Customs interim procedure for vessel arrivals at ICTT mandates manifest filing, CFS designation, seal verification and transshipment controls.
Interim customs procedure at ICTT, Vallarpadom requires filing IGM/EGM at Custom House with container seal numbers; shipping lines must approach the Preventive Officer for boarding and entry, and Lighthouse dues must be paid. DTA import containers will be moved to importer chosen CFS within jurisdiction, failing which Cochin Port may be declared; tampered or missing seals on landing must be handed to Customs. Transshipment to ICDs by road or rail requires AC/DC permission and seal verification; export containers with LEO are presented at ICTT gate for seal and document verification and "Allowed for loading" by the Preventive Officer, while shipping bills without LEO remain subject to examination per CBEC/ICES rules.

Easy Exit Scheme extension: deadline extended, terms unchanged, scheme continued through end of April 2011.
The Easy Exit Scheme is extended for a further three months to 30 April 2011, with all terms of the earlier circular remaining the same; the extension continues the modalities, eligibility and compliance requirements originally prescribed and instructs corporate administrative and registration authorities to implement the scheme under Companies law procedures.

Food import safety compliance: new sampling and clearance procedures require FSSAI/PHO testing, labeling and shelf life verification.
High risk food consignments must be referred to authorised FSSAI representatives or Port Health Officers for testing and clearance only after receipt of test reports; perishable items follow expedited handling. For other foods, samples will be drawn from an importer's initial consecutive consignments and, if compliant, Customs will adopt random checks thereafter; a failed sample reinstates compulsory testing until consecutive consignments reestablish conformity. Customs must ensure labeling compliance and a minimum remaining shelf life of sixty percent at import. Where FSSAI/PHO are unavailable, Customs will use designated central or authorised laboratories for testing.

Audit frequency norms require mandatory audits for top-paying service taxpayers and risk-based selection to avoid duplication.
Service tax audit policy prescribes a graduated audit-frequency regime by annual service tax payments (including cash and Cenvat), with the highest payment band subject to mandatory audit annually preferably using CAAP. Non-mandatory taxpayers are selected for audit through a risk assessment process using a quantitative "risk parameter," and selection should avoid duplication with simultaneous detailed return scrutiny.

Export quota allocation for cotton yarn requires pro rata applications and strict documentary compliance before authorisations issue.
Export quota applications for cotton yarn must be emailed to DGFT and will be allocated on a pro rata basis with a per IEC cap equal to the greater of a fixed threshold or the applicant's 2009-10 exports; one application per IEC only. Allocated applicants must submit ANF 2D and documentary proof (export contract plus LC or FIRC evidencing required advance payment) to Regional Authorities for issuance of export authorisations. Failure to timely submit correct documents or to export allocated quantities will cause ineligibility, debarment and penal action under Section 11(2) of the Foreign Trade (D&R) Act.

Guidelines for import and supply of precious metal clarify Nominated Agencies' responsibilities and withdraw earlier circulars.
Guidelines for import and supply of precious metal by the Nominated Agencies set out responsibilities for sourcing, importing, and supplying precious metals, require coordination with customs and regional authorities, communicate procedures and compliance expectations to regional authorities, customs commissioners and the exporting community, and expressly withdraw specified earlier policy circulars to unify and clarify operational rules for nominated agency transactions.

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.

Income thresholds for tax case allocation increased to reduce taxpayer hardship; metro and mofussil assignment limits revised accordingly.
Instruction increases monetary limits for assigning income tax cases to ITOs and ACs/DCs, distinguishing corporate and non corporate returns and between metro and mofussil areas (metros: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune). The revised thresholds are intended to reduce taxpayer hardship from transfers across stations, reflect increased trade scale since the prior limits, supersede earlier instructions, and apply from the stated effective date.

Immediate initiation of prosecution allowed in national security, undisclosed foreign asset and major fraud tax cases before appeal disposal.
Immediate initiation of prosecution proceedings is authorised after completion of assessment/reassessment without waiting for disposal of appeals or penalties in cases linked to anti national or terrorist activity or corruption; where undisclosed foreign assets or foreign bank accounts are detected; involving major frauds, scams or misappropriation of government funds or public property; and in any other case where the Commissioner considers immediate prosecution fit.

