Suspension of Standard Input-Output Norms: immediate suspension of specified chemical-product SIONs under DGFT regulatory authority.
Exercising authority under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy and Paragraph 1.1 of the Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I), the Director General of Foreign Trade suspends operation of specified Standard Input-Output Norms for the product group "Chemicals & Allied Products"-SION- A-84, SION- A-197, SION A-2287, SION A-2476, SION A-2583, and SION A-3139-with immediate effect until further order.

Pre-shipment inspection agencies added, expanding the approved PSIA list for export import compliance under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Amendment to the Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I) adds nine entities to Appendix 5 as recognized Pre Shipment Inspection Agencies (PSIA), detailing names, addresses, contacts and territories, and corrects the address details of an existing PSIA at Sl. No. 38; all changes take effect immediately under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy, thereby updating the official list of approved inspection agencies relied on for export import compliance.

Type Approval Certificates accepted from parties to the international vehicle technical prescriptions Agreement for import compliance under Chapter 87.
Type Approval Certificates and Certificates of Production may be accepted for import clearance where issued by authorities of countries that are Contracting Parties to the international Agreement on uniform technical prescriptions for wheeled vehicles and reciprocal recognition of approvals; licensing and customs authorities are referred to the UNECE publication listing accredited agencies and directed to apply Policy Conditions 7 and 9 of Chapter 87 of the ITC (HS).

Delegation of extension power for installation of capital goods permits regional authorities to approve extended installation periods.
Amendment requires the authorization holder to produce to the concerned Regional Authority a certificate from the Jurisdictional Central Excise Authority confirming installation of capital goods at the holder's or supporting manufacturer's/vendor's premises within six months of import completion; the Regional Authority may consider extensions of time for installation up to a maximum of eighteen months from the date of completion of import.

Export proceeds via insurance agencies: RAs may process claims by uploading approved claim value in the DGFT EDI system.
An applicant receiving export proceeds through an insurance agency must present the agency's proof of payment to the concerned RA. After verifying the bona fides, the RA will obtain Additional DGFT (EDI) approval and upload the claim value in the DGFT EDI system in lieu of an eBRC. If the proof states the claim in foreign exchange and INR, the foreign exchange amount is used; if stated only in INR, the RA will convert INR to US dollars using the exchange rate published by the customs/central tax authority on the settlement date.

Third-party export claims under EDI permit first-party authorization enabling third parties to utilize linked shipping bills and eBRCs.
Claims for Third Party export benefits under the EDI system require the First Party to link shipping bills and eBRCs and may authorize a Third Party to claim specific shipping bill items; authorized Third Parties may then utilize those items. Foreign exchange realizations recorded in eBRCs are converted using published monthly exchange rates when available, and where not available the INR value in the eBRC is converted into US dollars using the prevailing US$/INR rate on the date of realization as published by the customs authority.

Modification of SION norms for Ambrettolide reduces input quantities and replaces caustic soda with seedlac.
Modification of SION A-1730 revises input requirements for the export product Ambrettolide under FTP and Handbook authority by reducing permitted quantities for Serial Numbers 1-3 and replacing the Serial Number 4 input from caustic soda to seedlac; the revised input schedule is Trimethyl Orthoformate 0.1724 kg, Britol (Paraffinic Mineral Oil) 1.020 kg, Glycerine 3.053 kg and Seedlac 12.757 kg.

SION revision reduces permitted input quantities for a specified chemical export product, preserving product description and inputs.
Modification of Standard Input Output Norms (SION) A-2611 revises permitted input quantities for a specified chemical export product by deleting and replacing the existing SION entry in the Handbook of Procedures Vol II; the inputs and export product description remain unchanged while the allowed quantities for listed import items are reduced.

Export authorization requirement for specified hazardous chemicals: electronic application with prescribed data, issue upon central clearance.
Exports of Dimethylamine Hydrochloride, Sodium Cyanide and Sodium Fluoride require prior DGFT authorization. Exporters must e mail the designated inbox (with copy to the jurisdictional Regional Authority) providing IE Code, applicant name and address, item with ITC(HS) code, quantity (figures and words), FOB value, foreign buyer details and three years' export history. DGFT headquarters will decide on the submission; the jurisdictional Regional Authority will issue authorizations after headquarters clearance and on receipt of the formal ANF 2D application.

