Pre-import condition for flat-rolled stainless steel under advance authorisation imposes an export-obligation period from customs clearance.
Imports of flat rolled products of stainless steel under ITC(HS) codes 7219 and 7220 under Advance Authorisation are subject to a pre-import condition and an export obligation period measured from the date each import consignment is cleared by Customs.

Re-export of EPCG capital goods allowed for defect, repair or replacement with EO re fixation and duty adjustment.
Capital Goods under EPCG found defective may be re-exported to supplier or exported for replacement/repairs abroad within three years of customs clearance with RA/Customs permission; EO will be re fixed and Customs will credit previously availed duty benefits which can be debited on import of replacements, and the duty component of repair costs plus insurance and freight both ways will be considered for EO re fixation.

CXL concession sugar quota allocation permits exports under specified conditions, requiring Certificate of Origin and customs endorsement.
Allocation of a CXL concession preferential quota of 10,000 tons of white sugar for export to the EU for October 2017-September 2018. Exports are 'Free' subject to notified conditions and applicable export duty. Certificate of Origin must be issued by the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Mumbai, and the EUR form endorsed by Customs; reporting obligations under the relevant Notification must be followed.

Catch-all export control requires SCOMET licence where an item risks WMD, missile or military use; export regulated.
Exporters notified by authority, or who know or have reason to believe that an item not on the SCOMET list could be used in or diverted to WMD, missile systems, or military use, must apply for a SCOMET licence; such exports may be denied or permitted under the SCOMET licensing procedure (Paragraph 2.73). "Military use" is defined to include incorporation into, or use, development, or production of, items in SCOMET Categories 5D or 6.

Fixation of norms streamlines online norms fixation and Advance Authorisation procedures with mandatory data, documentation, and compliance.
Amendments centralize fixation of norms through seven Norms Committees at DGFT headquarters with designated product coverage and email contacts, require applicants to provide active contact details and up to three years' production/consumption data, and allow ad hoc norms generally valid for one authorisation (with limited extensions). Applications are to be filed online and Norms Committees shall forward files to concerned agencies promptly; documentary proof of export may be used to re-credit entitlement pending norms fixation. Holders must maintain certified Appendix 4-I records, link authorisation/file numbers to export documents online, and comply with customs, bond, BG/LUT and GST-related requirements; specific rules address re-export, DFIA, pharmaceuticals, and gems and jewellery imports.

Standard Input Output Norms amendment updates toothbrush export input requirements, adding PBT filament and specifying input output quantities.
Amendment to SION H-331 revises input requirements for toothbrush exports: relevant polymer for handles (1.05 kg/kg export product as an alternative), toothbrush handles (net + 2% wastage), relevant nylon monofilament or Polybutylene Terephthalate filament (1.05 kg/kg export product), and aluminium/nickel/nickel-silver/brass wire (1.01 kg/kg export product). The Public Notice adds Polybutylene Terephthalate filament to the permitted inputs at S. No. 2.

Single-point contact for foreign trade queries: exporters and importers must use Contact@DGFT portal instead of email or social media.
Establishes the Contact@DGFT service as the mandatory single point contact for all foreign trade queries and requires users to post issues via the DGFT online module, selecting RA Pune for matters concerning that Regional Authority; exporters and importers must stop sending queries by Twitter or email.

Single point contact for foreign trade issues established; use Contact@DGFT for issue resolution and tracking.
Establishes Contact@DGFT as the single point contact for all foreign trade-related issues; exporters/importers must use this portal rather than twitter or email. DGFT will resolve matters within its remit and pursue issues with other central or state agencies on behalf of stakeholders. Each request receives a reference number for tracking, and monitoring arrangements have been implemented to ensure expeditious action.

Pre-authorized bank debit suspension for specified imports requires exporters to verify clients' bank authorizations before proceeding.
Algerian banks have been directed to suspend pre-authorized direct debit instructions for imports of listed food products, finished goods and industrial equipment. Article 29 of Regulation No.07-01 requires a pre-authorized bank debit instruction for transfers, fund repatriation and customs clearance; exporters should verify with their Algerian clients that this bank formalities were completed before 4 July 2017.

GSP certification authorization: APEDA authorized to issue GSP and non preferential Certificates of Origin under FTP appendices.
APEDA is authorized under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 to issue GSP Certificates and Certificates of Origin (Non Preferential), and its name is added to Appendix 2C (Agencies Authorized to issue GSP Certification) and to Appendix 2E (List of Agencies Authorized to issue Certificate of Origin (Non Preferential)) of the FTP appendices.

