Email submission for restricted import/export applications now required after online filing, with PDF attachments and fee proof.
Applicants for import/export authorization of restricted items must, effective 21.06.2018, file the prescribed online application with the jurisdictional Regional Authority, pay applicable fees, and email the application, proof of fee payment and supporting documents in PDF to [email protected] or [email protected] as applicable; use ANF-2M/ANF-2N and ANF-1, attach IEC copy and any NOC obtained, and download Aayat Niryat forms from the DGFT website.

DGFT office addresses and Regional Authority jurisdictions updated; private SEZs added to Appendix of the Foreign Trade Policy.
The Public Notice amends Appendix 1A of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20 to update office addresses, contact details and territorial jurisdictions of the DGFT headquarters and its Regional Authorities, and to add specified private Special Economic Zones with their Development Commissioner contacts and territorial scope, making the amended Appendix 1A the authoritative administrative reference for office locations and jurisdictional allocation.

ANF correction: 'Appendices' replaced by 'ANF', and ANF-4F and ANF-4G revised and annexed to update application formats for exporters.
The term ANF replaces the word Appendices in the subject and paragraph 1. Amendments are made to ANF-4F and ANF-4G and the revised ANFs are annexed to the Public Notice.

MEIS eligibility for Indian Mackerel: restricted to specified HS codes for post July exports; prior shipments retain transitional coverage.
Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) is incorporated into Table 2 of Appendix 3B with two serial entries and added to the Annexure to Public Notice 62; MEIS benefits will be granted only if the Shipping Bill description matches the Table 2 description. Prior to the July 2018 implementation, Indian Mackerel exported under any Chapter 03 HS code qualified for transitional MEIS coverage for earlier export periods. Post implementation MEIS entitlement is confined to the newly listed Table 2 serial numbers.

EODC camp operations require expedited onsite disposal of pending EODC applications with same day processing and prompt follow up.
Designated Regional Authorities must organise EODC camps to expedite disposal of pending EODC applications for Advance and EPCG authorisations, providing suitable venues, adequate and senior staff, publicising the camps to exporters, and ensuring processing and disposal in the presence of applicants on the same day where possible; cases not decided on spot must be taken up subsequently and concluded within the prescribed short timeframe, and exporters should attend with all documents prescribed in the relevant ANF.

Focus Product Scheme eligibility revised after challenge; prior restrictive trade notice withdrawn, restoring export benefits.
A Directorate Trade Notice that restricted Focus Product Scheme benefits under FTP 2009-14 to bicycle parts classified under HS Code 8481, and required review and recovery of scrips issued for other parts, was quashed by a High Court; the Directorate's Special Leave Petition was dismissed, and the Directorate has withdrawn the earlier Trade Notice, communicating the change in enforcement position on FPS eligibility and prior scrips under ITC(HS) 8481.

Digital signature requirement removed for e MPS payments, allowing PAN-based login for online miscellaneous payments by exporters and importers.
Requirement of a digital signature certificate (DSC) for making miscellaneous online payments through the e MPS platform has been removed; users may now authenticate and pay using PAN-based login credentials. Regional offices and trade users should implement PAN login for e MPS transactions in place of DSC authentication and follow the updated e MPS help documentation for the revised payment procedure.

Project export MEIS entitlement: identification tag plus HQ approval secures notified reward rates despite HS code filings.
Exporters of projects must select an online identification tag and file MEIS applications using the shipping bill HS code, then submit self certified documentary evidence (MEIS application e version, project announcement, allotment letter, bank registration proof, shipping bills, and other proof) to DGFT Headquarters. DGFT HQs will verify and, if approved, direct NIC to amend the MEIS module to apply the Project Export reward rates for the approved HS codes; NIC will implement changes and the Regional Authority will issue Duty Credit Scrips accordingly.

Enlistment under Appendix 2E: agencies authorised to issue Non Preferential Certificates of Origin under the FTP are added.
Enlistment under Appendix 2E adds four named agencies to the authorised list for issuing Certificate of Origin (Non Preferential) under the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015 2020, by exercising powers under paragraph 2.04 of the FTP and directing their insertion at specified serial entries in Appendix 2E of the FTP appendices and Aayaat Niryat forms.

MEIS reward rate increase for specified onion tariff line improves export incentive eligibility immediately under FTP policy
Amendment to Appendix 3B of the Merchandise Export from India Scheme under paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 increases the MEIS reward for ITC HS Code 07122000 (onion tariff line) with immediate effect, changing the applicable reward rate for exporters of that HS classification.

