Import restriction on Nitrile Rubber: NBR allowed only where exports declare NBR; SIONs for decorative laminates updated.
The Public Notice restricts import of Nitrile Rubber unless exports expressly identify NBR or the exporter declares use of NBR, and amends SIONs H301 and H302 to prescribe input quantities per 1 sq. m x 1.00 mm (avg. wt. 1.45 kg 2.5%), specifies which inputs remain fixed regardless of thickness, provides an adjustment formula (Allowed = AxB/C) for variations in thickness or weight, and limits application of these norms to decorative laminates of 0.5 mm-1.5 mm thickness.

Permitted imports under Target Plus Scheme clarified; duty credit scrips may be endorsed for specified goods subject to exclusions.
Regional Authorities may endorse duty credit scrips under the Target Plus Scheme upon an applicant's letterhead request. Endorsements are limited to items freely importable under the ITC (HS) and subject to the scheme's nexus requirement: inputs with nexus to exports; capital goods and spares with nexus; office and professional equipment; office furniture; and agricultural products within Chapters 1-24 except specified excluded high duty items. Edible oils under Chapter 15 are permitted only through designated trading corporations.

Interest on delayed refunds: claimants must file within the prescribed filing period from Public Notice issuance.
Claims for interest on delayed deemed export refunds must be filed in the prescribed Aayat Niryat form within a 90-day period: for cases approved on or after 1 April 2007 up to 29 April 2008, the 90 days run from 29 April 2008 (date of the Public Notice); for fresh cases the 90 days run from the date of issue of the refund cheque.

Import ceiling for sandalwood established, limiting annual imports under updated DGFT policy circular and licensing controls.
The circular directs licensing and customs authorities to treat the annual import limit for sandalwood, as referenced in Para 2 of Policy Circular No. 23 (RE-2007)/2004-09, as set at 4795 Metric Tonnes; it is issued with the approval of the competent authority for implementation by all licensing and customs authorities under DGFT policy.

Automatic extension of export obligation when export ban imposed; extension equals ban duration and no composition fee.
Where a ban or restriction is imposed on export of any product, the export obligation period for EPCG authorizations issued prior to the imposition is automatically extended for a period equal to the duration of the ban or restriction; no composition fee shall be payable and the exporter shall not be required to fulfill the average export obligation for the ban/restriction period.

Regional jurisdiction update clarifies which offices administer foreign trade procedures and provides updated contact information.
Amendments revise the territorial jurisdictions and contact particulars for two regional offices administering foreign trade procedures: the Cuttack office is confirmed as responsible for Orissa with updated location and contact details; the Cochin office is assigned Kerala (with specified district exceptions) and Lakshadweep, with updated location and contact information.

Withdrawal of DEPB schedule amendments: prior changes annulled and previous rates restored under foreign trade policy authority.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, under powers in the Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedures, withdraws amendments made to the Schedule of DEPB Rates by an earlier public notice; the withdrawal is effective retrospectively to the earlier notice's effective date and is issued in the public interest.

DEPB benefit restored for certain chemical product codes; cement exports now eligible under the miscellaneous schedule.
The Schedule of DEPB Rates is amended to restore two serial entries in the Chemicals product group (Product Code 62) and to make exports of cement eligible for DEPB benefit under the Miscellaneous Product Group, effective immediately; the modifications are made under the Foreign Trade Policy and Handbook of Procedures and a later public notice re-imposed a restriction effective from the same date.

Export ban extension: advance authorisations' export obligations automatically extended for ban duration without composition fee.
Where a ban or restriction is imposed on export of any product, the export obligation period for advance authorisations issued prior to the ban is automatically extended for a period equal to the duration of the ban, and such extension is granted without payment of any composition fee.

Time limit for representations: project-supply Norms Committee decisions may be challenged within one year of communication.
For project supplies the period to file representations against a Norms Committee decision is one year from the date of communication of the decision, inserted into paragraph 4.7.5 of the Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I) under powers of paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy.

