EPCG export averaging: exports under an EPCG licence are excluded from calculating average export performance for later EPCG licences.
Amendment excludes exports made under an EPCG licence from the calculation of average export performance when assessing eligibility for a subsequent EPCG licence, modifying Paragraph 6.5(v) of the Export and Import Policy, 1997-2002.

ITC(HS) classifications revised and notified under foreign trade statute, bringing updated export-import schedule into force.
Notifies the ITC(HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items 1997-2002 as the revised edition incorporating amendments up to the date of issuance, invokes the Central Government's powers under the foreign trade enactment and the Export and Import Policy framework, and declares the revised edition to come into force on the date of notification for use as the operative classification schedule.

Import liberalization: restriction on large rolls or sheets withdrawn, restoring permissive import treatment under foreign trade policy.
The DGFT withdrew the amendment effected by Notification No. 3(RE-98)/97-02 that had deleted the permissive entry for imports of large rolls or sheets under the relevant tariff heading, restoring the prior free import treatment. The withdrawal was made under the powers of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act and Export and Import Policy provisions and issued in the public interest by notification dated 17 August 1998.

Special Import Licence permissions expanded for specified ITC(HS) items, allowing import only under SIL per export-import policy.
Amendments to the ITC(HS) classifications permit importation of the listed Exim-coded items only against a Special Import Licence (SIL); the Central Government, under the Foreign Trade Act and the Export and Import Policy, revises column five of the ITC(HS) schedule so that each specified tariff-line description is authorised for import exclusively under the SIL mechanism and notified for implementation in the public interest.

Import of capital goods permitted under EPCG scheme for eligible exporters, with ownership and disclosure conditions for irrigation equipment.
Amendment authorises manufacturer exporters, merchant exporters tied to supporting manufacturers and service providers to import capital goods under the Scheme; for agricultural exports, irrigation equipment may be imported provided ownership remains with the EPCG licence holder, such equipment is neither sold nor leased, and the list of locations where equipment will be situated is furnished to the jurisdictional Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise.

Export restriction on wild animal parts tightened; manufactured antler articles and shavings banned immediately under FTP rules.
Amendment revises the prohibited exports list to treat all forms of wild animals and their parts and products as restricted, exempting peacock tail feathers and related handicrafts subject to ITC HS classification conditions, and expressly prohibits the export of manufactured articles and shavings of shed antlers of chital and sambhar with immediate effect.

Import liberalisation: hardcopy computer designs allowed free import under ITC(HS) amendment, subject to SIL/Public Notice.
The ITC(HS) amendment adds EXIM code 491191 00.20 classifying printed hardcopy computer designs as a Free import item to be imported under applicable Special Import Licence or Public Notice provisions, issued under the Foreign Trade Policy framework and noted as being in the public interest.

Amendment to export-import policy removes specified canalised items, altering licensing and regulatory controls under foreign trade law.
Amendment to the Export and Import Policy deletes specified entries from the canalised items list in Chapter 16, Part III, thereby altering which commodities are subject to canalised import/export procedures and regulatory controls under the Foreign Trade framework.

Export supply timelines updated: licence-linked and import-triggered completion periods; personal carriage of jewellery samples allowed with approval and return condition.
Amendments fix export supply completion for rough diamonds to within 12 months from licence issuance or within 3 months from import, whichever is later, and permit personal carriage of jewellery and precious/semi precious samples for export promotion and temporary display with prior approval, provided the items are brought back within 45 days from departure.

Canalisation of petroleum products assigned to a designated canalising agency, with crude exempt for private and joint refineries' own use.
Canalisation is imposed on imports of specified petroleum products, requiring importation through a designated canalising agency, while expressly exempting private and joint sector refineries from import licence requirements when importing crude for actual use in their own refineries; corresponding ITC(HS) entries for crude petroleum and a furnace oil classification are amended to reflect canalised and free import status respectively.

Controlled export of Chemical Weapons Convention Schedules 2 and 3 permitted under specified licensing and compliance conditions.
Amendment permits controlled export of chemicals listed in Schedules 2 and 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention per ITC(HS) classifications, replacing S.No.28 of Paragraph 16.2, Part II, Chapter 16. Exports of Schedule 3 chemicals to State Parties are allowed only subject to the conditions specified in Schedule 2 Appendix 1 of the ITC(HS) book. The change is made under section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 and paragraph 1.3 of the Export and Import Policy, 1997-2002.

