Market linked export benefits: Apparels added to focus products list, enabling targeted export incentives for specified markets.
The Director General of Foreign Trade amends Appendix 37D, Table 6 of the Handbook of Procedures, Volume I to add apparels (readymade garments) as a New Market Linked Focus Product with the relevant ITC(HS) classifications and designates the linked markets as the United States and the European Union, thereby making exporters of those apparel classifications eligible for the specified market linked export benefits during the announced eligibility period.

Market linked focus products expanded, enabling export benefits for listed goods to specified overseas markets, effective January 2010.
Amendment adds new Market Linked Focus Products to Appendix 37D, Table 6 of the Handbook of Procedure Vol. I, making specified electronics, electrical, mechanical, agrochemical and other goods eligible for export benefits for shipments made on or after 1.1.2010, with ITC(HS) product codes and identified linked markets. A separate composite entry adds various petro products with listed ITC(HS) codes linked to Algeria, Nigeria and Mexico.

Import licence quota for rough marble blocks: applications invited under specified eligibility and documentation requirements for fiscal year.
Invitation for applications for import licences for rough marble blocks for financial year 2010-11 under Notification No.36/2009-2014 with a quota of 3 lakh MT. Applications in Aayaat Niryaat Form must be submitted to the concerned Regional Authority by 9 April 2010. Eligibility requires an established marble gangsaw in the unit's name on or before 23.10.2009 (not on lease) meeting machine specifications; SSI/SIA registration evidencing operation by 31.3.2004; processing equipment shown in the 31.3.2004 balance sheet certified by a Chartered Accountant; Income Tax return for 2003-04 evidencing processing; CA certificates and CA certified statements proving indigenous sales turnover for 2004-05 to 2008-09 as prescribed.

Variety identification for basmati rice: Customs may send export samples to authorized testing centres including AGMARK.
The Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF), Modipuram, is designated as an authorized testing centre for variety identification of basmati rice; Customs may draw export samples and send them for analysis to BEDF in addition to AGMARK testing centres, pursuant to the administrative direction issued with the approval of the Director General of Foreign Trade.

Back-to-town permission for excess perishable cargo: exporters may apply post-LEO for amendment and removal after scanning.
Where perishable export packages exceed the capacity of the booked Unit Load Device after grant of LEO and security scanning, the exporter/CHA must amend the Air Waybill and apply to the AC/DC (Export Shed) for permission to take excess packages back-to-town and for amendment of the Shipping Bill; the AC/DC shall verify and grant permission, and during off-hours the Superintendent of the APEDA shed is authorized to cancel the LEO, approve amendments, and reprint the Shipping Bill subject to handing over files when AC/DC is available.

Mill Test Certificate requirement: absence may result in consignments treated as secondary or defective and assessed accordingly.
Importers and clearing agents must furnish invoice, packing list with size/weight/thickness, Manufacturer's Mill Test Certificate specifying heat number, finish, chemical composition and grade, original Country of Origin certificate, and bill of lading for consignments declared as Prime/Stock Lot/Ex-Stock/Prime Excess. Customs officers shall compare MTC details with markings; absence of a proper MTC may result in the consignments being treated and assessed as secondary/defective, and doubtful consignments may be referred for testing or further investigation.

Port registration requirement for import authorizations mandates single port registration, with customs permission needed for any change.
Import authorizations for restricted items must be issued for import through the port type indicated in writing by the applicant and registered at the specified port; thereafter imports under the authorization shall be made only through that registered port unless customs permission is obtained to import through another specified port. For rough marble, the port of registration is mandatory and must be indicated in the application. A new ANF 2B entry records Port of Registration as required by the amendment.

Genuineness verification of merchant exporters now requires submission of documentary proof and bank certification before permitting export shipments.
To verify the genuineness of first-time merchant exporters, exporters or their clearing agents must submit at least three documents from a specified list (VAT/Sales Tax registration/exemption certificate; bank certificate of satisfactory account maintenance; other bank account details if applicable; past export details from other ports; prior year balance sheet; last Income Tax/VAT/Sales Tax return) to the Assessing Officer before export is permitted. Customs House Agents must assist in this preventive verification, and the requirement is effective immediately.

Importer verification: first-time importers must submit tax, bank and financial documents before clearance to ensure genuineness.
First-time importers must submit VAT/Sales Tax registration, a bank certificate confirming account and signatures, proof of payment through the importer's account, the previous year's balance sheet, and the last filed income tax or sales/VAT return to the Assessing Officer via the importer or licensed CHA; imports will be allowed only after these documents are filed and duties and other formalities completed, with possible case by case relaxation by the in charge Deputy/Assistant Commissioner.

Electronic filing and e-payment mandated for certain Central Excise and Service Tax assessees via ACES with prescribed procedures.
Mandatory electronic filing and electronic payment for specified Central Excise and Service Tax assessees are to be effected through the ACES application; registration procedures for new, existing, non-assessees and LTU units, online and offline return preparation and upload (with validation and UPLOADED/FILED/REJECTED statuses), XML schema support for dealer returns, Certified Facilitation Centres for assistance, e-payment via the EASIEST portal and authorised banks with bank challan proof, and departmental rules on filing dates, technical failures and assessees' responsibilities are specified.

