Applicability of EPCG third-party exports clarified, para now governs third-party shipments made on or after policy effective date.
Para 5.10(d) of the Handbook of Procedure, 2015 20 applies to third party exports effected on or after the policy effective date, including exports under EPCG authorisations issued before that date; third party exports effected prior to the effective date remain governed by the antecedent policy/procedure applicable at the time.

Extension of Letter of Permission allows Board discretion to consider existing EOUs' textile reprocessing continuations.
An enabling proviso to Appendix-6B maintains the prohibition on textile reprocessing activities for EOUs but empowers the Board of Approval to consider and decide extensions of the Letter of Permission for existing units engaged in such activities, allowing case-by-case continuation despite the general ban.

Jurisdictional selection for MEIS/SEIS claims requires filing at chosen RA or SEZ Development Commissioner, with TRA for manual ports.
Exporters must elect a single jurisdictional Regional Authority based on the IEC-endorsed address at the start of the financial year; IEC holders with SEZ/EOU units must apply to the concerned Development Commissioner, SEZ, for MEIS/SEIS benefits, while entities with both SEZ/EOU and DTA units must file DTA claims with the RA and SEZ claims with the DC. Duty credit scrips are issued with a single port of registration equal to the port of export and must be registered at that port before use; SEZs are non-EDI ports and require scrip registration at the SEZ port and TRA issuance by the DC for use at other ports.

Transitional arrangement allows exporters to apply under earlier Chapter three schemes using prior Handbook procedures after notification.
The amendment provides a transitional arrangement allowing exporters who exported goods or rendered services up to the notification date to apply for scrips under earlier Chapter three schemes by filing applications with the jurisdictional Regional Authority in the forms and with documents prescribed in the corresponding earlier Hand Book of Procedures; clause (b) is deleted and specified incentive schemes must continue to be filed as per their respective Hand Books of Procedures.

MEIS reward rate amendments revise HS-code specific export incentives, restricting eligibility for Japan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Amendments to MEIS Table 2 (Appendix 3B) revise reward rates for 118 ITC (HS) codes, replacing existing rates with new rates effective from the corrigendum's operative date. Specific tariff lines are annotated: codes marked with an asterisk are eligible for the revised reward only for exports to Japan; codes marked with a hash are eligible for the revised reward only for exports to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The corrigendum corrects and partially modifies the prior public notice thereby updating the operative MEIS schedule.

MEIS reward rate revisions: country group reclassification, schedule deletions/additions, and handicraft eligibility certification required.
Amendments to the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) revise Appendix 3B by reclassifying specified countries between country groups, deleting listed ITC (HS) lines, amending reward rates for numerous HS codes (including differential rates for handicraft versus non handicraft items), and adding HS lines whose benefits are admissible only for certified handicraft products; certain codes are marked to restrict rewards to exports to Japan or to Japan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Changes are made under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 and are effective immediately.

Online payment facility for e-IEC enables applicants to pay fees via cards and netbanking, with specified processing charges.
Operationalisation of online payment facility enabling applicants to pay application fees for issuance of online Importer Exporter Code (e-IEC) and other online filings through credit/debit cards and electronic fund transfer from a specified list of banks. The notice frames the measure as trade facilitation and digitalisation to support paperless, round-the-clock online functioning. It prescribes transaction processing charges for credit and debit card payments and a separate net-banking charge structure, with service tax additionally payable, and includes an annexed list of participating banks.

Tariff Rate Quota allocation adds raw sugar export quantity to USA under FTP, subject to certification and reporting.
An additional quantity of raw cane sugar from the non-levy (Free Sale) quota has been allocated for export to the USA under the Tariff Rate Quota for the US fiscal year 2015, supplementing the previously notified quantity; such exports are classified as 'Free' subject to the Nature of Restrictions, reporting requirements, and certification conditions, with Certificate of Origin for preferential exports to be issued by the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, Mumbai, and other specified compliance obligations to be observed.

Certificate of Origin (Non Preferential) authorisation expanded to three additional agencies for export documentation compliance.
Authorisation under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020 enlists three agencies-Federation of Kutch Industries Associations (Gujarat), Indian Merchants' Chamber (Delhi) and National Chamber of Industries & Commerce (Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand)-in Appendix 2E, thereby authorizing them to issue Certificate of Origin (Non Preferential) and updating the Appendices & Aayaat Niryaat Forms of the FTP 2015-2020 with their serial placements.

Pre shipment inspection area amendment updates PSIAs' authorised regions and grants an extension to submit prescribed bank guarantees.
Amendment revises the Area / Region of Operation for specified Pre Shipment Inspection Agencies listed in Appendix 2G, updating the territorial scope for each named agency while leaving other PSIAs unchanged. All PSIAs in Appendix 2G are permitted an extension of time to furnish the prescribed Bank Guarantee as set out in Public Notice No.21 and Public Notice No.19, with the notice supplying administrative contact details for compliance.

