Import prohibition on plastic waste, with an exception allowing EPZ imports subject to a Public Notice.
The Export and Import Policy 1997-2002 is amended to prohibit imports of all kinds of plastic waste, parings and scrap by substituting Sl. No. 4 of Paragraph 15.1, and corresponding ITC(HS) entries are amended to mark specified polymer and plastic waste Exim codes as "Not permitted to be imported except for EPZs," with imports for EPZs to be permitted only in accordance with a Public Notice.

Export permission for sands and soils to Maldives granted with specified annual quantitative limits under foreign trade policy.
Permission is granted for the export of sands and soils to the Maldives by amending the Export and Import Policy 1997-2002 to allow exports to the Maldives subject to specified annual quantitative ceilings for stone aggregate and river sand, the amendment being issued in the public interest.

Import valuation thresholds for prime steel items allow free import unless c.i.f. falls below prescribed minima.
A clause added to the Import Licensing Notes for Chapter 72 of the ITC(HS) Classification permits free import of specified prime steel items except where the c.i.f. value per metric tonne is below the minimum amount prescribed against each listed ITC(HS) code (covering HR coils, HR sheets, CR coils, tinplates, electrical sheets, plates, and alloy steel bars and rods). The amendment is made under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act and relevant Export and Import Policy provisions.

Import allowance for seconds and defectives: duty-free imports permitted subject to minimum c.i.f. thresholds for listed steel items.
Amendment inserts a clause in Import Licensing Notes to ITC(HS) Chapter 72 permitting imports of seconds and defectives of specified steel items duty-free, provided the c.i.f. value per metric tonne meets or exceeds the prescribed minimum; listed ITC(HS) subheadings identify the covered hot-rolled coils, sheets, cold-rolled coils, tinplates, electrical sheets, plates, and alloy steel bars and rods.

Recognition criteria for service exporters: free foreign exchange thresholds now determine trading house status and entitlement to Chapter 12 benefits.
Amendment permits hotels, travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators to qualify as Export House, Trading House, Star Trading House or Super Star Trading House based on prescribed free foreign exchange earning thresholds (average over three licensing years and for the preceding licensing year). Recognised entities receive benefits under Chapter 12 of the Handbook of Procedures, and SIL entitlement under Chapter 12 is to be calculated on payments received in free foreign exchange rather than on FOB export value.

Prohibition on plastic waste imports now bars import of specified plastic and polymer scrap under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Amendments place all kinds of plastic waste, parings and scrap on the Negative List of Imports and amend ITC(HS) entries to mark specific EXIM codes for polymers and plastic wastes (including PET bottle scrap, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethanes, epoxide resins, vinyl chloride copolymers, cellulose plastics and other polymer products) as prohibited with the policy condition "Not permitted to be imported."

Export Import policy amendment adds 'Sands and Soils' to Chapter sixteen, altering commodity classification and coverage.
The Export and Import Policy 1997-2002 is amended to add Sands and Soils as a new entry after S. No. 10 in Part I of Chapter 16; the Central Government issued the notification under its statutory powers, stating the change is in the public interest and circulating the amendment to relevant ministries, parliamentary libraries, export authorities, customs and port officers.

Import classification: dumpers designed for off highway use designated free for import under amended ITC(HS) rules.
Amendment designates Exim Code 87041000 for dumpers designed for off highway use as Free for import under the ITC(HS) Classifications 1997 2002 (RE 98), to be processed under SIL/Public Notice and issued on a public interest basis pursuant to powers in the Foreign Trade legislative and policy framework.

Currency denomination in Indian rupees allowed for export contracts under EXIM Bank credit; container supply linked to export timeframe.
The Central Government permits export contracts and invoices to be denominated in Indian rupees when financed under an EXIM Bank line of credit. It also amends supply conditions to allow 100% Export Oriented Units that manufacture domestic freight containers to supply such containers domestically provided the containers are exported within the prescribed export timeframe or any further period permitted by Customs.

Import restriction on raw silk: permitted only by licence or public notice; mulberry grade 2A+ allowed under SIL conditions.
The ITC(HS) classification is amended to make Raw Silk (not thrown) restricted, permitting import only against a licence or Public Notice; mulberry raw silk is allowed only if Grade 2A or above and solely under a Special Import Licence; the c.i.f. value of the surrendered SIL must be three times the c.i.f. value of the imported goods.

