Minimum Export Price requirement for onions now mandates an MEP specified per metric ton, regulating exports.
Export of onions under the relevant ITC(HS) Schedule is permitted only subject to a Minimum Export Price (MEP) expressed on an F.O.B. per metric ton basis or as notified by DGFT, with the amendment operating with immediate effect and allowing DGFT to revise the MEP from time to time.

Export relaxation for wood charcoal permits shipments to Bhutan despite general prohibition, enabling regulated trade under notification.
The Central Government amended Sl. No.179 of Schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) to provide that the prohibition on export of wood charcoal in Chapter 44 does not apply to Bhutan, thereby permitting lawful export of wood charcoal to that destination under the Foreign Trade Policy notification.

Minimum export price for onion exports required, conditioning shipments on compliance with the declared MEP.
Export of onions listed at serial numbers 51 and 52 of Schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) Classification is permitted only subject to a Minimum Export Price (MEP) of US$ 350 per Metric Ton F.O.B. or such other rate as may be notified by DGFT; this amendment takes effect immediately and applies to all varieties described.

Group company definition expanded to include LLPs; voting and board control thresholds plus two year existence govern benefit claims.
Amendment redefines Group Company in Para 9.28: two or more enterprises are a group if they either hold twenty-six per cent or more of voting rights in another enterprise or appoint more than fifty percent of its board. "Enterprise" includes Public Limited Company, Private Limited Company and Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), but excludes partnership and proprietorship firms. For claiming benefits or counting exports, a group company must have existed at least two years prior to the date of application under any export promotion scheme notified in the Foreign Trade Policy.

Minimum Export Price requirement for onion exports imposed, permitting shipments only subject to DGFT notifications and conditions.
Exports of onions at Serial Numbers 51 and 52 of Schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) Classification are permitted only subject to a specified Minimum Export Price per metric ton or such other rate as may be notified by the Director General of Foreign Trade; the condition applies to all varieties covered and takes effect immediately.

Export restriction on listed chemicals now requires licence for all exports irrespective of tariff codes.
The notification immediately restricts export of Dimethylamine Hydrochloride, Sodium Cyanide and Sodium Fluoride and makes their export permissible only under licence; the ITC(HS) codes listed are indicative and the restriction applies regardless of the tariff codes used to declare these substances, issued under the Foreign Trade Policy export control authority.

Export controls on narcotic precursors require NOC from Narcotics Commissioner, affecting listed organic chemicals for export.
Export controls amend ITC(HS) Chapter 29 to add specified organic chemicals and HS codes whose export is classified as Free but conditional upon obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Narcotics Commissioner of India, Gwalior. The listed items include specific precursor and psychotropic-related substances; export is permitted only with the prescribed NOC as an immediate effect of the notification.

Value added products of Red Sanders wood: exportable items expanded to include chips, powder, furniture and handicrafts, if legally procured.
Amendment expands the description of value added products of Red Sanders wood in Sl. No. 189 of Schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) to include chips, powder, extracts, dyes, musical instruments and parts, furniture and specified furniture parts (with maximum cross sections and plank dimensions and length), toys, dolls and other handicrafts, subject to procurement from legal sources.

Minimum import price for cashew kernels set, distinguishing broken and whole, fixing CIF valuation per kilogram.
The amendment fixes minimum CIF values per kilogram for cashew kernel imports under Chapter 8 of ITC (HS) 2012, Schedule 1. It prescribes distinct minimum CIF values for cashew kernel, broken (HS 08013210) and cashew kernel, whole (HS 08013220), thereby establishing threshold import valuation for these tariff lines in the import policy.

Import of human embryo-free import permitted subject to No Objection Certificate requirement from medical research authority.
Import policy designates Human Embryo under ITC (HS) Code 0511 99 99 and makes its import a restricted entry that is otherwise free provided a No Objection Certificate is obtained from the designated medical research authority; the notification amends Chapter 5 of the ITC (HS) 2012, Schedule 1 to add the EXIM code and the NOC-based compliance condition for import clearance.