Basic Customs Duty clarified as the exclusive "Duty" reference under Appendix entry, excluding other customs levies for export calculation.
The term "Duty" in the Sl. No. 3 entry of Appendix 3A to the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 is to be read as "Basic Customs duties" only, excluding other customs levies such as additional duties or IGST when applying the Appendix entry.

Quota allotment under Indo Sri Lanka FTA: import deadline enforced, surrender and grievance process enables redistribution of quotas.
Quota allotment under the Indo Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement mandates import completion by 31 March 2019 with licences issued accordingly; failure to import will result in blacklisting for three financial years. Applicants may surrender quota by 30 May 2018 via the specified email by 5:00 pm, and surrendered quota will be redistributed. Grievances for Pepper and Vanaspathi allotments may be filed by 30 May 2018; allotted quota quantities may change after grievance resolution and Regional Authorities must issue licences only after revised minutes are uploaded.

Service provider eligibility clarified: actual service providers, not ports, entitled to SFIS/SEIS for their share of earnings.
Actual service providers, not ports-as-aggregators, are entitled to SFIS/SEIS benefits for the share of earnings from notified services they perform. Aggregator ports may claim benefits only for services they exclusively render and for which they receive and retain foreign exchange or permitted INR payments; they cannot claim for amounts merely routed through them. Ensure no double claim by both aggregator and actual service providers.

Annual Average Export Obligation: excess exports may offset shortfalls if overall Average EO is maintained within the EO period.
Excess exports under an EPCG authorization in one year may be used to offset shortfalls in Average Export Obligation in other year(s) provided the Average EO is maintained on an overall basis within the applicable EO period or block period; para 5.19A is inserted to this effect in the Handbook of Procedures, 2015-20.

Import policy change for peas: only shipments with irrevocable commercial letter of credit or full advance before cutoff qualify.
The import policy for peas was amended from Free to Restricted; transitional registration applies to shipments arriving within the pre cutoff window and to those backed by Irrevocable Commercial Letters of Credit or by 100% advance payment made through banking channels before the cutoff, and such shipments must be registered with the jurisdictional Regional Authority. Registrations based on part advance payments are to be treated as recalled or cancelled, with RAs and Customs directed to act accordingly.

Mandatory digital payment through e MPS deadline extended while DSC login requirement is being delinked for exporters.
Mandatory digital payments via the electronic Miscellaneous Payment System (e MPS) were to be compulsory following Trade Notice No. 25/2018, but some exporters could not pay because they lacked a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). The e MPS will be changed to delink DSC from login to enable exporter access, and the deadline for mandatory digital payment has been extended pending these modifications.

Import policy restriction on peas clarified: applies to all peas under the Exim Code and is prospective.
The Notice confirms that the import policy amendment applies to the entire commodity under Exim Code 07131000 - Peas (pisum sativum), including yellow, green, dun and kaspa peas - and that the restriction is not limited to yellow peas. It states that shipments with bills of lading dated prior to issuance of the Notification do not require DGFT registration, and reiterates that government policy changes apply prospectively from the notification date unless otherwise provided.

Certificate of Origin requirement enables NOC-based imports of pulses from Mozambique under MOU with specified procedural steps.
Imports of pigeon peas and other pulses from Mozambique under the MOU are exempt from recent 'restricted' import policy changes but are allowed only through five designated ports and subject to production of a Certificate of Origin certified by the Instituto de Cereais de Moc ambique. The issuing authority must send a scanned copy to specified DGFT e-mails; the Indian importer must submit the same scanned certificate to DGFT to obtain a No Objection Certificate, which DGFT issues after comparing the two documents to permit Customs clearance.

Scrip validity extension: Chapter three scrips now carry extended validity across FTP periods without amendment requirement.
The Directorate confirms that the amendment in Public Notice 33, which increases Chapter Three scrip validity to 24 months and is incorporated into the Handbook of Procedures 2015-20, applies to all Chapter Three scrips irrespective of the FTP policy period. Scrip holders need not approach Regional Authorities for amendments to reflect the extended validity; the change is effective by virtue of the Handbook amendment and is communicated for guidance to trade and Customs formations.

Appendix 4E compliance requires full technical disclosure to prevent deferment of chemical advance authorisation applications.
Non-submission of complete Appendix 4E is causing deferment of advance authorisation applications for chemicals filed on a self declaration basis. Applicants must provide step wise manufacturing processes, full chemical reactions with molecular and structural formulas and weights, stage wise molar yields, material balance, solvent requirement and recovery, by product/co product details, finished product purity and standard technical literature so Regional Authorities can forward complete dossiers to the Norms Committee for time bound processing.