Import source registration introduced; pre-shipment inspection permitted for shipments with bills of lading dated before commencement.
Amendment substitutes ICD Tughlakabad with ICD Loni, Ghaziabad in para 2.32.2(b) and revises para 2.32.2(c) to introduce a new system of import from registered sources effective 1.4.2008, while allowing imports with Bills of Lading dated on or before 31.03.2008 to continue under the Pre Shipment Inspection regime per paragraph 2.32 of HBP Vol. I; the list of Pre Shipment Agencies remains available on the DGFT website.

Amendment to DEPB rates: revised export credit rates applied retrospectively from start of fiscal year under trade policy authority.
Amendment to DEPB rates issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade via Public Notice No. 18 amends Public Notice No. 17 and declares that the revised DEPB rates shall be effective from 01/04/2007, updating exporters' tariff credit entitlements and fixing the temporal application of those rates under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Amendment to DEPB rates updates export entitlement schedule; revised rates apply to shipments until further amendment.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, invoking powers under the Foreign Trade Policy and the Handbook of Procedures, issues amendments, additions and corrections to the Schedule of DEPB Rates by Public Notice, declaring that the revised DEPB rates apply to shipments with export dates up to the date specified and remain subject to further amendments; an annexure contains the detailed rate changes and a subsequent notice amended the sunset clause.

Late cut for delayed export applications: graded penalty applies allowing post-deadline consideration under the trade policy.
Amendment to Para 9.3 permits consideration of applications received after the prescribed last date subject to a late cut. Applications received after the last date but within six months may be considered with a reduced late cut; applications received after six months but not later than one year from the prescribed date may be considered with a higher late cut. The change is made under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-2009.

Amendment to DEPB Schedule updates export product descriptions for CRNGO and CRGO silicon electrical steel entries.
Amendment to the Schedule of DEPB rates updates the DEPB Schedule descriptions for entries 387B and 387C in the Engineering product group: 387B is recast as Cold Rolled Non Grain Oriented (CRNGO) Silicon Electrical Steel Sheets/Hoops and Strips/Wide Coils and 387C as Cold Rolled Grain Oriented (CRGO) Silicon Electrical Steel Sheets/Hoops and Strips/Wide Coils, issued under the Foreign Trade Policy and the Handbook of Procedures as a public notice.

Standard Input Output Norms update adds engineering cable entries and plastics general notes, altering input-output specifications.
Amendments revise Standard Input Output Norms by correcting descriptions and input quantities for specified export items across Chemicals, Engineering and Plastics groups, add new Engineering SION entries for Self Supporting Aerial Telephone Cable with accompanying Engineering Tables 9(6)-9(8) detailing per-kilometre input quantities and wastage percentages, and introduce a Plastics Products general note permitting use of upstream input norms for licensing manufacture of resultant export products.

Import quota controls under the Indo Sri Lanka FTA require quarterly allocation and pre quarter licence applications.
Imports under the Indo Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement are subject to a capped annual quota for vanaspati (including bakery shortening and margarine) allocated in equal quarterly instalments; licence applications must be submitted prior to each quarter and annually before the licensing year, with specified exceptional last date provisions for 2007-08, and earlier public notice withdrawn.

Service tax exemption for exports: stakeholders asked to submit services eligible and calculation illustrations by the stated deadline.
Solicitation for lists of export-linked services eligible for Service Tax exemption/remission and accompanying illustrative calculations to determine remission amounts, to be submitted by stakeholders to the Joint Director General of Foreign Trade at the DGFT office by the stated deadline; contact details provided for queries.

Special Currency Basket value revised; new rupee valuation applies to deferred payment contracts under USSR-era protocols.
The Reserve Bank of India revised the Indian rupee valuation of the Special Currency Basket, effective 19 April 2007, and directed that this revised rupee value apply to deferred payment contracts concluded under the Deferred Payment Protocols of 30 April 1981 and 23 December 1985 between India and the former USSR concerning deliveries of machinery and equipment on deferred payment terms.

Export controls on non-hazardous waste updated by new EU shipment regulation; exporters must follow revised rules and guidance.
Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 on shipments of waste entered into force on 17 July 2006 and becomes applicable on 12 July 2007, replacing the previous Shipment of Waste Regulation and related implementing regulations; exporters should consult EU guidance for updated rules and procedures governing exports of non-hazardous waste, as noted in the DGFT trade notice dated 25 June 2007.

