Free Trade Agreement negotiations with EAEU seek stakeholder inputs to shape India's negotiation strategy and sectoral priorities.
Negotiations to enter into a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union are likely to commence; the Department of Commerce will hold a stakeholder consultation in Mumbai to identify negotiating interests and to solicit firm-level views distinguishing offensive (market access) and defensive (import protection) concerns, with preliminary sectoral impacts identified for agriculture, pharmaceuticals, plastics, textiles, engineering, machinery and automobiles.

Services Exports from India Scheme extension of reward eligibility period to 31 March 2017 under amended Appendix 3D.
The Director General of Foreign Trade amends Note 1 of Appendix 3D to extend the period for which notified services and reward rates under the Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) apply, changing the operative window from ending 31-03-2016 to ending 31-03-2017, while retaining that the list of services and rates remains subject to review from 01-04-2017; all other contents of Public Notice No. 3/2015-20 remain the same.

Amendment to Standard Input Output Norms updates product description to Acetyl Salicylic Acid (Aspirin) under Chemicals group.
Amendment to Standard Input Output Norms A-39 revises the export product nomenclature in the Chemical and Allied Products group to Acetyl Salicylic Acid (Aspirin), clarifying export classification under the SION regime and incorporated into the Handbook of Procedure (Vol. II) pursuant to powers in the Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedure.

EU GSP REX registration: exporters must self certify origin for consignments over 6000 and retain records.
Indian exporters must register under the REX self certification system with designated Local Users by submitting IEC and Importer Exporter Profile and obtaining a 20 digit REX number that embeds the IEC and Local User identifiers. REX numbers must be shown on Statements on Origin for consignments exceeding EUR 6000 (multiple shipments under one invoice count as one consignment). Erroneous REX numbers require revocation by the Local User (annulment needs Department of Commerce approval). Exporters must retain origin documents for three years and submit fortnightly trade documents to Local Users; supplier declarations and EU GSP rules of origin compliance are required.

Tariff Rate Quota increase for specialty sugar permits exporters to access non-country specific allocation via first-come-first-serve.
USDA has increased the non-country specific Tariff Rate Quota for refined/specialty sugar for US fiscal year 2017; the additional specialty sugar quota is non-country specific and will be operated on a First-Come, First-Serve basis. Indian exporters are advised to identify a US company to apply to USDA for the tariff-free quota and to consult the USDA links for application procedures so as to utilize the additional allocation promptly.

Product description amendments align MEIS Schedule entries with ITC(HS), applying corrections retrospectively to included products.
Director General of Foreign Trade corrected product descriptions in Table 2 of Appendix 3B of the MEIS Schedule for ITC(HS) codes 62099090, 84879000 and 94019000, replacing existing descriptions with amended text to align entries with ITC(HS). These corrections are deemed applicable from 01.04.2015, the initial inclusion date of the products in the Schedule, and rectify descriptions that existed prior to Public Notice 61 to conform with ITC(HS) nomenclature.

Online issuance of RCMC: Export Promotion Councils may issue certificates digitally without DGFT permission, following ANF 2R.
DGFT clarifies Export Promotion Councils may adopt online mechanisms for issuance of RCMCs without prior permission, provided the online format follows the general layout prescribed in ANF 2R of the Appendices and Aayat Niryat Forms of the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20). EPCs should introduce online applications, processing and issuance, plan a timeframe and roadmap for changeover, and share that roadmap with the Directorate.

MEIS extension for onion exports continued under Foreign Trade Policy, maintaining incentive eligibility for a further short period.
Extension of MEIS benefit for 'Onions Fresh or Chilled' under ITC (HS) code 07031010 is authorized under paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-2020), extending the notified FOB-based export incentive so that exporters remain eligible to claim the MEIS benefit for shipments effected up to 30.06.2017.

Import controls on un-shredded metal scrap require clearance through designated seaports and pre-inspection certificates from country of origin.
Imports of un-shredded metallic scrap must clear through notified designated seaports; ICDs may handle clearance only if consignments pass through those seaports. Import consignments require a pre-inspection certificate from the country of origin, superseding the earlier provision in Public Notice No. 23/2015-20, although the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certification requirement will be reviewed when the mechanism under Public Notice No. 38/2016 is operationalised and risk is assessed.

Designated ports for un shredded metallic scrap imports narrowed; specified ports must install radiation portal monitors and scanners or face derecognition.
Paragraph 2.54(d)(iv) of the Handbook of Procedures, 2015-2020 is amended to narrow the list of designated ports for import of un shredded metallic scrap and to bar exceptions including for EOUs and SEZs. The listed sea ports are permitted to import un shredded scrap on a temporary basis until they install and operationalise Radiation Portal Monitors and Container Scanners; ports failing to meet the installation requirement within the extended period will be derecognized for such imports.