Export of prohibited items: conditional authorisation allowed under advance authorisation and EOU BOA approval subject to compliance.
The Foreign Trade Policy amendment allows export of items otherwise prohibited only where an explicit separate notification permits such export under Advance Authorisation/DFIA subject to stipulated conditions, and permits BOA to consider EOU requests to export a prohibited item provided the raw material is imported and not procured from the domestic tariff area, with SCOMET exports remaining subject to ITC (HS) conditions.

Exemption from NOC requirement allows Indian Oil Corporation to export kerosene and LPG to Nepal and Bhutan without prior clearance.
The amendment to Chapter 27 of ITC(HS) records kerosene and LPG as freely exportable while maintaining a general requirement for a Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas NOC, and provides that exports of kerosene and LPG to Nepal and Bhutan by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd are exempted from that NOC requirement.

Minimum Export Price requirement for onion exports instituted, making exports subject to MEP and DGFT notification.
The Foreign Trade Policy amendment permits export of onions listed at Serial Numbers 51 and 52 of Schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) Classification only subject to a Minimum Export Price (MEP) on an F.O.B. basis or as may be notified subsequently, effective immediately.

Input endorsement requirement: only inputs specified in shipping bills will be accepted for authorisation redemption and EODC.
When SION permits generic or alternative inputs, the specific input used must be indicated in the shipping bill and must exactly match the description in the relevant bill of entry; otherwise the Authorisation will not be redeemed. At discharge of export obligation or at redemption, the Regional Authority will allow only inputs specifically indicated in the shipping bill. These requirements apply to supplies to SEZs and deemed exports and must be recorded in export, import and domestic procurement documents.

Relaxation of export prohibition allows authorized entities to export specified Red Sanders wood under DGFT authorization and court conditions.
Relaxation of the prohibition on export of Red Sanders wood permits limited export from confiscated/seized stock by allocating specified quantities to the state government and to an investigative agency; authorized entities or the allocating bodies may export, and Regional Authority export authorizations will be issued upon production of a quantity allocation letter. Exports must follow allocation modalities and timelines and remain subject to any court orders.

Import permission for new motorcycles expanded to include Benapole/Petrapole and Agartala land customs stations for Indo Bangladesh trade.
The Foreign Trade Policy amendment adds permission for import of new motorcycles through LCS Benapole/Petrapole and LCS Agartala by inserting a sentence in Policy Condition 2(II)(d) of Chapter 87, ITC(HS) 2012 Schedule 1 (Import Policy), while retaining the existing list of authorized seaports, airports and ICDs for new vehicle imports.

Minimum Export Price for branded edible oil consumer packs reduced, altering export pricing requirement with immediate effect.
Exports of edible oils in branded consumer packs of up to five kilogram capacity are permitted subject to a Minimum Export Price, and the notification reduces the previously prescribed Minimum Export Price for such packs, the amendment taking immediate effect as an adjustment to the relevant serial in the ITC(HS) Classification of Export & Import Items.

Incremental export incentive limits imposed, excess claims subject to enhanced regional scrutiny under foreign trade policy for specified quarter.
The amendment limits benefit under the Incremental Export Incentivisation Scheme for the last quarter of 2012-13 to the lesser of 25% growth or an incremental value cap, and requires claims in excess of that limit to undergo heightened scrutiny by the Regional Authority, modifying Notification No. 27 dated 28.12.2012.

Ineligible export categories expanded to include cotton and cotton yarn; IEIS entitlement limited per IEC with enhanced scrutiny.
Amendments add Export of Cotton, Export of Cotton Yarn, and Exports subject to Minimum Export Price or Export Duty to the ineligible export categories in paragraph 3.14.3 and to the eligibility criteria in paragraph 3.14.5(d). The Incremental Export Incentivisation Scheme for 2013-14 is limited to a scrip value not exceeding Rs. 1 Crore per IEC, and claims above that value will be subject to greater scrutiny by the Regional Authority.

Authorised Officer designation under safeguard measures: Shri Jaikant Singh appointed to implement Rule 3(1) safeguards.
Pursuant to Rule 3(1) of the Safeguard Measures (Quantitative Restrictions) Rules, 2012, Shri Jaikant Singh, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, is designated as the Authorised Officer for the purposes of those Rules, effectuating the individual appointment to exercise the functions and authorities conferred under the safeguard measures framework.