Cargo transfer for pre-sorted international transhipments permitted ramp-to-ramp under preventive supervision and CTM compliance.
Where international transhipment involves pre-sorted containers whose cargo does not require segregation, ramp to ramp or tail to tail transfer may be effected without routing goods through cargo warehouses, provided such transfers occur under preventive supervision, payment of MOT, and compliance with the Cargo Transfer Manifest (CTM) procedure; non pre-sorted containers must follow existing transhipment rules.

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.

Dematerialisation threshold enables shift to normal rolling settlement when non promoter holdings exceed requirement and no other grounds remain.
SEBI instructs stock exchanges to consider shifting securities from Trade for Trade Settlement to normal Rolling Settlement where companies have connectivity with both depositories, provided at least 50% of other than promoter holdings are dematerialised evidenced by an RTA certificate (or certificate from a practising company secretary/chartered accountant if no RTA), and no other grounds exist for continuing TFTS; exchanges must report actions to SEBI in Monthly/Quarterly Development Reports.

Currency derivatives participation limited to FFMCs and ADs Category II as clients for hedging forex exposures.
FFMCs and ADs Category II (excluding RRBs, LABs, UCBs and NBFCs) with a minimum net worth of Rs. 5 crore may participate as clients in designated currency futures and exchange traded currency options on recognised exchanges solely to hedge their underlying foreign exchange exposures; institutions in the excluded categories are to follow Reserve Bank departmental instructions, and non compliance engages penal provisions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.

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.

Transhipment procedure for airport cargo requires CTM application, customs escort, double lock storage and bond accounting.
Transhipment at Bangalore Air Cargo Complex requires segregation in custodian premises, filing of an application or Cargo Transfer Manifest for approval by the Superintendent of Customs, escort of listed cargo by a customs officer, verification of marks and numbers without routine physical examination, and storage in double locked custodian/airline warehouses. Transhipment value is debited to a Transhipment Bond and re credited upon acknowledgement from the destination; similar supervised procedures apply for international transhipment, export transhipment, movements via bonded truck, and at intermediate customs airports, with penal liability for unexplained failure to unload.

Examination of LCL baggage: Customs allows on site CFS checks; distant CFS consignments require prior UBC intimation.
Clearance procedure for LCL baggage and personal effects is modified to permit Customs examination at the Container Freight Station where the cargo lies instead of mandatory transfer to the Unaccompanied Baggage Centre; consignments at three distant CFSs remain subject to UBC examination on prior one day intimation, and Shipping Lines/agents are prohibited from charging passengers additional or excessive fees related to this arrangement.

Line of Credit for export finance requires majority Indian content, shipping declarations, and restricted agency commission remittances.
Exim Bank provided a Line of Credit to finance Indian exports for Ethiopia's sugar industry requiring at least 75 per cent Indian supply content, permitting up to 25 per cent non Indian procurement for non consultancy goods, and setting L/C and disbursement timelines tied to project completion or a fixed period from agreement execution. Shipments must be declared on GR/SDF forms; agency commission is not payable under the LOC but may be remitted by exporters from their own resources or EEFC balances after realisation and subject to instructions. AD Category I banks must notify exporters; directions issued under FEMA remain subject to other statutory approvals.

Carrier verification requirement: only verified carriers may operate on ICES 1.5; unlisted agencies must contact EDI promptly.
Only carrier agencies and shipping lines that have been verified and updated by the Mumbai Custom House will be permitted to operate on ICES 1.5; agencies must check the attached verified list and contact the EDI Section immediately if their name is missing, and those not yet applied must submit applications to the EDI Section without delay.

Wording amendment in service tax guidance substitutes 'notification' for 'circular', clarifying fumigation classification terminology.
Corrigendum substitutes the word "notification" for the word "circular" in paragraph 2(b), line five of the prior service tax text, an editorial correction clarifying the reference point for guidance on whether fumigation of export cargo falls under cleaning services.

Inclusion of handling charges in taxable value increases service tax liability where transport and loading services are supplied together.
Where the same contractor supplies transportation and loading/unloading services, loading and unloading (handling) charges must be added to transport charges to determine the taxable value for Service Tax; exclusion of handling charges by M/s. FCI led to underpayment and improper reliance on the exemption slab, and the Board/Ministry circulars and prior office clarification require inclusion of those charges when computing Service Tax liability.