Processing of MEIS applications based on ITC HS codes; description mismatches alone won't bar claims, RAs must reprocess.
MEIS applications under FTP 2015-20 must be processed on the basis of the ITC (HS) Code in the shipping bill; description mismatches between shipping bills and Appendix 3B do not by themselves justify rejection. Past applications rejected only for such description mismatch are not to be treated as finalised and must be reprocessed under Public Notice No.62. Actual misclassification claims remain subject to review, and Para 3.01(h) of HBP 15-20 must be followed in all MEIS cases.

Tariff classification correction: MEIS entry updated to refine commodity description and HS code under Foreign Trade Policy.
Correction to an Appendix 3B entry under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme revises the listed HS code and refines the product description, effected by a corrigendum issued pursuant to Paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy (2015-2020) to amend the prior public notice.

Self Ratification Scheme allows Advance Authorisation based on Chartered Engineer certified Input Output Norms, with audit and penalties.
The Self Ratification Scheme (para 4.07A HBP) permits issuance of Advance Authorisation based on Input Output Norms and wastage certified by a Chartered Engineer (Appendix 4K). Applicants must file online with Appendix 4E, provide eight digit ITC (HS) codes and technical names, maintain Appendix 4H consumption records, and submit EODC accordingly. DGFT/nominated auditors may audit production and consumption within three years under RBMS; non compliance or excess/unconsumed duty free inputs attract duty with interest, penal action under FT(D&R) Act and Customs law, and potential placement on the Denied Entity List.

SEZ export documentation: physical SEZ shipping bill copies no longer required for MEIS claims; electronic proofs suffice.
Applications for exports made through EDI ports, including SEZ exports, are exempt from physical submission of DGFT applications, EDI/SEZ shipping bills, electronic Bank Realisation Certificates (e-BRC) and RCMC; proof of landing must be submitted as prescribed under paragraph 3.03 of the HBP. For non-EDI ports (other than SEZs), export promotion copies of non-EDI shipping bills remain required and scanned copies of other prescribed documents must be uploaded, with the same exemptions for hard copies of DGFT applications, e-BRC and RCMC.

MEIS benefit for Bengal-gram approved for limited export period under Foreign Trade Policy notification for MEIS processing.
The Director General of Foreign Trade notifies that Bengal-gram under the stated HS classification is eligible for MEIS for exports made from the date of the notice to the specified end date; the entry is placed in the Annexure to the earlier public notice to enable processing of MEIS applications and the applicable MEIS rate is specified, with subsequent corrigenda correcting the HS entry and product description.

Online payment facility for miscellaneous DGFT applications enables electronic fee submission and office authentication, replacing manual payments.
e MPS enables electronic payment of fees for miscellaneous DGFT applications formerly paid by Demand Draft/Bank Receipt. Applicants must submit proof of payment with applications; the DGFT Regional Authority/HQ will authenticate payments, mark them utilized, print a receipt with a unique DGFT reference number, and link it to the application so the fee is treated as paid. A transitional period allows both manual and electronic payments; thereafter payments must be electronic. The facility excludes applications already having integrated online payment. Access requires digital certificate login via the DGFT portal.

Deletion of handbook provision under foreign trade policy removes a Chapter provision and changes procedural obligations.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, exercising powers under paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020, issues a public notice amending Chapter 2 of the Handbook of Procedure (2015-20) by deleting the provisions at Para 2.86; the notice effects the formal removal of that paragraph and removes any procedural obligations or references that depended solely on it.

Export obligation period imposed for maize imports requiring a three-month pre-import compliance from customs clearance.
Appendix 4J of the Hand Book of Procedures is amended to insert Maize as a listed input, imposing an export obligation period of three months as a pre-import condition measured from the date of customs clearance of each import consignment.

Removal of Minimum Export Price and Letter of Credit requirements permits export of all onion varieties without MEP or LC.
The requirement of a Minimum Export Price (MEP) and the mandate to export on a Letter of Credit (LC) for all varieties of onions has been withdrawn, removing the prior price floor and LC payment condition and permitting exports without MEP or LC until further notice.

Merchandise Exports from India Scheme: exporters submit shipping bill details when 'Reward' column was incorrectly marked, by deadline.
Requests submission of shipping bill particulars in Excel for cases where exporters inadvertently selected "N" in the "Reward" column on EDI shipping bills despite an affirmative written declaration, limited to shipping bills within the specified Let Export date window and excluding those later amended by customs, to assess eligibility for Merchandise Exports from India Scheme benefits.

