Prohibition on import of specified alternative inputs bars tapioca starch, wheat gluten and certain sweeteners under AA/DFIA SIONs.
The DGFT prohibits import of Tapioca Starch and Wheat Gluten as alternative inputs against the biscuits SION and bars import of Lactose, Fructose, Maltose, Mannitol, Sodium Saccharin and artificial sweetening agents as alternative inputs against the biscuits and confectionery SIONs under Advance Authorisations and Duty Free Import Authorisations.

TRQ allocation for natural rubber requires applicants to obtain import authorisation with ANF form from regional authorities by specified deadline.
Allocation of a Tariff Rate Quota of 40,000 MT for import of natural rubber was made to 31 applicants as listed in an annexure. Allocated applicants must approach their respective Regional Authorities with ANF 2B and applicable fees to obtain Import Authorisations corresponding to their allocations; Regional Authorities will scrutinize and issue authorisations and complete the exercise by the prescribed deadline.

Withdrawal of DEPB benefit for skimmed milk, casein and other milk products; no DEPB for shipments from 25 January 2011.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade amended the Schedule of DEPB Rates under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-2014 to withdraw DEPB benefit for Skimmed Milk Product (SMP), Casein and any other milk product. Such products shall not be eligible for DEPB either under specific DEPB rates for any product group or under Sl. No. 22C and 22D of the Miscellaneous Product Group for shipments made on or after 25 January 2011.

Services eligible for SFIS now defined, limiting scheme benefits to listed service sectors and excluding telecom and airlines.
Appendix 41 to the Handbook of Procedures, effective 1 January 2011, prescribes a closed list of service sectors and sub sectors entitled to benefits under the Served From India Scheme; services not listed are ineligible for SFIS benefits on foreign exchange earned from that date. The Notice deletes the Telecom paragraph and removes the word "Airlines" from the ineligible remittances provision in Para 3.6.1 to align exclusions with Appendix 41. Annexure 1 enumerates qualifying categories including business, communication, construction, education, environmental, health, tourism, recreational and transport services.

Non requirement of Proforma Invoice: ANF 2B no longer requires supplier proforma invoice with import authorization applications.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade amends ANF 2B to delete Serial No. 4(b) of the Guidelines for Applicants, removing the requirement to attach a self certified copy of the foreign supplier's proforma invoice with applications for import authorization under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Tariff Rate Quota allocation for natural rubber: applications invited; allocation tied to certified prior-year consumption.
Allocation of Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for Natural Rubber 2010-2011 is invited by DGFT; EFC will allocate TRQ to actual users based on 2009-10 consumption certified by the Rubber Board. Applicants must apply by e-mail in the prescribed format, then file ANF2B with fee to the Regional Authority for issue of TRQ authorisation, and complete imports within the financial year.

EPCG Scheme compliance: Clarified conditions for conversion/disposal, EODC issuance, export obligation and spares import rules.
Clarifications under the EPCG Scheme specify that vehicles imported before 31.03.2007 may be converted or disposed of after EODC issuance, completion of five years from import and absence of DRI/CBI proceedings, while vehicles imported on or after 01.04.2007 require fulfillment of the Actual User Condition before conversion/disposal. Spares may be imported without the 10% limit subject to 100% export obligation. Processed foods are excluded from agricultural-product exemptions. EODC issuance amid investigations is discretionary by Head of Office; pending nexus cases may use Chartered Engineer Certificates.

Re-credit certificate: simplifies re-export relief allowing near-full utilisation within prescribed validity without fresh DGFT scrip.
Customs-issued Re-credit Certificates for re-exported defective/unfit goods or for re-assessment of debited duty shall record scrip particulars, import date and debited/re-assessment amount. The Re-credit Amount may be utilised to the extent of 98% and is valid for use within six months of issuance. There is no requirement for DGFT regional offices to issue a fresh scrip in such cases.

Registration Certificate decentralization for cotton exports enables four zonal offices to receive documents and issue RCs by email.
Issuance of Registration Certificate for cotton export allocations is decentralized to four Zonal Joint DGFT offices (Chennai, Delhi (CLA), Kolkata, Mumbai), which will receive, scrutinize and issue RCs per existing procedures. Allottees with an allotted slot may attend their original DGFT office or any zonal office by e-mail; those without confirmation must choose a zonal office and present required documents without seeking prior slot confirmation. Applicants must e-mail the chosen zonal office and copy [email protected], indicating a session number from the published slots.

Denied Entities List compliance required: exporters must clear DEL status before registration and ensure IEC details match official records.
Registration certificates for export of cotton will not be issued if an applicant's IEC is on the Denied Entities List; the applicant must remove their name from the DEL before applying. Applications will be scrutinised against DGFT records, and any mismatch between the submitted name and IEC and the Directorate's database will render the application ineligible. Applicants are advised of entry and security restrictions near Udyog Bhawan around Republic Day rehearsals and to seek earlier submission dates.

