five import items (readymade garments, shoes, quilts/blankets, carpets, local herbal medicine) and seven export items (processed food, flowers, fruits and spices, specified religious products, readymade garments, handicraft and handloom products, local herbal medicine) are added to the consolidated list of tradable goods under the Indo China Border Trade. All other provisions of earlier public notices remain unaltered and trade continues to be permitted only through the existing land customs stations specified in prior notifications.

ITC HS Code revisions permit revised classifications to qualify for VKGUY and FPS benefits when shown on shipping bills.
Amendments update specific ITC (HS) Code entries in Appendix 37A (VKGUY) and Appendix 37D (FPS) for listed products; where revised codes appear in Shipping Bills the shipments will be eligible for the grant of VKGUY and FPS benefits, aligning Handbook entries with earlier tariff renotifications and effective dates.

Regional jurisdiction updated: new Srinagar regional office established and Jammu office districts redefined under trade procedure rules.
Amendment inserts a new Joint Director General of Foreign Trade office at the Export Development Center, Srinagar, assigning territorial jurisdiction over specified districts including Srinagar, Kupwara, Kulgam, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Shopian, Bandipora, Baramulla, Anantnag, Budgam, Leh and Kargil, and simultaneously revises the territorial jurisdiction of the Jammu office to cover Jammu, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, Samba, Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar; changes are made under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014 and incorporated into Appendix 1 of the Handbook of Procedure Vol. I.

Revalidation provision withdrawn: no revalidation of registration certificates for export of cotton and cotton yarn permitted.
The revalidation provision for Registration Certificates issued for export of cotton and cotton yarn is withdrawn as stated in Paragraph 3 of Public Notice No. 102; accordingly Regional Authorities shall not grant revalidation of RCs for cotton or cotton yarn exports.

Online transmission requirement for export authorizations mandates EDI transmission of shipping bills and authorizations to trade authorities.
ICD CONCOR, Tondiarpet, Chennai (IN TVT 6) is designated for mandatory EDI transmission: all Shipping Bills from this port must be sent via EDI to DGFT and all DES (Advance Authorization), DFIA and EPCG authorizations issued for this port on or after 08.05.2012 must be communicated to Customs on-line.

Renumbering of SIONs reassigns product code for sugar-free assorted confectionery, maintaining previously authorised import inputs and quantities.
SION E-1A is re-numbered as E-131 for the export product Assorted Confectionery (Sugar Free) by exercise of powers under the Foreign Trade Policy. There is no change to the permitted import items or their quantities; the same list of artificial sweetening agents, starch/modified starch/gelatin, liquid glucose, relevant fruit juices/pulps or cocoa and milk products, specified acids, essential oils, food colours and flavours, emulsifiers/stabilizers/thickeners, other confectionery ingredients, and packing material continues to apply, with specified prohibitions on certain substitute inputs.

Renumbering of Standard Input Output Norms: SION E-129A reclassified as E-130 for sugar-free instant fruit juice powder; import permissions unchanged.
Renumbering of SION E-129A as E-130 for Instant Fruit Juice Powder/Crystals (Sugar Free) is effected under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy, with no change to the description or permitted import input quantities. The schedule of permitted sweetening agents, food additives, concentrates, flavours, colours and packing requirements remains operative. Lactose and Mannitol are not allowed as substitute sweetening agents, and cumulative relevant food additives are limited to 100 grams per kilogram in addition to individual limits.

SEZ port codes assigned: applicants must use designated codes for filings under the Foreign Trade Policy and SEZ rules.
DGFT has allocated and published SEZ port codes for fifty three SEZs, listing each SEZ with its LOCODE and location. Applicants must use these assigned codes when filing applications on the DGFT server where a port/SEZ code is required under the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14 and the SEZ Act and Rules; the publication is issued with DGFT approval to standardise electronic filing and processing.

Online mandatory filing of SCOMET export licence applications requires specified documents and original end user certificates.
Mandatory online filing of ANF 2E SCOMET export licence applications is required from 1 July 2012, replacing paper submissions after a transitional period ending 30 June 2012. Applicants must use the DGFT portal, complete all required fields (including SCOMET category, item numbers, port of loading, and bank details), upload specified documents such as purchase orders, End User Certificates, technical specifications, prior export lists and Bills of Entry (first application in financial year), and forward original End User Certificates and other hard copies to DGFT(HQRS) with the online ECOM number.

Advance Authorisation documentation: checklist enforces complete prescribed documents and declarations to ensure orderly application processing.
Advance Authorisation applications must follow a prescribed checklist requiring a duly filled and signed ANF-4A with the attached declaration/undertaking, a covering letter, evidence of authorised signatory (power of attorney/board resolution), and proof of RCMC where not in the IEC. Additional documents are mandated for specific categories-SCOMET authorisations, export permissions, SSI/IEM/industrial licences for manufacturers, consent and licences for merchant exporters, and specialised licences and declarations for bulk drug and fuel imports. An information section requires fee details and identification of items covered by licences.

Revalidation of duty credit scrips enables utilisation of CVD re-credit without regional authority endorsement.
For the purpose of utilisation of re-credit of 4% SAD, freely transferable duty credit scrips (including DEPB) shall be deemed revalidated until 30.6.2012 without further Regional Authority endorsement where (i) endorsement by the Regional Authority was made on or before 15.9.2011 but the re-credit remained unutilised, or (ii) Customs issued a consolidated certificate (Credit Note) between 1.9.2011 and 30.4.2012, in which case the amount in that consolidated certificate shall be deemed recredited.

Port of registration rules for duty credit scrips allow pre-registration changes when issued from EDI-enabled ports.
The Notice clarifies that a Duty Credit Scrip issued with a single port of registration (the port of export) may be changed by the applicant before Customs registration subject to verification with the RA until EDI message exchange exists; use of the scrip at other ports requires obtaining TRA from the port of registration. RAs must accept change requests only if the scrip was issued against shipment from an EDI-enabled port and has not been registered with Customs.