Amendments to ANF 4F/4G update export documentation and DFIA procedures for GST and missing EP shipping bill copies.
Amendments to ANF 4F and ANF 4G align Handbook of Procedures 2015 2020 with GST and non issuance of EP Shipping Bill copies by Customs by permitting e BRC/FIRC, Appendix 2L/2U formats and, where EP copies are not provided, submission of self certified Exporter Copy of the Shipping Bill; they maintain documentary requirements for deemed exports, require exclusion of agency/commission when computing FOB for value addition, restrict post obligation use of inputs where CENVAT/ITC was availed, and mandate online filing with digital signature along with prescribed declarations and supporting certificates.

Processing of MEIS claims: RAs must rely on Shipping Bill ITC(HS) codes, with listed exceptions requiring description matching.
Regional Authorities must process MEIS claims primarily on the basis of the ITC(HS) code recorded in the Shipping Bill; for ITC(HS) codes listed in the Annexure, RAs must also match the Shipping Bill Export Product Description with the description in Table 2 of Appendix 3B before processing. The Annexure may be updated periodically. These directives apply only to applications not finalized as on the date of the Public Notice and do not require reassessment of earlier finalized cases.

Seaport inclusion expands eligible ports for export promotion benefits under Chapter 4, enabling exporters at listed ports to claim incentives.
Two seaports are added to the Handbook of Procedures list of ports of registration, making them eligible for export promotion benefits under Chapter 4 of the Foreign Trade Policy. The addition places Dhamra Port and Dighi Port at the end of paragraph 4.37(a), with their alphabetical placement to be corrected in the revised handbook. The amendment is an administrative inclusion enabling exporters using these ports to claim benefits governed by the Handbook and Chapter 4, subject to existing policy conditions.

Tariff code amendments align Appendix 3B with updated HS codes, revising export incentive coverage and eliminating duplicate entries.
Amendments align Table 2 of Appendix 3B with ITC(HS) 2017 by inserting specific eight digit tariff entries, correcting existing ITC(HS) codes and product descriptions, and deleting duplicate entries where eight digit lines are already covered, with changes applicable from the notice effective date and claims reckoned from issue.

Export description modification expands ladies blouse designation to include ladies top and updates fabric requirement for compliance.
Modification of export item description for SION J-290 expands the article name from "Ladies Blouse" to "Ladies Blouse / Ladies Top" and specifies the per-unit quantity and fabric requirement; the Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued the amendment in the Handbook of Procedures Vol. II under the powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy to update export product nomenclature and input metrics for compliance.

Shipping Bill transmission status: exporters must verify ICEGATE then DGFT and report missing data to designated helpdesks.
Exporters must verify Shipping Bill transmission status on ICEGATE before checking DGFT when Shipping Bill data is missing for MEIS or other FTP claims; Shipping Bills are transmitted from Customs to ICEGATE and then to DGFT, and propagation delays can impede benefit claims. If data is not available on ICEGATE or DGFT after the integration period, exporters should report the issue via DGFT's Contact@DGFT service and email the DGFT EDI helpdesk quoting the Contact@DGFT reference number. The notice specifies the ICEGATE and DGFT website navigation paths for checking integration/status.

Change in jurisdictional processing: new regional authority must amend IEC, notify original authority, and enable applicant benefits.
The amendment requires that when a Head Office or Registered Office address change in an IEC results in a shift of jurisdiction, the request must be made to the new RA, which shall amend the IEC based on submitted documents, notify the RA that originally issued the IEC of the changes, and thereafter allow the applicant to carry out functions and apply for eligible benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Product description correction aligns MEIS Appendix 3B entry with applicable tariff classification, effective from the original notification date.
Corrigendum to Public Notice No. 02/2015-2020 amends the MEIS Appendix 3B Table 2 Entry No. 113 by replacing the existing description "Other Mussels Excl, Frsh/Chld" with "Other," effective from 01.04.2015, to align the entry with the ITC(HS) classification in force at the time of the original notification under powers conferred by paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020.

Export Obligation Period fixed at 90 days for SION based imports, counting from customs clearance for Chapters 7 and 15.
Import of inputs permitted under notified Standard Input Output Norms (SION) or upon prior fixation of norms for export of items covered by Chapters 7 and 15 is subject to a pre import condition: the export obligation period runs for 90 days from the date of clearance of each import consignment by the Customs Authority.

Nominated agency list update: State Trading Corporation added to Appendix 4B, recognising it under the FTP nominated agencies.
Corrigendum incorporates State Trading Corporation of India Ltd. into Appendix 4B of the Handbook of Procedures 2015-20 by adding it at Sl. VI of Part C, thereby formally recognising it among the nominated agencies under the Foreign Trade Policy; the corrigendum refers to the revised Appendix 4B as enclosed.