Import licensing for wildlife requires Chief Wildlife Warden recommendation and CITES compliance; research imports also need CPCSEA approval.
Amendments designate imports of animals, birds, reptiles and related items as restricted and permit import only against licences for zoos, zoological parks, circus companies and private individuals on recommendation of the State Chief Wildlife Warden and subject to CITES; recognised scientific or research institutions must also obtain CPCSEA recommendation under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for licence issuance.

Export restriction on potato established by notification adding it to controlled exports under foreign trade regulatory power.
The Central Government, invoking Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 and paragraph 1.3 of the Export and Import Policy 1997-2002, issued a notification adding Potato to Part II of Chapter 16 of the Policy, thereby placing potato under export control and subjecting its export to the Policy's regulatory framework.

Import controls: Restricted consumer goods require Special Import Licence for permitted imports under amended ITC(HS) classifications.
The notification amends ITC(HS) classifications to designate listed items as Free, Restricted or State Trading, specifying that Free items import without licence though some agricultural seeds remain subject to quarantine, Restricted items require a licence or Public Notice and are often permitted only against a Special Import Licence (SIL) with product-specific conditions, and State Trading items must be imported through designated State Trading agencies and against SIL where indicated.

Prohibition on export of specified wild plants with limited exceptions subject to cultivation certificates, CITES permits and affidavit compliance.
Export of twenty-nine specified plants, plant portions, derivatives and extracts obtained from the wild is prohibited, except for formulations where prohibited-plant material is unrecognizable and physically inseparable. Cultivated varieties may be exported on production of a Certificate of Cultivation from designated forest authorities; certain species also require a CITES permit. Value added formulations from imported plant material may be exported upon affidavit to Customs; false affidavits will invite action under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act. Exports under these provisions are allowed only through specified ports.

Concessional import of capital goods subject to export obligation allowed; spares permitted under policy amendment.
The Export and Import Policy amendment allows import of capital goods, including jigs, fixtures, dies and moulds, at concessional Customs duty subject to an export obligation to be fulfilled over time, and permits import of spares up to a specified proportion of the CIF value of the capital goods under the same scheme.

Export recognition exemption: renewals for prior recognitions need not meet prescribed annual growth requirement during the renewal year.
An amendment exempts exporters whose recognition commenced from 1.4.97 from meeting the prescribed minimum annual average growth in export performance when applying for renewal during 1998-99. A new paragraph 12.12A permits recognition as Star or Super Star Trading House for manufacturing companies or industrial houses that meet specified manufacturing turnover thresholds and sign a prescribed Memorandum of Understanding committing to achieve the prescribed physical export performance over the next three years.

Zero duty expansion: biotech and engineering subsectors added, and EOU/EPZ units eligible for specified Policy benefits with DTA disclaimers.
Amendment adds the Bio-technology Sector and specific engineering sub-sectors to paragraph 6.2's zero duty table where the CIF threshold applies. It also amends paragraph 9.13(b) to allow EOU/EPZ/EHTP/STP units, on production of a suitable disclaimer from DTA suppliers, to obtain specified Policy benefits and to have Brand Rates fixed by the DGFT, while maintaining eligibility for benefits applicable to domestic-supplier linked supplies.

Export restriction on basmati paddy seeds now requires a licence under the amended foreign trade policy provisions.
The Export & Import Policy 1997-2002 is amended to include "Basmati Paddy Seeds" after "Paddy Seeds (Wild varity)" in the entry at Sl. No.19 of Chapter 16, Part II, thereby classifying basmati paddy seeds as restricted items exportable only under licence, under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act and the Policy's enabling paragraph.

Restricted import of computer systems allowed only against licence, public notice or Special Import Licence under amended Chapter 84.
Computer systems, including personal computers, below a specified cif value are classified as Restricted under specified EXIM codes in Chapter 84; import is permitted only against an import licence or in accordance with a Public Notice, and may alternatively be permitted against a Special Import Licence (SIL).

Minimum net foreign exchange performance rules for EOUs/EPZ/EHTP updated, sectoral NFEP and DTA sale cap clarified under FTP.
Amendment prescribes sectoral minimum Net Foreign Exchange Performance (NFEP) and corresponding five year minimum export performance requirements for EOU/EPZ/EHTP units, setting either NFEP percentages or alternative export floors relative to CIF value of imported capital goods; it also permits specified agriculture related units to sell up to 50% of production in the DTA subject to positive net foreign exchange and DTA sale guidelines.