Re-fixation of Annual Average Export Obligation allowed where sectoral exports decline; EPCG obligations to be adjusted accordingly.
Para 5.11.2 permits re-fixation of the Annual Average Export Obligation where a sector or product group's exports decline by more than five percent. The circular provides an annexure listing product groups that declined in 2009-10 versus 2008-09 and directs Regional Authorities and Customs to re-fix annual average export obligations for EPCG authorisations for 2009-10 accordingly.

Additional duty credit for grapes: exporters eligible for extra benefit under VKGUY for exports after the notice.
The Public Notice amends the Handbook of Procedures, vol. 1 by adding Grapes (ITC HS Code 0806) as a Special VKGUY product, entitling exporters of grapes to an additional 2% Duty Credit Scrip over and above the normal VKGUY rate, effective for exports made on or after the date of the notice.

Export restriction on cotton yarn: licence regime imposed; pre-existing registered exporters may export within registered limits.
Export of cotton yarn is restricted and permitted only under export licence for 2010-11; exporters with Registration Certificates issued by the Textile Commissioner before 1 December 2010 may export within the quantity and validity of their registration and registered contracts. Data on quantities already exported are being collected and representations on exportable surplus are under examination; precise application modalities for licences will be notified after assessment of already-exported quantities and remaining surplus.

Cotton export registration moved to DGFT; seasonal export cap maintained for current season, modalities to be notified.
Registration of contracts for cotton export is to be carried out by the DGFT under Notification No.12 dated 16.12.2010; the season's previously fixed export allocation remains unchanged. Exact modalities and conditions for such registration will be notified separately after the remaining balance of the allocation is ascertained. The circular notes exports under prior EARCs were below the approved quantity and that those EARCs permitted exports within a defined time window.

Tariff rate quota allocation for raw sugar to USA via designated exporter; existing GSP and certification procedures remain applicable.
Allocation under the Foreign Trade Policy authorises export of raw sugar (HS 1701 00 00 at 98 Pol) to the United States under a tariff rate quota, allocated to M/s. Indian Sugar Exim Corporation Ltd. pursuant to Paragraphs 2.1, 2.4 and 2.29 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-14. Existing procedures for issuance of GSP certificates and other required export certifications for sugar to the US shall continue to be followed.

Duty-free import of samples limit increased for all exporters; aligns handbook with customs notification under trade policy.
Amendment to Paragraph 2.27 of the Handbook of Procedures increases the duty free import entitlement so that all exporters may import samples duty free up to the higher limit specified in the amended text, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Customs notification, replacing the prior arrangement that reserved the higher limit for the gems and jewellery sector.

Prohibition on export of edible oils clarified: specified exemptions and permitted branded-pack shipments subject to ceiling and conditions.
Prohibition on export of edible oils is in force under ITC(HS) Chapter 15 and has been extended; specified exemptions permit export of castor oil, coconut oil from Cochin Port, deemed exports of edible oils as input/raw material from DTA to 100% EOUs for production of non-edible goods for export, and oils from minor forest produce identified by ITC(HS) codes. Separately, branded consumer-pack exports in packs up to 5 kg are permitted through custom EDI ports subject to an aggregate ceiling; the prohibition and the branded-pack ceiling do not apply to the listed exemptions.

DEPB benefit entitlement for cotton yarn exports denied where the specific DEPB rate is suspended and residual entry inapplicable.
Exports of cotton yarn are not eligible for DEPB benefits because the DEPB entry for cotton yarn in the Textiles group was suspended, and the residual DEPB entry for Miscellaneous Products (Sl. No. 22D) applies only where SION exist but no DEPB rate has been notified; since the specific DEPB rate for cotton yarn has been suspended, cotton yarn exports cannot claim DEPB under either entry.

Admissible input rule expanded to allow import of wires for lock nuts provided wire diameter exceeds the exported product, quantity unchanged.
Amendment to SION C-739 permits wires as admissible input alongside wire rods and hex bars for specified lock nuts, provided the imported wire has a diameter greater than the exported end product; the permitted input quantity per tonne of export remains unchanged, preserving the existing input-to-export content ratio under the Handbook of Procedure Vol. II.