Import of edible oils now requires importer intimation within 15 days and a monthly return by the 7th.
The Import Licensing Note is amended to require importers of edible oils to intimate within 15 days of import specified details (type of oil; contract and import dates; quantity; price; origin) to the Directorate for vanaspati, vegetable oils and fats, and to submit a prescribed monthly statement by the 7th of the next month detailing contract number and date, type, quantity, price per metric ton, total value, source country, Indian port and other information.

Removal of minimum NFE requirement allows electronic hardware units to be set up without export percentage conditions.
The Foreign Trade Policy, 1997-2002 is amended: the phrase basic custom duty is replaced by basic custom duty and special customs duty in paragraph 7.25; DEPB transfers are limited to import at the port specified in the DEPB, being the port of export; and electronic hardware units may be established without any minimum NFE earning as a percentage of exports or export obligation.

Import licensing requirement for specified commodities now restricts import to licensed or public notice permissions.
The Export and Import Policy is amended to provide that imports of raw silk/silk cocoons, natural rubber and crude palm stearin are not permitted except against a licence or in accordance with a public notice, revising the Negative List Part II, Chapter 15-1 entry and taking effect under powers granted by the Foreign Trade Act and the Policy provisions.

Import classification change: numerous goods moved to open import or restricted lists with special import licence conditions.
The notification amends the ITC(HS) schedule by classifying numerous Exim codes as Free (Open General Licence) or Restricted with import allowed against Special Import Licence (SIL), deletes or replaces certain codes, and prescribes that specified codes be canalised under State Trading via the designated agency which shall follow normal commercial practice.

Export prohibition on wild plant species requires cultivation certificates or CITES permits; value added exports allowed with affidavit.
Amendments to Schedule 2 Appendices amend export controls: specific Appendix 1 entries are deleted or reworded (including Black Pepper deletion, substitution of "Government" for "DGFT", deletion of certain cereal/export conditions, sample export concessions, removal of Tea rupee debt condition, and provision for DGFT notified ceilings for Sandalwood Oil). Appendix 2 prohibits export of listed wild plant species while allowing cultivated varieties only with a Certificate of Cultivation from designated forest/wildlife officers and, where applicable, a CITES permit; value added formulations from imported species may be exported on affidavit, with penalties for false statements.

Foreign Trade Policy revision brings consolidated amendments into force, updating the export-import regulatory framework and guidance.
Revised Export and Import Policy 1997-2002 is promulgated as a consolidated edition incorporating all amendments made up to 12 April 1998 and is brought into force from 13 April 1998 under the statutory authority vested in the administrative head responsible for foreign trade, issued in the public interest to update and consolidate export-import regulatory provisions.

Import licence requirement for live poultry permitted on recommendation of the Department of Agriculture, imposing conditional import authorisation.
The ITC (HS) classification for live poultry entries is amended so that import is permitted against a licence on the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture & Co-operation, conditioning import clearance on departmental endorsement and reflecting a public-interest trade-control measure under the export-import policy framework.

Entity name amendment: correction to ITC (HS) licensing note updates corporate name and location in export-import classifications.
The Government amends licensing note No. (2) of Chapter 48 in the ITC (HS) classifications, replacing "Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai" with "Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Ltd., Bangalore" to correct the corporate name and location for licensing and classification purposes, issued under the Foreign Trade Act and Export-Import Policy authority in the public interest.

Bulk licence conditions for rough diamonds require supply to authorised holders or re export within a specified time and compliance.
Bulk licences for rough diamonds permit import from any source with an obligation to supply such diamonds to holders of valid REP/Diamond Imprest Licences, EOU/EPZ units or to re export them; such supply or re export must be completed within twelve months. Eligibility for bulk licences is restricted to specified public enterprises and to private exporters or overseas companies meeting prescribed export or turnover thresholds. Private and public bonded warehouses in EPZ/DTA may handle import, re export and DTA sales of rough and uncut precious and semi precious stones against REP/GEM REP/Diamond Imprest Licences, subject to customs duty and procedural requirements, and cut and polished gems must meet a minimum value addition requirement.