PAN mandatory in IEC: failure to update by deadline leads to suspension of licensing and customs clearance.
Access to the IEC online facility was stopped from 1 March 2000; data already received will be verified and hard-copy modified IECs dispatched. Signed hard copies of online updates may be submitted until 15 March 2000. "Invalid IEC" entries require application for a fresh IEC on Appendix 1A and 2A with the original certificate by 15 March 2000 without fee. Manual modification applications with Appendices 1A and 2A are allowed until 15 March 2000. Incorporation of the PAN number is compulsory; applications filed after 15 March 2000 follow Handbook of Procedure, Vol. I. Failure to comply will result in denial of licensing facilities and customs clearance from 1 April 2000.

IEC updation requirement: non validated IECs will block licence filings and customs clearance until updated and documented.
Holders of Importer Exporter Code (IEC) must update IEC data on the designated website and submit a duly signed typewritten hardcopy with prescribed appendix forms by the extended cut off; failure to have a validated IEC will result in refusal of licence applications at the counter and denial of customs clearance for import or export consignments.

IEC modification procedure allows manual submission with compulsory PAN and attested copy; postal dispatch only.
Manual modification requests for IECs issued prior to 16.11.99 are permitted where on-line update was not possible, requiring submission of Appendix 2A and Appendix 1A fully completed, a compulsory PAN with attested photocopy or allotment letter, and a forwarding letter signed by the Partner/Proprietor/Director/Authorised Signatory. Such requests must meet the prescribed filing deadline and modified IECs will be dispatched by post only; hand delivery is not permitted.

Extension of certification filing deadline: application and deficiency correction periods for export and service export house certificates extended.
Extension of the certification filing deadline for recognition as Export House, Trading House, Star Trading House, Super Star Trading House, Service Export House, International Service Export House, International Star Service Export House and International Super Star Service Export House by amending paragraph 12.2(a) of the Handbook of Procedures; concurrent extensions to the periods for communication of deficiencies by licensing authorities and for applicants to rectify deficiencies.

DEPB rate amendments expand and revise export entitlements, adding product entries and treating incomplete CKD/SKD kits as complete for benefits.
Amendments to Appendix 28A revise DEPB entitlements and add product entries: Engineering (S.No.588-594) sets DEPB rates for machined parts and alloy cast iron brake drums and amends S.No.91 and S.No.363 to 19%; Textiles deletes S.No.11, amends S.No.10 to "Cotton Socks / Stockings (Knitted)", adds 68(d) for woolen blended hosiery at 7% and revises S.No.44(a) and S.No.73; Chemical consolidates S.No.917 into S.No.493 at 8%; Plastics amends S.No.121 and adds S.No.144 at 11%; portable products exported as incomplete CKD/SKD kits with specified components are treated as complete for DEPB benefits.

Standard Input-Output Norms amendment updates SION entries and adds sectoral import-export input norms under DGFT authority
The Director General of Foreign Trade issues a Public Notice amending the Statement of Standard Input Output Norms in the Handbook of Procedures, Vol.2 by making textual corrections, quantity amendments, deletions and substitutions of norms, and by adding new SION entries in Chemicals and Allied Products (A 2387 to A 2402) and Engineering Products (C 1501 to C 1517). The notice details itemised import inputs, permitted quantities (kg/kg, net to net, percentage of FOB), component lists for export products and accountability clauses, and directs insertion of amendments as per Annexures A, B and C.

Border trade permission expanded to allow normal commodity imports via the Moreh land customs station subject to applicable customs duties.
In addition to the items listed in the referenced public notice, normal trade in other commodities through the Moreh Land Customs Station is permitted, subject to payment of customs duties applicable to international trade.

IEC modification deadline requires submission of updated IECs to enable electronic transmission to Customs, or shipments denied.
The online IEC modification facility ceases effective 1 March 2000; those who updated online must submit a hard copy of the modified IEC by 15 March 2000, and incomplete applications will be rejected. Parties unable to update online must file modification applications with required documents under the Handbook of Procedure, Vol. I by the same date. IECs will be transmitted electronically to Customs after the deadline, so IECs issued before 16 November 1999 should be modified by 15 March 2000 to ensure electronic transmission; otherwise Customs will not allow shipments from 1 April 2000.

Special Economic Zone renaming and DEPB adjustment rules updated, plus administrative corrections to handbook appendices.
Amendments correct paragraph numbering and provide that where foreign exchange realised is less than the amount on which DEPB credit was obtained, the DEPB holder must pay, in cash, an amount proportionate to the duty-free credit utilised on imports, including SAD, with 24% interest from the date of imports until deposit. The notice also substitutes "FTZ/Free Trade Zone" with "SEZ/Special Economic Zone" across specified appendices, adds Namakkal to licensing listings, corrects DEPB entitlement for theobromine, updates agency names/addresses, adds a certification agency, and deletes a chamber from the Certificate of Origin list.