Extension of TRQ export deadline for preferential sugar shipments to USA extends permitted export period under FTP.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, under Paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020, amends an earlier public notice to extend the last date for export of the TRQ-allocated raw sugar to the United States for the referenced US fiscal allocation, while retaining all other previously notified terms and conditions applicable to those exports.

Contract registration relaxation allows import contracts with prior advance payments to be registered under amended import policy.
Contracts for import of Pigeon Peas/Toor Dal with advance payment made prior to 5 August 2017 may be registered by the jurisdictional Regional Authorities headed by Additional DGFTs if a contract/purchase invoice and bank certified payment details showing the import purpose are produced; registrations require verification and Head of Office approval and must be filed within the prescribed short term window with payment of the specified application fee.

ITC(HS) code harmonisation expands MEIS coverage for exports by correcting classifications and preserving benefit eligibility.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade corrected and amended Table 2 of Appendix 3B of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 to align ITC(HS) codes and product descriptions with ITC(HS) 2017, addressing bifurcations and description changes so that products eligible under earlier codes retain coverage; these corrections make clear MEIS benefit availability (subject to export policy restrictions) and apply to exports w.e.f. 01.01.2017.

Export/import of Sandalwood and Red Sanders requires SEZ units to use notified ANF forms to obtain an environmental NOC.
DGFT requires SEZ units to use two notified proforma application forms to obtain a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change via DGFT for import of Sandalwood and export/import of Sandalwood and Red Sanders. The forms record applicant identification, submission and fee particulars, item descriptions with ITC(HS) codes, value and origin details, COO and CITES certificate fields as applicable, three-year trade history, purpose and end-use, and carry declarations that the entity and principals are not penalized, not on denied/caution lists, and will comply with FT(D&R) Act, FTP, HBP and related rules; submission guidelines require two signed hard copies and proof of fee payment.

Country specific import-export restrictions introduced via Appendix 2X, notifying prohibited items and their governing notifications.
The Director General of Foreign Trade notifies Appendix 2X for insertion into Appendices and Aayat Niryat Forms under the Foreign Trade Policy, providing a consolidated list of Country Specific Restrictions/Prohibitions on import and export and citing the notifications that impose those controls. The appendix identifies, by country, the goods subject to prohibition-e.g., milk and milk products from China (Notification No. 10) and all items of gold and silver from South Korea (Notification No. 25)-to guide trade documentation and compliance.

BIS registration requirement extended; only licensed refineries eligible for gold dore import authorizations; NABL accreditation accepted.
BIS registration requirement for gold dore import authorizations is extended: existing authorizations must obtain a valid BIS license by 31.5.2018, and from 1.6.2018 only applications from refineries with a valid BIS license will be considered. First time applicant refineries may submit NABL accreditation to DGFT for initial consideration and are allowed one year from the date of DGFT authorization to obtain a BIS license.

De-listing of Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency renders the specified firm ineligible to issue Pre Shipment Inspection Certificates.
The Annexure to Public Notice No.15/2015-2020 is re notified and replaced with a revised list of approved spectrometers and survey meters for issuance of Pre Shipment Inspection Certificates, and M/s SNG Inspection Services, UP (with branches in Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia) is de listed from Appendix 2G and made ineligible to issue Pre Shipment Inspection Certificates.

Entitlement to export freely exportable items free of cost revised, with new annual limits and pharma exceptions.
Amendment revises Para 2.84 to entitle Status Holders to export freely exportable items (excluding gems and jewellery, articles of gold and precious metals) free of cost for export promotion subject to an annual limit of Rupees One Crore or 2% of average annual export realization during the preceding three licensing years, with pharmaceutical companies and supplies to international or government health programmes subject to separate higher percentage limits; such free supplies are not eligible for Duty Drawback or other export incentives.

MEIS Schedule harmonisation aligns omitted ITC(HS) 2012 codes with ITC(HS) 2017, fixing classifications and MEIS rates from 01.01.2017.
The Director General notifies harmonisation of the MEIS Schedule in Appendix 3B (Table-2) to align omitted ITC(HS) 2012 codes with ITC(HS) 2017 classifications, prescribing corresponding descriptions and MEIS rates in an Annexure. The notification, issued under paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-2020), makes the revised list effective for shipments made on or after 01.01.2017 and rectifies omissions from the earlier Public Notice.

Miscellaneous fee payments restricted to NEFT or Treasury Receipt Challan; demand drafts are no longer accepted.
Regional authorities require that miscellaneous fees, including composition fees and fees for excess utilization of EPCG authorizations, shall not be accepted by demand draft and must be paid only through NEFT or by depositing cash or cheque to obtain a Treasury Receipt Challan at an authorized branch of the Central Bank of India.