Incremental Exports Incentivisation Scheme grants duty credit scrips for verified incremental export growth, subject to exclusions and regional limits.
A new Incremental Exports Incentivisation Scheme entitles each IEC holder to a duty credit scrip on verified incremental export growth over a defined reference period, subject to year on year financial growth and disallowing aggregation across group entities. Numerous exports and transaction types are excluded from performance calculation-including re exports, SEZ/EOU/STPI exports, deemed and service exports, third party exports, precious metals and stones, ores, cereals, sugar, crude petroleum and milk products-along with exports to certain jurisdictions and meat and meat products. The scheme is regionally limited and the scrips are freely transferable and usable for domestic sourcing.

Registration limits for cotton exports increased; multiple export certificates allowed subject to partial completion and proof.
RCs for cotton exports (HS 5201 & 5203) will be issued by ten designated Regional Authorities in Metric Tonnes. Exporters may apply for RCs up to 30,000 bales or their previous season export quantity, with newcomers and those who exported up to 3000 bales eligible for up to 3000 bales. Multiple RCs within overall eligibility are allowed, but eligibility for a subsequent RC requires completion of at least 50% exports against the individual RC and submission of documentary proof. Revalidation of RCs is not permitted.

Export liberalisation of milk powders now permits exports of whole milk powder, dairy whitener and infant milk foods.
The export policy entry for Milk and Cream (concentrated or sweetened), including whole milk powder, dairy whitener and infant milk foods, has been changed from Prohibited to Free with immediate effect, thereby liberalising exports of those items; the policy position on skimmed milk powder remains unchanged and continues to be free.

Export ban on edible oils extended till further orders; specified exemptions and limited branded pack exports allowed via EDI ports.
The Central Government, under Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act and Para 2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy, has extended the prohibition on export of edible oils until further orders by amending Schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) Classification. Existing exemptions continue to apply, including specified oils, deemed exports from DTA to 100% EOUs for non edible export production, and oils from minor forest produce; branded consumer pack exports are allowed under prescribed pack and execution conditions through Custom EDI Ports, and fish oil remains free.

Self certification for import of arms simplifies approvals, allowing national shooting bodies and sports authorities to import with record-keeping.
Amendment replaces certification by the Sports Authority of India with self certification by the National Rifle Association of India for imports of arms and ammunition; imports remain freely permitted to renowned shooters on recommendation of the national shooting federation, to the national shooting association for its own use and transfers to state/district affiliates by self certification, to Sports Authority or State Sport Authorities by self certification, and to the defence sports control board, with respective recommending or certifying bodies maintaining required records.

Import policy amendment aligns trade tariff entries with Customs Tariff Schedule, restoring omitted handloom and coir classifications.
Amendment aligns Schedule 1 of the ITC (HS) 2012 with the Customs Tariff Schedule 2012 by inserting omitted eight digit tariff lines under existing six digit subheadings. The entries predominantly cover handloom and coir product classifications, several earlier notified lines are restored, and two coir descriptions are expanded to include processed and value added forms. All newly included tariff lines are assigned a free import policy to correct omissions and ensure consistency with the Customs Tariff Schedule.

Retrospective effect clarified for import policy: budgetary tariff changes apply from Finance Bill passage.
The amendment clarifies that budgetary changes incorporated into the ITC(HS) 2012 by Notification No. 7 (RE 2012) will take effect from the date the Finance Bill was passed, thereby fixing the effective date for the revised tariff line descriptions and removing uncertainty whether the changes applied from publication or legislative passage.

Quota allocation for rough marble imports sets eligibility, pro rata distribution, floor price, and compliance requirements for overseas subsidiaries.
Controlled annual quota permits imports of rough marble blocks only from wholly owned overseas mining subsidiaries that meet specified investment and operational criteria. Per-applicant allocations are limited by a maximum or by prior financial year sales, with pro rata distribution if demand exceeds the quota; allocations require sales certification by an independent chartered accountant and supporting overseas annual accounts. Administrative requirements include a set application deadline, designated HS codes, a floor price, actual user condition, mandatory monthly returns to DGFT regional authorities, and time-limited import authorisations.

Import policy for poppy seeds updated: approved source countries expanded and certificate requirement retained without INCB reference.
Amendment permits import of poppy seeds only from an expanded list of approved countries (noting replacement of Slovenia by Slovakia and addition of several states) and requires the importer to produce an appropriate certificate from the competent authority of the exporting country confirming opium poppy was grown licitly/legally; reference to the International Narcotics Control Board website has been deleted and sub-condition (3)(c) remains unchanged.

Exemption from export restriction for Assam Comilla Cotton requires DGFT registration and limited validity of registration.
Assam Comilla Cotton (ITC(HS) Code 5201 00 12) is exempted from any restriction on cotton exports subject to DGFT registration; exporters must follow the registration procedure in Policy Circular No. 29 and complete exports against a Registration Certificate within a 30-day validity period.