EPCG Scheme licensing: defined lists govern eligible capital goods and RLAs may grant concessional licences within limits.
Licences under the EPCG Scheme for hotel, textile and garment sectors are limited to capital goods specified in designated Customs notifications and Annexure III; RLAs may grant Zero Duty or 10% duty licences within their financial limits for listed items without Headquarters reference, while applications for items outside those lists must be referred to the Headquarters EPCG Committee for nexus fixation. Licences issued on self-declaration remain subject to final Headquarters disallowance, which triggers Customs duty and interest liabilities on disallowed goods.

Electronic filing passwords: office issues access on application allowing submission of advance licence and DEPB applications online.
Passwords for electronic filing of advance licence and DEPB applications are issued by the office upon written request to the Deputy Director General including the applicant's name, Import Export Code number and the authorised person's name with attested signature; applicants who have provided these details may collect passwords and must thereafter log in to the DGFT website and submit applications per existing electronic filing guidelines.

Extension of export shipment deadline for onion NOCs permits delayed shipments to proceed due to port strike disruptions.
Shipments of all varieties of onion against NOCs issued by canalising agencies on or before 31 January 2000 are permitted until 15 February 2000, as an authorised extension responding to port and dock workers' strike disruptions, under the quantitative ceiling allocation established by Notification No. 37(RE-99) / 1997-2000.

Standard Input Output Norms amendment updates SIONs, revising product-specific input lists and import entitlement rules.
The Director General of Foreign Trade amends the Handbook of Procedures, Vol.2 by deleting, substituting and adding Standard Input Output Norms (SION). The notice revises SION entries across Chemicals and Allied Products, Engineering Products and Textile Products by changing export/import descriptions, adjusting permitted input quantities, adding alternate inputs and OR-clauses, and inserting new SIONs with detailed input lists; some entries specify net-to-net accountability clauses, pro rata adjustments for metal content, and packing policy treatment.

Value addition requirement for rupee-paid exports must reflect tangible processing, not artificial increase in invoice values.
Exports against payment in Indian Rupee under Paragraph 11.7 must achieve the mandated minimum value addition by an actual increase in the intrinsic value of the export product through tangible processing or manufacturing; artificial inflation of FOB or export documents to satisfy the threshold is unacceptable and undermines the rupee repayment mechanism.

Extension of IEC data update deadline: website updates accepted; submit signed hardcopy to licensing authority without extra documents.
Extension of the deadline for modification and updation of Import Export Code (IEC) data on the official web portal is announced under the Export Import Policy. A signed hardcopy of the information entered online, signed by the proprietor, partner or company director, must be submitted to the concerned licensing authority and need not be accompanied by any additional documents such as photograph or fee even if the IEC holder's status has changed.

DEPB rate list amendment: Corrections to export item descriptions in the DEPB appendix affect entitlement to export benefits.
Amendments to the DEPB rate list under paragraph 4.11 of the Export and Import Policy correct product descriptions in Appendix 28A of the Handbook of Procedures (RE-99). The Director General of Foreign Trade issues textual revisions to specified items across Product Groups-Engineering, Chemicals and Textiles-replacing item descriptions with precise denominations such as Non Alloy Steel flanges/couplings/tees/elbows; specified chemical compounds and pharmaceutical-grade salts; synthetic enamel paints with minimum titanium dioxide content; and amended descriptions of ladies' dresses in knitted and woven forms to ensure accurate product classification for export benefit administration.

Electronic filing of export licence applications enables secured online submission and rapid counter delivery following hard copy verification.
A secured, password protected online system permits eligible status holders to submit export licence and DEPB applications, receive an electronic file and key number upon transmission, and obtain prompt counter delivery of licences subject to later hard copy verification. Hard copies quoting the electronic identifiers must be submitted to the Fast Access Counter; deficiencies will be notified via the website or e mail and must be remedied before further licences are issued, with valuation discrepancies to be regularised under the Handbook procedure.

Tariff classification clarifications: specified imported goods reclassified under ITC(HS) headings with conditional import restrictions and safeguards.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued product-specific clarifications under the ITC(HS) Exim Code assigning tariff headings based on material composition, end-use and chapter notes, and identified operational conditions where applicable, including import restrictions for consumer goods and undertakings to Customs for certain electronic receivers.

Delegated amendment authority under EPCG scheme allows regional licensing authorities to permit specified licence changes without headquarters referral.
RLAs/ZLAs may, without Headquarters referral, amend EPCG licences by altering item model/specification where quantity/value are unchanged, and may enhance quantity with increased value within their financial powers for licences cleared by Regional/Zonal Committees; they may also consider extensions of the Export Obligation Period under Paragraph 6.15 for such licences, to avoid delays in import clearance.

DEPB rate amendments expand textile and engineering export entitlements and add new product entries under export policy.
Amendment revises DEPB entitlements by increasing certain textile rates, adding new textile entries for 100% cotton yarn-dyed fabric, made-ups and cotton yarn, imposing a value cap on a plastics item (hessian bags with LDPE/HDPE liner), and raising the DEPB rate for a cast iron vice in the engineering group; changes are effected by modification of the Handbook of Procedures and Appendix listings under export-import policy powers.