Specific input identification required in shipping bills for export authorisation redemption; interim invoice signature permitted for SEZ filings.
Paragraph 4.1.15 requires the exact specific name/description of inputs used in manufacturing exported goods to be endorsed in the shipping bill and to match the Authorisation; only inputs so endorsed will be allowed at redemption or discharge of export obligation. Where SEZ-online lacks a facility to record input details, assessing officers should put their dated signature on the body of the invoice(s) attached to the bill of export to verify the specific inputs, and exporters should use this interim measure until the online module is modified.

On the spot IEC application scrutiny ensures deficient submissions are returned immediately and only complete applications are accepted.
Creation of an IEC Assistance Cell at the IEC counter to verify IEC applications and supporting documents on the spot; deficient applications will be noted in the margin, returned immediately to the applicant and not recorded as 'Received', while only applications complete in all respects will be accepted and acknowledged.

Import of power generating equipment under EPCG scheme: stakeholders invited to propose methods for counting export obligations.
DGFT seeks stakeholder views on permitting import of power generating equipment under the EPCG scheme despite Notification No.7 disallowing such imports, requesting proposals for methods to satisfy the Export Obligation-including using imputed value of power or treatments for common service providers-when power itself is not directly exportable, and inviting feedback to the designated contact by the stated deadline.

Submission of production and consumption data mandatory for listed SIONs; non submission bars Advance Authorisation and DFIA benefits.
Notification identifies six SIONs in Chemicals & Allied Products for review and requires manufacturers and Export Promotion Councils to submit revised data in ANF 4B, including mandatory production and consumption data, as per para 4.10.1 HBP vol.1; failure to provide the required data by the specified deadline will result in stoppage of the benefit of Advance Authorisation and DFIA for export products covered by these SIONs.

Agri-Infrastructure Incentive Scrip compliance required; deficient applications risk summary rejection unless promptly rectified by deadline.
Requirement to rectify deficiencies in applications for the Agri-Infrastructure Incentive Scrip under the Foreign Trade Policy is reiterated for the specified half year. Exporters notified of deficiencies must cure the defects within the prescribed rectification window; failure to do so will result in summary rejection of the application and cessation of further correspondence.

Export authorization for red sanders value-added products permitted under specified notification; government may export through authorised entities.
Permission is granted for the export of value added products of Red Sanders wood by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, authorising the State to export either directly or through designated entities. Export authorisation will be granted by the concerned Regional Authority of DGFT upon production of a quantity allocation letter from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, implementing the export allowance specified in the cited notification under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Input substitution norms updated for niacin exports; Beta Picoline requirement lowered and 3-cyano pyridine specified as alternative.
Modification of SION A-315 revises input norms for Niacin/Nicotinic Acid: production of 1 kg export product may use either 0.980 kg 3-Cyano Pyridine or 0.9 kg Beta Picoline; Beta Picoline quantity reduced from 1.2 kg to 0.9 kg under the Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedure authorization.

Input-output norm change reduces required Beta Picoline per unit of 3 Cyanopyridine, updates permitted feedstock alternatives.
Modification of SION A-2439 revises the input-output norm for 3 Cyanopyridine: one kilogram of product may be made either from Beta Picoline at the updated norm of 1.05 kg per kg of product or from a specified combination of denatured ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, and alumino silicate catalyst; the Beta Picoline requirement has been reduced from the prior norm.

Redemption of export obligation defaults allowed by paying customs duty plus limited interest to close cases.
Authorization holders may regularize pending and adjudicated defaults in export obligation by paying applicable customs duty corresponding to the shortfall plus interest, with the interest not to exceed the customs duty payable; the facility covers duty exemption and EPCG scheme defaults and applies also to cases adjudicated or pending appeal, as a time limited mechanism for closure of pending cases.

Regularization of export obligation defaults: one time facility permits payment of duty with capped interest to close outstanding cases.
A one time facility allows regularization of Export Obligation defaults under duty exemption and EPCG schemes by payment of customs duty corresponding to the EO shortfall plus interest, where interest payable is capped at the amount of customs duty. The scheme covers pending cases including those adjudicated or under appeal and requires compliance with the procedures in the referenced Public Notice and Policy Circular; stakeholders are invited to use the facility within the prescribed deadline.

Pre-shipment inspection agency notification: new PSIA added to Appendix five of the Handbook, effective immediately.
Amendment to the Handbook of Procedures adds Global Consortium for Inter Border Trade Inspection and Certification Ltd. as a notified Pre-shipment Inspection Agency (PSIA) in Appendix 5, listing its head office and branch offices across multiple regions and taking effect immediately under the Director General of Foreign Trade's authority.