Export permission for buffalo tallow now allowed subject to APEDA-registered plants and compulsory pre-shipment biochemical testing.
Export of buffalo tallow is authorised by inserting Sl. No. 91A in Chapter 15 of ITC(HS) Schedule 2, designating Buffalo Tallow as 'Free'. Exports are permitted only from APEDA-registered integrated meat plants with rendering facilities and subject to compulsory pre-shipment biochemical tests conducted by APEDA-approved laboratories.

Export policy amendment: cotton yarn export now free and registration requirement dispensed, easing shipment compliance.
The export policy for cotton yarn in Chapter 52 of the ITC(HS) Classification is amended to substitute entries classifying cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), whether containing 85% or more cotton, less than 85% cotton, or put up for retail sale, as Free for export. The notification dispenses with the prior registration requirement for export of these cotton yarn tariff items, removing the need for exporter registration under the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14.

Export policy for cotton revised: raw and carded/combed cotton now free for export and registration waived.
Amendment substitutes Schedule 2 entries for Chapter 52 to specify Free export status for cotton neither carded nor combed and for cotton carded or combed, and dispenses with the registration requirement for export of those cotton tariff items, effective immediately.

Appellate Authority established to review orders of authorised adjudicating authorities under the Foreign Trade Act.
Notification authorises specified Central Government officers to act as Appellate Authority under clause (b) of sub section (1) of Section 15 of the Foreign Trade Act to hear appeals from Adjudicating Authorities appointed under Section 13; a Table matches Adjudicating Authority designations to their Appellate Authorities and the Director General of Foreign Trade, aided by an Additional DGFT, is designated for certain appeals. Earlier Notifications listed are expressly superseded.

Import condition: worked stone imports allowed freely subject to a slab thickness limit and a cif value threshold.
The import-entry for specified worked monumental and building stone items is amended to permit free import only where the slab's maximum thickness is 20mm and the cif value is US$ 60 and above per square metre, thereby adding a physical-thickness condition to the existing cif-value based free-import provision in the ITC (HS) Schedule for the listed Exim codes.

Import licensing conditions for rough marble impose eligibility, quota limits, a minimum import price and mandatory reporting obligations.
Import licensing for rough marble and travertine blocks for 2014-15 restricts imports under specified ITC HS Codes and conditions licenses on unit eligibility, documentary proof of owned gangsaw machinery and cumulative turnover from processed slabs/tiles, compliance with registration and exclusion of leased machines. Allocations are subject to an overall annual ceiling, per machine limits, and a mandated minimum import price endorsed on licenses. Licenses carry an actual user condition, require monthly returns to DGFT regional authorities and have a prescribed validity; misrepresentation leads to debarment and penalties under the FT(D&R) Act.

Import notification requirement mandates reporting of scheduled chemical consignments to trade and chemical authorities within thirty days.
Importation of chemicals listed in Categories 1A, 1B and 1C of the SCOMET Appendix to Schedule Two of the ITC(HS) Classification is subject to a mandatory import notification requirement. For each consignment, the importer must notify specified national authorities of the import details within thirty days of importation, making reporting a compulsory administrative condition of import for those SCOMET categories.

Plant quarantine requirement: imports of natural sand now subject to Plant Quarantine Order, restricting unchecked sand imports.
The import classification for natural sands under Chapter 25 is amended so that specified silica sands, quartz sands and other natural sands, previously free, are now subject to the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, making plant quarantine compliance a precondition for their import.

Extension of export deadline for Red Sanders wood allows state and DRI to finalize export modalities subject to court orders.
The substitution permits the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to finalize export modalities and allocate quantities to authorized entities for export of Red Sanders wood, with the export process to be completed by 30th April, 2015, subject to orders or submissions before the referenced High Court or any other court.

Export conditions for dried silkworm pupae to EU require consignment-wise shipment and health certification for clearance.
A new export provision adds Tariff Item 051199 for dried silkworm pupae to the EU as "Free" for export, subject to consignment-wise documentary conditions: a Shipment Clearance Certificate with exporter, plant, IEC, plant approval, product, quantity, invoice and port details; and a post-shipment Health Certificate detailing vessel and shipping bill information, issued jointly by the industry export body and the Regional Animal Quarantine Officer in accordance with EU requirements.