Export obligation period limited for specified inputs under Advance Authorizations, including stricter 12 month rule for certain drug imports.
Amendments to Appendix 4J set specific export obligation periods for inputs imported under Advance Authorizations with pre import conditions, specifying distinct periods for categories such as spice inputs for value addition, drugs from unregistered sources, penicillin and 6 APA from unregistered sources, tea, silk, precious metals, raw sugar, natural rubber, certain notified SION items, and fabrics under the Special Advance Authorization Scheme. General Note No.15 of the Chemical and Allied Products SION restricts export obligation to 12 months for penicillin/6 APA imported from unregistered sources, prohibits further extension, and requires the licensing authority to endorse this on the Authorization; imports from registered sources follow the normal period.

Harmonization of MEIS schedule aligns export incentive descriptions with ITC (HS) 2017; harmonized schedule available on DGFT website.
The Trade Notice issues a harmonized MEIS schedule revising Appendix 3B (Table 2) descriptions to align MEIS entries with ITC (HS), 2017 nomenclature, and states the harmonized schedule is published and available on the Director General of Foreign Trade website.

Harmonisation of MEIS schedule with updated HS classification ensures a consolidated export incentive schedule and revised sequence.
The re-notified MEIS Schedule in Appendix 3B harmonises MEIS listings with ITC(HS) 2017, consolidating earlier notifications into a single sequence mapped to 2017 HS codes and descriptions, publishing the applicable incentive rates, and declaring the consolidated schedule effective for shipments from the stated commencement date; the consolidated list is available on the official website.

MEIS benefit removal on guar flour and meal renders those exports ineligible under FTP policy.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, under authority of the Foreign Trade Policy, amends Appendix 3B by revising Sl. No. 472 for ITC(HS) code 11061000 to exclude guar seeds; as a result, flour, meal and powder of guar seeds are immediately ineligible for MEIS benefits.

Change of jurisdiction for IEC holders: new RA must amend IEC on documents and notify the original RA, enabling benefits
When an IEC holder seeks modification of Head Office or Registered Office address involving a jurisdictional RA shift, the request must be made to the new RA into whose jurisdiction the applicant is relocating. The new RA will examine submitted documents, amend the IEC as appropriate, allow the applicant to carry out necessary functions and apply for eligible benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy, and separately inform the RA that originally issued the IEC of the changes made.

Jurisdictional RA choice for export incentive claims requires an annual option and prescribes MEIS/SEIS filing authorities.
Applicants must elect one Jurisdictional RA at the start of the financial year based on IEC endorsed office address; that election is fixed for the year. MEIS jurisdiction: DTA/EHTP/BTP/STP units use DGFT Jurisdictional RA; SEZ/EOU units use respective SEZ Development Commissioner; mixed units apply to respective jurisdictions. SEIS requires a single annual application: DTA units to DGFT RA, SEZ units to respective Development Commissioner, multiple SEZ units to the Commissioner of the SEZ with highest forex earnings, and mixed DTA+SEZ units to DGFT Jurisdictional RA.

Pre-shipment inspection agencies recognised for issuing PSICs; four agencies approved and additional instruments authorised under FTP.
Four private agencies (CWM Survey & Inspection; Global Multitrade Inc.; SMV International Incorporation; Nectar Inspection Services LLC) are recognized and included in Appendix 2G for issuance of Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificates for three years under Para 2.55(d) of HBP 2015-20. The notice lists each agency's offices, operational scope, and records approval of additional spectrometers and survey meters with calibration and purchase documentation in an annexure to validate equipment for PSIC issuance.

Amendment of authorised import and export items allowed with nexus certificate by independent Chartered Engineer and specified export proof.
Permits EPCG authorisation holders to apply for amendment of authorised import and export item lists while authorisation or export-obligation period remains valid, requiring justification and a fresh nexus certificate from an independent Chartered Engineer; clarifies third-party export proof as either an ARE-1 certificate with Customs authentication and shipping bill details or an invoice quoting the EPCG authorisation number and date where not registered with Central Excise.

Product description corrections align MEIS Schedule classifications with ITC(HS), clarifying covered goods and retroactive applicability.
Amendments correct specific product descriptions in the MEIS Schedule (Table 2 of Appendix 3B) to align nomenclature with the ITC (HS), replacing inaccurate or abbreviated descriptions for designated ITC(HS) tariff lines. The corrections are declared effective from 01.04.2015 and the MEIS Schedules are to be read with the corrected product descriptions to ensure consistency with ITC (HS) classifications.

IEC modification procedures revised so the jurisdictional RA processes address-change requests and permits benefit access at the new address.
Procedural amendments require the Regional Authority under whose jurisdiction the applicant exists to process IEC address-change requests and amend the IEC if appropriate, intimating the RA to which transfer is sought; the receiving RA shall allow the entity at its new address to perform functions and apply for FTP benefits. Rejected online IEC applicants who have paid the application fee may rectify defects and reapply without further fee. Application fees paid for earlier cancelled authorizations may be adjusted against replacement authorizations, subject to a minimum fee and proper linkage by the RA.