Certificate of Origin-Non Preferential issuance updated to add Apex Chamber as an authorized issuing agency for Delhi region.
The Director General of Foreign Trade amended the Handbook of Procedures, Vol. I to specify the Apex Chamber of Commerce & Industry of NCT Delhi as an authorized issuer of Certificate of Origin-Non Preferential, providing its contact details to clarify the designated issuance channel for the Delhi region.

Standard Input Output Norms updated to amend SION entries, defining permitted inputs and net to net accountability for exports.
Amendments update the Standard Input Output Norms (SION) entries: a chemical export item description is clarified; the Colour TV SION lists permitted components and packing materials with imports allowed on a net to net basis with accountability clause; and the spanners SION specifies permitted steel inputs, nickel plating allowance, limited die and cutting-tool items linked to FOB caps, and electroplating salts/additives allowances.

Broad nexus requirement clarified: inputs and capital goods may be imported without quantitative restriction under Target Plus Scheme procedures.
The amendments delete a prior definition and insert two notes clarifying that "Goods" means inputs and capital goods permitted under the Foreign Trade Policy and that no quantitative or duty-quantum restriction applies to imports of inputs related to export products. Appendix 17D for the Target Plus Scheme is revised: specified rows and a note are deleted and Sr. No. 10 is replaced to require listing export products and corresponding inputs, with optional supporting-manufacturer details and optional endorsement of supporting manufacturers as co-licensees; imports must have a broad nexus with exported products.

Import policy review requests stakeholder input on marble and other building stones import regulation changes
An inter ministerial committee will review the import policy for marble and other building stones. Trade, industry and associations are invited to submit opinions and inputs within a fortnight by e mail or post to the designated officers using the provided contact details to inform the policy review.

Amendment to Complementary Sugar allocation: revised quantity to EU under powers conferred by Foreign Trade Policy.
Amendment revises the quantitative allocation of complementary raw sugar destined for the European Union by modifying the figure stated in Public Notice No.5, effected by the Director General of Foreign Trade under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy and issued in the public interest.

Export of Red Sanders logs: licence limited to auction procured consignments with Forest Department supervision and CITES clearance required.
Procedures restrict export licences for Red Sanders logs to exporters who procured the logs through Government of Andhra Pradesh auctions, require application on the Aayaat Niryaat Form with procurement evidence to DGFT Headquarters, limit exports to specified foreign buyers and consideration by the Export Facilitation Committee, and impose conditions including a one time limited exemption, prohibition on resale, mandatory Forest Department supervision with no intermediaries, and requisite CITES Appendix II clearance.

Export obligation period clarified for spices and coconut oil, requiring fulfilment measured from first import customs clearance.
Amendment prescribes a fixed Export Obligation (EO) Period for spices and coconut oil under the Advance Authorisation and EOD Schemes: EO must be fulfilled within 90 days from the date the first import consignment is cleared by Customs, substituting the earlier Handbook provisions and aligning the EO fulfilment trigger with customs clearance of the initial import.

Allocation of raw sugar export quota permits designated agency to export under preferential tariff quotas with prescribed certification.
The Director General of Foreign Trade allocates specified quantities of raw sugar from the 2006-07 free sale portion for export to the EU and the USA, designating M/s. Indian Sugar Exim Corporation Ltd as the export agency under the applicable HS code. EUR forms must be endorsed by Customs at shipment and GSP certificates issued by the Export Inspection Agency or the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with existing procedures for preferential USA exports remaining in force.

Public Notice applicability clarified: processing time-barred TED refund claims, and no reopening of already granted benefits.
Applications filed after six months from the end of the option period but now within twelve months from the end of the originally exercised option period must be processed under the amended para 8.3.1(ii) of HBP Volume I. Cases where benefit was already granted with applicable late cut on or before 23.8.2007 shall not be reopened and requests for enhancement of those granted benefits will not be entertained.

Import quota under Indo Sri Lanka FTA for vanaspati restricted and permitted only via quarterly monthly instalments.
Import controls under the Indo Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement restrict vegetable fats (vanaspati), including bakery shortening and margarine, to a specified annual quota for 2007-08 allocated in four equal quarterly instalments and spread monthly; such imports remain subject to the procedures and arrangements in Public Notice No. 69(RE 2006)/2004 2009 under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2004-09.