Import approval requirement relaxed: replaced by unit head certificate for currency and security printing paper imports under actual user condition.
Imports of water-mark bank note paper and security printing paper may be made without an import licence by specified SPMCIL and BRBNMPL units subject to submission of a certificate of import from the Head of the unit and compliance with the actual user condition; this replaces the earlier requirement for a specific Ministry of Finance approval letter, and the head-of-unit certificate must be presented to Customs for clearance.

Import policy liberalisation for primary agricultural commodities: shift from State Trading Enterprise restriction to free import regime.
Import restrictions for specified Chapter 10 primary cereals and related commodities are amended: items formerly under State Trading Enterprise constraints and channelled through the public procurement agency are reclassified to a Free import policy, thereby removing the exclusive state trading requirement and permitting general imports.

Export policy change allows KIOCL to export iron ore pellets directly or via authorised entities under a free export classification.
The amendment replaces the Sl. No. 104 entry in Chapter 26 of Schedule 2 of ITC(HS) to designate iron ore pellets as manufactured by KIOCL Limited and changes their export policy status to Free, permitting export by KIOCL Limited or any entity authorised by it, effective immediately under the Foreign Trade Act and Foreign Trade Policy.

Minimum export price requirement for onions imposed; exports permitted only against Letter of Credit until further notice.
Export of onions under the specified ITC (HS) classifications is permitted only against a Letter of Credit and is subject to a Minimum Export Price on F.O.B. terms until further orders; the notification text sets an MEP in the operative clause and also restates a different MEP figure in a subsequent paragraph, making both the LC requirement and the MEP preconditions for export.

Input identification requirement: shipping bill must exactly state inputs used so authorisations are redeemable upon proportional consumption.
Exact correspondence between inputs used and inputs endorsed in the shipping bill is mandatory for Authorisation redemption; where SION aggregates multiple inputs against a single quantity, permitted imports and entitlement must be allocated in proportion to actual consumption and that proportion must be indicated in the shipping bill, and only inputs specifically indicated in the shipping bill will be allowed at export obligation discharge or redemption.

Export proceeds in local currency allowed equal export incentive entitlement for exports to Iran under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Export proceeds from exports to Iran realized in local currency are permitted to avail export benefits and incentives under the Foreign Trade Policy at par with proceeds realized in freely convertible currency; this follows deletion of the word 'specific' from Para 2.40A, removing the limiting qualification and restoring parity of incentive entitlement for local currency realization.

Organic sugar export policy: allowed without quantity ceiling while requiring certification and prior registration.
Amendment removes the quantitative ceiling on organic sugar exports while sugar exports remain free, includes organic sugar within the definition of sugar, and requires organic sugar to be certified as organic and for export quantities to be registered through the online DGFT system; pharmaceutical-grade and speciality sugars remain exempt from registration.

Import prohibition for foie gras enacted, converting prior free import allowance into a statutory ban.
Import policy for foie gras under EXIM Code 0207 43 00 in Chapter 2 of ITC (HS) 2012, Schedule I is revised from 'free' to prohibited. The notification declares that while fatty livers, fresh or chilled remain free generally, the item specified as 'foie gras' is expressly prohibited and importers must comply with the new import-control status set out in the Schedule I framework.

Minimum Export Price requirement for onions established; exports permitted only subject to MEP under amended export policy.
Export of onions described at Serial Numbers 51 and 52 of Chapter 7 of Schedule 2 of ITC(HS) is permitted only subject to a Minimum Export Price (MEP) on an F.O.B. basis, as specified by the DGFT; the notification makes the MEP the operative condition for exports and allows DGFT to notify revisions.

Minimum export price requirement for potatoes introduced, permitting exports subject to MEP compliance.
A new Chapter 7, Schedule 2 export entry permits export of fresh or chilled potatoes (HS 07019000) as Free with immediate effect, subject to a Minimum Export Price (MEP); exporters must comply with the MEP requirement.