Drawback rates amended: replacing notified rates with FOB linked percentages subject to unit based maximum limits for specified entries.
The notification substitutes column 4 entries in the Table to Notification No. 31/99 Cus. (N.T.), replacing existing drawback rates for specified Serial/Sub serial numbers with new rates set as percentages of f.o.b. value subject to specified per unit maximum ceilings; the Schedule lists each affected tariff entry and its substituted drawback formula and unit maximum.

Appointment of customs port limits Agra operations to baggage handling for tourist chartered flights and export/import cargo handling.
Amendment designates the customs port at Agra to authorize only: unloading and loading of baggage for tourist chartered flights, and loading of export cargo and unloading of import cargo.

Anti-dumping duty rescission of PTFE notification under Customs Tariff Act and anti-dumping rules takes effect.
The Central Government, invoking sub-section (2) of section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 read with rule 13 of the 1995 anti-dumping rules, has rescinded the anti-dumping measure on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) previously imposed by Notification No. 83/99-Customs. Notification No. 142/99-Customs formalizes the withdrawal and declares the earlier notification published as G.S.R. 482 (E) to be rescinded.

Anti-dumping duty on PTFE from Russia imposed on named and all other exporters, effective from provisional duty date.
An anti-dumping duty is imposed on Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) under sub-heading 3904.61 originating in or exported from Russia, applied to JSC Halogen, Kirov-Chepetsky and all other producers/exporters, by reference to a specified rate per metric tonne; the imposition is pursuant to section 9A(1) of the Customs Tariff Act read with the anti-dumping rules and is leviable from the date the provisional duty was imposed.

Special Additional Customs Duty on vegetable oils now applies to edible oils for vanaspati manufacture under concessional import rules.
The amendment substitutes the Table entry at serial No. 14 to apply Special Additional Customs Duty to edible-grade vegetable oils (other than coconut oil) under Chapter 15 when imported for manufacture of vanaspati or for refining, subject to compliance with the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty for Manufacture of Excisable Goods) Rules, 1996; "vegetable oil" is defined by free fatty acid thresholds: palm oil 2% FFA, other vegetable oils 0.5% FFA.

Tariff amendment for vegetable oil imports updates classification, duty percentages, and conditions for bulk imports used in vanaspati manufacture.
Amendment substitutes Table entries to reclassify refined vegetable oils of edible grade (excluding certain palm and coconut products) in loose or bulk form under a revised serial entry, omits the prior serial that followed, and inserts a new serial covering vegetable oils (excluding coconut oil) imported for manufacture of vanaspati or for refining, with duty treatment tied to an explanatory definition based on free fatty acid thresholds (palm oil at least 2%; other vegetable oils at least 0.5%).

Customs exemption for gold and silver produced from exported copper anode slime where import value is limited to toll and transport costs.
Gold and silver produced from copper anode slime exported for toll smelting or toll processing are exempted from customs duty to the extent the duty exceeds the amount calculated on a value equal to toll smelting or processing costs (labour, materials other than the exported goods, and other related charges) plus insurance and freight both ways, subject to import within one year of export and provision of sufficient evidence that the metals were obtained from the exported anode slime.

Anti-dumping duties on seamless steel tubes imposed, with producer-specific per-tonne charges applied to targeted imports.
Pursuant to section 9A(2) of the Customs Tariff Act and relevant rules, anti-dumping duty is levied on specified seamless tubes and casing and tubing of certain external diameters, originating in or exported from Austria, Czech Republic, Russia, Romania and Ukraine, when exported by the named producers/exporters and imported into India; country-wise producer lists and per metric tonne duty rates are set out in the annexed table, and the notification is effective up to and inclusive of 28 June 2000.

Anti-dumping duty on imported optical fibre from Korea imposed with exporter-specific and residual rates applied.
Anti-dumping duties are imposed on optical fibre under sub-heading 9001.10 originating in or exported from Korea Republic after a preliminary finding of dumping, material injury, and cumulative causation. The Central Government, under section 9A(2) and the anti-dumping rules, prescribes exporter-specific duty rates and a residual rate for all other exporters as set out in the annexed Table, applicable when those exporters export optical fibre to India. The notification is effective up to and inclusive of 28 June 2000.