Processed metallic scrap import rules: mandatory pre shipment certification and scanning, with importer liability for contaminated consignments.
Import of specified processed metallic scrap is allowed only at ports with Scanner/Radiological Detection Equipment, conditional on submission of a prescribed self-declaration cum legal undertaking and a Pre shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the consignment as processed metallic scrap free of explosive or radioactive material. Mandatory scanning at arrival is required; importer must furnish a bank guarantee and a contract with the exporter accepting return of contaminated consignments. False declarations entail re export obligation, forfeiture of security and further action under foreign trade and customs laws.

Trade facilitation mobile app offers policy, procedures, code lookup and application status via Android download.
DGFT has released a free Android mobile application to facilitate access to trade information and services, including Foreign Trade Policy, Foreign Trade Procedures, policy statements, Appendices and ANFs, downloadable forms, Minister's speech, ITC(HS) code lookup, MEIS rate lookup, application status tracking and social media updates; the app is available on Google Play Store via the keyword "DGFT" or the provided link, with DGFT contact details for support.

Visiting hours for trade meetings enable walk-in consultations with senior DGFT officers on working days for streamlined engagement.
Formalizes an open door policy allowing exporters, members of the trade, IEC holders and non officials to meet officers of the rank of Assistant DGFT and above without prior appointment between 3.00 PM and 5.00 PM on working days from Monday to Thursday, while permitting prior appointments when parties prefer to specify issues in advance to ensure effective consultations.

SION notification for golf gloves allows specified inputs and import entitlements for export manufacture under textiles product group
Notification of SION J-376 establishes input-output norms and import entitlements for Golf Gloves made of knitted/crocheted/woven/non-woven fabrics under the Textiles Product Group. Specified inputs eligible for import entitlement include relevant fabric or liner/lining material with a specific area allowance, elastic tape, binding tape, velcro, logo material, snap fasteners, lycra with a defined area, and knitted ribbed fabric for cuffs measured relative to export content; several inputs are allowed as net content plus one percent wastage.

Bank guarantee requirement for PSIA recognition: new irrevocable demand guarantee format notified for enforceable compliance.
Unconditional, irrevocable bank guarantee format prescribed for PSIA recognition under the Foreign Trade Policy 2015 20 requires the guarantor to pay on demand for any loss or damage arising from breach of the Handbook of Procedures or any other law, with liability payable without protest, enforceable despite disputes, continuing until the specified claim period expires, and not revocable without prior written consent of the Government.

Online MEIS applications now permit digital submission and uploading of supporting documents, eliminating most physical copy requirements.
MEIS claims must be filed through the DGFT Kolkata online portal with supporting documents uploaded and authenticated by digital signatures; physical copies are no longer required except for proof of landing and shipping bills for exports from non EDI ports. Two processing streams-MEIS I (A-M) and MEIS II (N-Z)-have been established to facilitate handling.

Manual filing for Status Holder Certificate allowed until EDI operational; file as per ANF requirements.
Exporters may submit applications for a Status Holder Certificate manually in ANF 3C of the Handbook of Procedures of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 until the EDI online module is operational or until the deadline in Public Notice No. 17/2015-20; filings must follow the ANF 3C format and the procedural requirements specified in the Handbook.

Paperless submission of MEIS claims permitted through online ANF 3A; uploaded documents replace most physical copies.
An online beta ANF 3A permits electronic filing and upload of supporting documents with applicant digital signatures for MEIS claims; uploaded documents will obviate the need for physical copies except that 'Proof of Landing' must be submitted as per HBP para 3.03 and shipping bills are required physically for exports from non EDI ports. RAs shall not insist on physical copies of documents submitted online.

Validity of import authorizations determines clearance eligibility based on shipment date evidenced by bill of lading.
Eligibility for clearance is determined by the date of shipment/dispatch as evidenced by the Bill of Lading; if an importer held a valid Nominated Agency Certificate on that shipment date, sea consignments shall be eligible for clearance regardless of the actual date of arrival in India.

Supply of services to SEZ units ineligible for SEIS rewards, as SEIS covers only cross border services supplied to other countries.
Supply of services from units in the Domestic Tariff Area to units in a Special Economic Zone is ineligible for rewards under the Service Exports from India Scheme because SEIS applies only to services supplied from India to another country (Mode 1 cross border trade); supplies to SEZs are treated as within Indian territory and therefore excluded, and an amendment permitting SEZ exports to qualify does not make DTA SEZ supplies eligible.