Dematerialisation requirement for non promoter holdings enables shift from trade for trade to rolling settlement when connectivity is met.
Shift from Trade-for-Trade to Rolling Settlement is permitted where companies have connectivity with both depositories, at least half of non promoter holdings are dematerialised certified by the RTA or, if no RTA, by a practicing Company Secretary or Chartered Accountant, and there are no other grounds for continuing Trade-for-Trade; stock exchanges must report actions taken in their development reports.

Verification of Carrier Agency and CHA directories required for ICES 1.5; PAN-based registration and physical document verification enforced.
Verification and central updation of Carrier Agency and CHA directories is required for implementation of ICES 1.5. Agencies must verify particulars at designated policy locations; PAN is the registration identifier, PAN/name as confirmed by tax records cannot be changed, incorrect PANs require fresh registration, and incorrect records will be closed and correct entries added only after physical verification and retention of attested documents. The process must be completed by 15.04.2010 and unverified entities will not be able to transact under the corrected ICES 1.5 directories.

Export controls: new ANF 2EE framework governs site visits and record access for SCOMET-related arrangements.
Insertion of ANF 2EE requires applications to DGFT(Hqrs.) for arrangements involving site visits, on-site verification or access to records/documentation related to Appendix 3 of Schedule 2 ITC(HS); applications are evaluated by an Inter Ministerial Working Group against criteria including purpose, party and end user credentials, supply chain integrity, diversion risk, foreign export control measures and treaty applicability; permissions are conditional on confinement to stated purposes, sites, individuals and timeframes, recordkeeping, prohibition on exchange of goods/technology during visits, additional assurances as required, and compliance with the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, 2005, with violations inviting civil or criminal prosecution.

Buyback of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds allowed via approval route, subject to prior circular conditions and documentation.
Applications for buyback or prepayment of Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs) will be considered under the approval route until June 30, 2010, provided issuers comply with the terms and conditions in A.P. (DIR Series) Circular Nos. 39 (Dec 8, 2008) and 65 (Apr 28, 2009). Applications with supporting documents must be submitted via designated AD Category I banks to the Reserve Bank of India's Foreign Exchange Department. AD Category I banks should inform affected constituents. Directions are issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, without prejudice to other statutory permissions.

Special currency basket revision directs authorised dealer banks to adopt new rupee valuation and notify constituents under FEMA powers.
Revision of the special currency basket valuation fixes the rupee value at Rs.65.29 effective January 11, 2010, superseding earlier indications; AD Category I banks are directed to notify their constituents. The Directions are issued under FEMA and are without prejudice to permissions under other laws.

Import restriction of cosmetics: permitted only through specified entry points, non specified port imports treated as non compliant.
Import of cosmetics must occur only through the entry points specified under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules; the Schedule D exemption for substances not intended for medical use applies only to items that would otherwise be drugs and does not cover cosmetics. Customs authorities should treat cosmetics imported via non specified ports as non compliant and take appropriate action, while separate Board instructions continue to govern import of drugs.

Online licence transmission for DEEC and EPCG requires ICEGATE verification and hard-copy matching before Customs registration.
Online transmission of Advance Authorisation (DEEC) and EPCG licences and amendments from DGFT to Customs via ICEGATE is in effect for licences issued on or after 1/3/2009; Customs will not permit manual amendment entry for online-transmitted licences and must verify licence/amendment details against the hard copy before registration in the EDI system. Licence-holders must check ICEGATE transmission status and rectify DGFT error-code rejections by obtaining correction and retransmission from DGFT; temporary bond execution remains required where EODC transmission is not yet supported.

Special Additional Duty refund procedure permits recredit into export scrips subject to document submission and timelines.
Applications for recredit of Special Additional Duty into DEPB, VKGUY, FPS and MLFPS scrips must be submitted at the R & I counter with the original license file number; claimant details must be endorsed if different from the license holder. Claims must be made on an individual license basis. Where a consolidated credit note exists, a self certified photocopy of that note must accompany each license claim with the file number of the original. Applications must be filed within three months of issuance of the consolidated credit note and are subject to prescribed documentation and conditions.

Import declaration requirements mandate Form-F, detailed receipt/issue registers and separate storage for jewellery remelting, remaking, and repairs.
Units must declare nature and quantities of jewellery imports on import documents and submit or revise Form-F; officers will verify and may inspect consignments. Each unit must maintain a serially paginated receipt-and-issue register tied to import documents recording receipts, issuance for remelting/remaking/repair, removal dates, metal recovered, descriptions and quantities of remade or repaired items, and export particulars; the register is maintained by financial year with monthly balances and stocks held separately must reconcile with stock challans and officer stock-taking.

Line of credit for project exports requires majority India-sourced supplies and FEMA compliance, with specified documentation and timelines.
Export-Import Bank of India extended a Line of Credit to the Government of the Republic of Zambia to finance eligible goods and services, including consultancy from India, for the Itezhi-Tezhi hydro power project. The facility requires at least 85 per cent of contract value to be supplied from India, permits the remaining 15 per cent (excluding consultancy) to be procured abroad, mandates GR/SDF shipment declarations, disallows agency commission under the LOC (subject to exporter-funded commission arrangements), and is issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of FEMA.