Registration of cotton export contracts requires a single RC, quantity caps tied to prior exports and proof of performance.
Registration for export contracts of cotton (HS 5201, 5203) requires issuance of Registration Certificates by seven designated DGFT Regional Authorities under existing procedural rules; exporters may hold one RC at a time with a capped bale quantity tied to prior season exports or prescribed limits, small exporters and newcomers permitted a lower cap, applicants encouraged to apply in multiples of ten, revalidation disallowed, and eligibility for a subsequent RC conditioned on documentary proof of at least half the exports against the current RC.

Port restriction removal allows ISFTA imports of specified ITC (HS) items through any EDI port, subject to agreement conditions.
Deletion of the Import Licensing Note removes the requirement that imports of specified ITC (HS) codes from Sri Lanka under the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement be made only through the Port of Kolkata; such imports may now be effected through any EDI port, subject to all ISFTA conditions and applicable import requirements.

Import restriction on night vision binoculars now requires import authorization under the amended foreign trade policy.
The amendment to Schedule I (Imports), ITC(HS) Chapter 90, splits Exim Code 9005.10.00: ordinary binoculars remain free for import, while Night Vision Binoculars/Passive Night Vision Devices (PNVs) are classified as restricted and may be imported only against an import authorization under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Export payment security restrictions require bank or ECGC guarantees for D/A shipments; silk export provision deleted
Exports on Documents against Acceptance (D/A) for Handmade Woolen Carpets and related floor coverings are permitted only if covered by a bank guarantee or an ECGC guarantee or when exported to the exporter's own subsidiaries, trading companies or office-cum-warehouses. The same D/A restriction for Handicraft items is deferred to the amended commencement date, and the prior entry concerning Silk garments, made-ups, fabrics and accessories is deleted.

Country of manufacture now includes single markets like the EU, affecting import eligibility for new vehicles.
The amendment states that, for import of new vehicles under Chapter 87 para 2(II)(a)(iv), the phrase "country of manufacture" will also include a Single Market like the European Union, while retaining existing conditions requiring a speedometer in kilometres per hour, right-hand steering and controls where applicable, and headlamp photometry suited to keep-left traffic.

Import licensing for rough marble: restrictions, entitlement based on processing turnover, floor price endorsement and compliance obligations.
Policy prescribes an import licensing regime for rough marble and travertine blocks for 2012-13: restricted imports under specified ITC HS codes are permitted only via licenses endorsed with a floor price and subject to an overall annual quantitative ceiling. Eligibility requires ownership of a non-leased marble gangsaw by a unit operational for the required period and a minimum cumulative turnover from processed marble slabs/tiles over the prior five years; entitlement is calculated from that turnover but is capped per gangsaw and by the annual ceiling. Licenses are subject to actual user condition, documentary proof, mandatory monthly returns, prescribed application modalities, debarment for misrepresentation, and a stated validity period.

Export Certification of Cut and Polished Diamonds expanded to include additional authorised laboratories for grading, affecting re import procedures.
Amendment expands the list of authorised laboratories under paragraph 4A.2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy for certification/grading of exported cut and polished diamonds of 0.25 carat and above by adding five specified overseas laboratories, thereby broadening the roster of entities whose certification enables re import under the Policy.

Import threshold for areca nuts revised; imports allowed Free only when CIF value meets the new minimum floor.
Amendment to Schedule I (Imports) of the ITC(HS) Classifications designates Exim codes 0802 80 10, 0802 80 20, 0802 80 30 and 0802 80 90 (whole, split, ground and other areca nuts) as Free for import, conditional on the CIF value meeting or exceeding the revised per kilogram minimum; the amendment raises the prior minimum import price floor to the new specified level under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Ban on export of edible oils in branded consumer packs instituted, with transitional relief limited to consignments already at customs.
The Central Government, under the Foreign Trade Act and Policy, withdraws prior authorization for exports of edible oils in branded consumer packs and imposes an immediate prohibition on such exports. Transitional arrangements under the Foreign Trade Policy are declared inapplicable, while a limited allowance is made for consignments already handed to customs by the stated cut off, to be processed under the Handbook of Procedure.

EPCG scheme modifications allow spares import with reduced export obligation, broaden capital goods definition, and flexible bank guarantees.
Amendments to FTP RE 2012 modify EPCG conditions: spares, moulds, dies, jigs, fixtures, tools and refractories for initial lining for existing plant and machinery may be imported under EPCG subject to an export obligation equal to 50% of the obligation for capital goods imports, to be fulfilled in eight years (six years for zero duty EPCG), with c.i.f. value capped at 10% of the plant and machinery value (or 10% of book value if not imported under EPCG). The capital goods definition is broadened; bank guarantees may be provided by CSPs or users; Post Export EPCG Duty Credit Scrips are made available for duty paid imports.