Export product nomenclature change: 1,3-Butadiene adopted as the export name while input entitlement stays unchanged.
Amendment to the Handbook of Procedure Vol. II modifies SION A-3559 by changing the export item name to 1,3-Butadiene to reflect international chemical nomenclature; the permitted input entitlement for the corresponding import item remains unchanged.

Value addition requirement updated: Appendix 11B now governs enhancement and revalidation of advance authorisations.
Amendments add Appendix 11B value addition as a comparator for enhancement of CIF/FOB values in advance authorisations issued prior to 27.8.2009: for exports on or after that date enhancement is subject to the lower of 15% and the Appendix 11B VA; for earlier exports it is subject to the lowest of 15%, Appendix 11B VA, or the VA declared in the original application. Revalidation must maintain VA at the higher of 15% (and FTP para 4.1.6) or authorisation stipulation, with Appendix 11B VA prevailing where applicable.

Standard Input Output Norm amendment remains effective despite omission from published SION book; amended norm available online.
Amendment to Standard Input Output Norm H-158 for nylon filament knitted/knotted nets, made by Public Notice of 7 November 2008, was inadvertently omitted from the subsequently published SION Book; this omission does not rescind the amendment, which remains valid and available via the DGFT application filing software, and Regional Authorities are to take note.

DEPB entry deletion: duplicate refined glycerine entry removed and a single entry retained with unchanged rate.
Amendment to the Schedule of DEPB Rates deletes the DEPB entry at Sl. No. 434 for Refined Glycerine and retains the entry at Sl. No. 525 with no change to its DEPB rate, consolidating duplicate entries for the Product Group "Chemicals" under the Foreign Trade Policy.

DEPB product classification amended to separate live/chilled and dried fish forms, retaining existing duty credit rates.
The DEPB Schedule for Fish & Fish Products is amended to split the earlier single entry into Entry 1A for live or chilled forms (no value cap) and Entry 1B for dried forms (value cap of 131/- per Kg); the DEPB rate itself is unchanged and the amendment aims solely to clarify product description and apply the existing value cap only to dried products.

Port of Registration added: new seaport and inland container depot registrations permitted under foreign trade policy.
Amendment to the Handbook of Procedures adds specified entries to the lists of seaports and inland container depots in paragraph 4.19 concerning Port of Registration, under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy, thereby expanding locations for registration under export promotion schemes.

Ozone Depleting Substance declaration required for advance authorisation/DFIA applications; submit prescribed annexure immediately.
Applicants for advance authorisation or Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) must submit a signed annexure declaration with their application stating that none of the inputs in the application are Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS), with prescribed applicant particulars, signature and date, as required under the cited policy circular.

Revalidation of duty credit scrips: re-credited special additional duty remains valid from endorsement or original expiry to enable utilization.
Where a duty credit scrip is re-credited with Special Additional Duty, Regional Authorities shall endorse the scrip and the re-credited scrips shall carry validity for six months from the date of endorsement or retain the original validity of the scrip, whichever is later; this revalidation applies irrespective of whether the scrip had expired on or before submission to the RA.

Foreign Trade Policy amendment: reclassification of handloom product codes affecting export bonus eligibility under the Handbook of Procedures.
The Handbook of Procedures Vol. I is amended to delete three specified handloom product codes from one focus-product description because they are already covered by an earlier focus-product listing, and a new serial entry is inserted in the Focus Product(s)/Sector(s) - Bonus Benefits table to record that those handloom product codes are covered by the earlier listing, clarifying their treatment for exports from the stated effective date.

Bank Realisation Certificate requirements updated: exporters and authorised banks must verify documents, realisation and attach customs attested shipping bills.
Amendment replaces Appendix 22A with a standardized Bank Realisation Certificate requiring exporter declaration of export particulars and attachments (invoices, customs attested shipping bills). Authorised banks must verify documents, certify particulars including freight, insurance and commission, and record FOB value actually realised and date of realisation except for specified credit or line of credit transactions; realisation through freely convertible vostro accounts must be endorsed. Consolidated consignment certificates are permitted and banks other than usual authorised dealers must produce RBI permission to issue BRCs.

Export release orders reinstated: exports on ton-to-ton basis barred without Directorate release order for advance authorisations.
Field formations are instructed not to permit sugar exports on a ton-for-ton basis without a release order from the Directorate of Sugar against the relevant advance authorisations; the reintroduction of export release orders makes such Directorate release orders a prerequisite for exports under OGL or Advance Authorisation.