Message exchange between Customs and DGFT: error codes and prescribed corrective actions for exporters registering authorizations.
The notice lists Error Codes in electronic message exchange between Customs and DGFT, identifies causes such as missing shipping bills, DEPB/authorization value mismatches, item description or classification and quantity/UOM discrepancies, duplicate shipping bill use, invalid notification numbers, and IEC branch-code mismatches, and prescribes exporter actions: rectify data, amend authorizations where necessary, or register complaints with ICEGATE/DGFT help desks or the concerned RLA.

Trace-and-track requirement for pharmaceutical exports mandates GS1 barcode labeling to enable unique product identification and tracing.
Exporters must submit a Certificate of Analysis at shipment-issued by the manufacturer, an importing-country approved laboratory, or a laboratory approved under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act-and port Drug Control officials may retain samples for tracking. Exporters are also required to implement GS1 barcode-based trace-and-track across primary, secondary and tertiary packaging, encoding GTIN, batch number, expiry date and serial number to facilitate identification and enforcement of exported pharmaceutical consignments.

Export allocation scheduling requires prebooked session selection and verified documentation for registration, with allotted slots governing RC issuance.
Allocation of cotton export quantities requires applicants listed in the allocation notice to submit prescribed documents for scrutiny and grant of Registration Certificates within designated forenoon or afternoon sessions; applicants must email three preferred session choices in the prescribed format, await DGFT confirmation of a specific slot, and attend at the designated DGFT location with an authorized representative and complete documentation or face summary rejection.

Cotton exports: allocation of 1,900,000 bales to 928 applicants; document scrutiny set for 11-25 January and rounding on RC issuance.
Trade Notice of 10 January 2011 allocates 1,900,000 bales of cotton among 928 applicants (annexed with IEC codes and quantities). Fractional allocations in the annexure will be rounded off when Registration Certificates are issued. A separate trade notice will set out the document scrutiny scheme; scrutiny is scheduled from 1000 hours on 11 January 2011 to 1100 hours on 25 January 2011, after which Registration Certificates reflecting rounded quantities will be issued.

Export licence application requirement relaxed: exporters now need only provide foreign buyer name and address on revised form.
The Handbook of Procedure amendment deletes the requirement in ANF 2D for submission of export order, purchase order or proforma invoice and removes Export Order No. and Date fields; the ANF 2D is replaced by a revised specimen and exporters must now only indicate the name and address of foreign buyers in the application to reduce transaction cost.

Export licence application change: ANF 2D no longer requires export order documents; furnish buyer name and address.
Amendment deletes the ANF 2D fields requiring Export Order No. & Date and the submission of Export Order/Purchase Order/Proforma Invoice under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009 14, replacing the existing ANF 2D in HBP Vol.I; exporters must now only indicate the foreign buyer's name and address, while the revised form continues to require applicant details, item and shipment data, declarations, fee evidence and prescribed filing guidelines.

Manual shipping bill filing permitted when EDI malfunctions, subject to original manual bills and EDI retransmission rules.
Use the manual Shipping Bill filing option on the DGFT server when EDI is disrupted for Export Promotion Schemes; submit original manually assessed and signed Shipping Bills to the jurisdictional Regional Authority. EDI Shipping Bills that were not properly transmitted must be EDI cleared and electronically retransmitted to DGFT for benefits and cannot be accepted via the manual filing option. Regional Authorities must verify originals are manual assessments and Customs must not electronically transmit manually cleared Shipping Bills to avoid duplicate benefits.

Allocation of cotton export quantity: online applications required within prescribed window; DGFT to provide support.
Exporters must submit online applications for the allocation of cotton export quantity pursuant to Policy Circular No. 09 within the prescribed electronic application window; DGFT officers will be available by telephone during specified office hours on two designated days to address queries and assist exporters with the application process.

Online filing of Importer Exporter Code enables mandatory electronic payment, online status tracking, and physical submission for deficiencies.
An additional online facility allows filing of Importer Exporter Code (IEC) applications via the DGFT website with payment by Electronic Fund Transfer and scanned attachments of prescribed documents; physical copies are not required for complete online applications. The website will display IEC numbers granted and indicate deficiencies; where deficiencies are shown applicants must submit the required documents physically to the concerned Regional Authority. Applicants may still opt for manual filing and must correctly select the jurisdictional RA. Detailed online filing guidance is available on the DGFT site.

Quota allocation for cotton exports on pro rata basis with documentary proof required and penalties for non performance.
Registration of export contracts for raw cotton requires e mail applications in the prescribed format; allocations are made pro rata with a per IEC ceiling and minimum floor, and prior non performance against EARCs reduces pro rata entitlement. Post allocation applicants must submit the export contract plus either a confirmed irrevocable Letter of Credit or bank FIRC evidencing required advance payment, IEC copy, and a signed declaration within a specified period, failing which they are declared ineligible and their allocation is reallocated. Non export within the stipulated time invites debarment and penal action under Section 11(2) of the FT(D&R) Act.