Certificate of Origin Non-Preferential: PHD Chamber authorised to issue certificates for specified northern and central jurisdictions.
Amendment adds the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the authorised issuers of Certificate of Origin (Non-Preferential), listing its principal office, regional branches and specifying the States and territories for which the Chamber and its branches may issue non preferential certificates. The amendment deletes the prior Delhi listing entry and updates the Handbook of Procedures registry accordingly, issued by public notice as an administrative update in the public interest.

Certificate of Origin Non-Preferential: Rajkot Engineering Association added as authorized issuer under revised trade procedures, expanding issuer list.
The Director General of Foreign Trade, under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09, notifies an amendment to Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I) adding Rajkot Engineering Association to Appendix 4C as an authorized issuer of Certificate of Origin Non-Preferential, providing its contact details for use as a designated issuing agency.

DTA sale limit for instant tea set as proportion of FOB value, permitting limited domestic disposal.
The Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I) is amended by substituting clause (k) of para I in Appendix 14-I-H to allow DTA sale of instant tea up to 30% of FOB value of exports, implementing paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09 and establishing a quantitative cap on domestic sale relative to export value.

Export incentives for hand tools under designated HS classifications extended, granting focus-product benefits on exports.
Addition to Appendix 37D, Table 11 (K) lists hand tools under ITC HS codes 8202-8206 as New Additional Focus Products, and expressly entitles those hand tools to Focus Product Scheme benefits on exports effective from the policy commencement specified in the amendment.

Application fee caps for duty credit scheme filings adjusted, with a lower maximum for electronically filed applications.
Amendment revises the Application Fee Scale in Appendix 21 C: fee for DEPB and other duty credit scheme applications is two per thousand subject to a minimum of two hundred and a maximum of one lakh and fifty thousand, with a lower maximum for electronically filed applications; separately, the application fee for issuance of a new IEC under ANF 2A is fixed at two hundred fifty.

Suspension lifted: agency removed from suspension under the Foreign Trade Policy, restoring its notified status.
The Director General of Foreign Trade has terminated the suspension of M/s. Moody ICL Certifications Ltd., an agency listed at Sl. No. A.17 of Appendix 6, Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I), restoring its notified status. The amendment is effected under paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09 and issued as a Public Notice in the public interest.

Certificate of Origin Non-Preferential: addition of an authorized issuing agency expands issuer list for origin certification.
Amendment to the Handbook of Procedures (Vol. I) adds the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Small Industries Association as an authorised issuer of Certificate of Origin Non Preferential, updating the administrative appendix governing recognised issuing agencies under the Foreign Trade Policy and recording the association's contact details; the notification is issued in the public interest under the Director General's powers.

Standard Input Output Norms amendment updates CRGO steel descriptions to CRGO Silicon electrical steel for transformer inputs.
Amendments to the Standard Input Output Norms (SION) replace generic "CRGO steel" descriptions with the specific term CRGO Silicon electrical steel in coil and sheet forms for transformer-related SION entries, and require incorporation of these corrected import-item descriptions into the Handbook of Procedures (Vol.2) for the listed SION serial numbers.

Import of motor cars under EPCG Scheme: tourist only registration required and Customs/DGFT to enforce compliance.
Imports of motor cars, SUVs and all purpose vehicles under the EPCG Scheme are limited to specified tourist related end users. Customs shall endorse the Bill of Entry that such vehicles be registered "for tourist purpose only." Where EODCs were not obtained and vehicles are not registered as tourist vehicles, EPCG holders must register them as tourist vehicles by the prescribed compliance date, with Regional DGFT authorities monitoring and ensuring adherence.

EPCG duty amendment: customs to clear affected authorizations at reduced duty and regional authorities may amend.
EPCG authorizations issued between 1.4.2008 and 11.4.2008 shall be deemed to be issued at 3% Customs Duty and Customs shall automatically allow clearance of goods at that rate; Regional Authorities may call back the authorizations and make changes to them.