Exchange rate determination for export goods sets official conversion rates for specified foreign currencies for customs purposes.
Determines official rates of exchange for conversion between specified foreign currencies and Indian currency for export goods, superseding an earlier notification and prescribing that, from the notified commencement date, the rates set out in Schedule I (per unit rupee equivalents for listed currencies) and Schedule II (rupee equivalents per 100 units for specified currencies) shall be the applicable exchange rates for customs purposes.

Exchange rate determination sets statutory conversion rates for customs valuation and stamp duty on imported goods.
Prescribes statutory exchange rates for specified foreign currencies to be used in calculating stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 and for purposes of section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 in relation to imported goods, superseding the prior notification and declaring the rates set out in Schedules I and II as the operative conversion rates for transactions between foreign currency and Indian currency from the notified commencement date.

Re-import under DEPB scheme allowed with excise duty liability offset by prior DEPB credit upon production of DEPB.
Amendment inserts a new exemption allowing re-import of goods under the Duty Entitlement Passbook (DEPB) Scheme, treating liability as the Central Excise duty leviable at import plus excise drawback allowed at export, subject to production of the DEPB for debit equal to the DEPB credit previously permitted for the exported goods.

Anti-dumping duty on sodium cyanide imposed with exporter-specific rates, applying for a fixed limited period.
The Government, under section 9A(2) of the Customs Tariff Act and relevant Anti dumping Rules, imposed anti-dumping duty on sodium cyanide imports from the United States, European Union, Czech Republic and Korea RP following preliminary findings of dumping, material injury, and cumulative causation; exporter- and country-specific per metric tonne duty rates are prescribed, with specified exemptions for certain named producers, effective up to and including 26 June 2000.

Customs exemption for films imported for approved film festivals expands the scope of exhibition related duty relief.
The amendment adds an exemption in Schedule I for films imported for exhibition at a film festival approved or recommended by the Central Government, and revises Schedule II by substituting "Exhibition, meeting or film festival" for the previous phrase to ensure explicit inclusion of film festivals within the exemption framework.

Anti-dumping provisional assessment requires bank guarantee for imports from specified exporter during review; final duty payable if confirmed.
Provisional assessment requires imports of Bisphenol-A exported by M/s. First Inter Continental Corporation to be subjected to provisional assessment and secured by a bank guarantee calculated at the prescribed provisional rate per metric tonne from the date of initiation of the review under rule 22 until completion; if anti-dumping duty is recommended on review, the importer shall be liable to pay the duty recommended from the review's initiation date.

Imports against special imprest licence: supply of goods to HVDC link project permitted under specified public notice.
Amendment to Notification No. 36/97 Customs inserts sub clause (m) in the Explanation to clause (iii), expressly covering supply of goods to the Rihand Sasaram Biharsharif HVDC Link Back to Back Station Project in terms of Public Notice No. 38 (RE : 99)/1997 2002, thereby extending the miscellaneous exemption for imports against special imprest licence to supplies for that project.

Exemption from surcharge of customs adds tariff classification to extend wheat exemption under Customs Act order.
The Central Government, exercising its power under the Customs Act in the public interest, amends Notification No. 23/99-Customs by substituting the tariff entries in the Table: against serial number 3 in column (2) the existing figures are replaced to include an additional tariff heading, thereby altering the list of tariff classifications to which the exemption from surcharge applies.

Customs exemption expanded to include an additional tariff classification for wheat, widening the scope of the prior exemption.
Amendment expands the tariff classification to which an existing exemption from special additional duty of customs applies by substituting the tariff entry in the notification Table for the relevant serial number with an expanded set of classification entries, thereby bringing the additional tariff identifier for wheat within the scope of the earlier exemption.

Customs exemption for spelt and meslin declared, adding duty-free tariff entries and recording nil standard rate.
Notification inserts entries into an existing customs exemption Table to add spelt and meslin as goods carrying a NIL standard rate, with no additional rate or conditions specified, thereby formally recording their duty-free status in the tariff schedule.

Import duty increase on wheat to curb imports and stimulate central pool off take under a Customs Tariff amendment.
Increase of import duty on wheat and meslin to fifty percent by executive amendment to the First Schedule, Chapter 10, substituting the column (4) entries for the specified subheadings with the stated duty rate to discourage imports, stimulate off-take from the Central Pool, and address the fiscal burden of excess stock.