Basmati rice export conditions impose grain-size, quality certification and port-restriction requirements for permitted exports.
Basmati rice exports are permitted subject to conditions: grain length over 6.61 mm and length-to-breadth ratio over 3.5; pre-shipment quality certification for exports to the Russian Federation from listed or notified agencies; a prescribed minimum FOB price; and export restricted to six designated ports (Kandla, Kakinada, Kolkata, JNPT Mumbai, Mundra and Pipavav). Other provisions of the prior notification remain unchanged.

Import licensing density criterion revised, altering eligibility threshold and affecting Schedule I import classifications under foreign trade policy.
Amendment to Schedule I (Imports) of the ITC(HS) Classifications 2004-09 modifies the import licensing note in paragraph I(1) by replacing the prior density condition with a higher density threshold for eligibility, under powers of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act read with paragraph 2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy, described as issued in public interest.

Export exception for non basmati rice to select African countries permitted through State Trading Corporation under sourcing and quality conditions.
Ban on export of non-basmati rice is relaxed for Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Cameroon and such exports must be conducted through the State Trading Corporation (STC). Exports are conditional on STC procuring from mills with surplus stock, ensuring exported rice has a minimum proportion of broken kernels, avoiding adverse impact on domestic prices, and sourcing from multiple States in four tranches; all other provisions of the original notification remain applicable.

Foreign Trade Policy amendment revises import reference in policy paragraph, affecting export-linked import treatment under FTP.
The Foreign Trade Policy amendment replaces the phrase 'Chapter 4 of this Policy for import of Agriculture Inputs' with 'Chapter 4 of FTP for import of Inputs' in the identified policy paragraph across RE versions, thereby broadening the import reference from agriculture-specific inputs to general inputs; the amendment is effective for exports made from the stated retrospective date and is issued under the Act and the FTP enabling paragraph as a public interest notification.

EPCG Scheme coverage for Common Service Providers, with user-specific export obligations and enforceable bank guarantees.
The EPCG Scheme is extended to cover service providers designated or certified as Common Service Providers, subject to conditions: the EPCG licence must endorse the users and their apportioned Export Obligation; exports via the CSP will not count towards other specific export obligations; and each user (besides the CSP) must furnish a bank guarantee equal to their apportioned duty foregone, enforceable on non-fulfilment.

Import policy liberalisation: marble product imports allowed free, subject to a minimum CIF value per square metre and Nepal exception.
Amendment permits free import of specified marble products in Chapter 68 provided imports meet a CIF value threshold per square metre. An exception confines the CIF exemption for imports from Nepal to items processed or manufactured from marble mined in Nepal; products made in Nepal using imported marble are excluded. The amendment is effective retrospectively from 30 June 2008 under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09.

Import conditions for Security Printing Paper: authorised presses may import without licence subject to government approval and quarterly returns.
The licensing note adds import conditions for Security Printing Paper: specified security presses may import without licence subject to actual user requirement and possession of a government letter of approval, which must be produced to Customs for clearance; importers must furnish quarterly returns of import quantity and value to the government within thirty days of each quarter's end.

Ban exemption for non-basmati rice exports permits STC-led shipments under conditional sourcing and price-stability safeguards.
Ban on export of non-basmati rice is not applicable for exports to specified countries subject to fixed quantities and conditions: exports must be carried out through the State Trading Corporation (STC); STC shall procure from mills with surplus rice/paddy; the rice must have a minimum proportion of brokens; STC must ensure market entry does not affect overall rice prices; and STC must source from multiple States and export in four tranches.

Import licensing requirement: rough agglomerated stone blocks and slabs now subject to specified policy-circular import conditions.
An amendment inserts an import licensing note at the end of Chapter 68 making import of rough or unprocessed blocks and slabs of agglomerated or artificial stones subject to the conditions in Policy Circular No.34(RE-08)/2004-2009, Policy Circular No.35(RE-2008)/2004-2009, and the subsequent Policy Circulars No.66(RE-2008)/2004-09 and No.68(RE-2008)/2004-09, under powers conferred by the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09.

Import prohibition on dairy products from China instituted, barring transitional import arrangements during the restriction period.
An immediate import prohibition applies to dairy products, including milk and milk products, from China under Chapter 4 of Schedule I of the ITC(HS) Classifications, effective for three months and until further orders; transitional arrangements under paragraph 1.5 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09 are barred for such imports during the prohibition period.

Import prohibition on specified avian and related livestock products from countries reporting notifiable avian influenza with limited exceptions.
The ITC (HS) Classification is amended to prohibit import into India of specified live stock and live stock products from countries reporting notifiable Avian Influenza, including certain birds, avian meat and meat products, semen, live poultry, day old chicks, hatching eggs, egg products (except Specific Pathogen Free eggs), feathers, live pig and unprocessed pig products, pathological and biological material from birds, and animal origin products for feeding or industrial use, subject to narrow exceptions for diagnostic/research imports from SAARC on request and processed pet food and certain feed uses. The prohibition remains until further orders.

Served From India Scheme eligibility revised: duty credit scrips granted based on free foreign exchange earnings.
Amendments tie Served From India Scheme duty credit scrip eligibility to minimum free foreign exchange earnings for service providers listed in Appendix 10, with a lower threshold for individual providers. Entitlement grants percentage-based duty credit scrips on free foreign exchange: a standard rate for general service providers (excluding hotel, restaurant and tourism providers), a lower rate for hotels and registered tourism-sector providers and qualifying clubs, and the standard rate for stand-alone restaurants, calculated on earnings in the preceding or current financial year.

Benefit claims under export incentive schemes now permitted to be made by supporting manufacturers or direct foreign exchangers.
The amendment permits entitlement to specified export incentive benefits to be claimed either by the supporting manufacturer (subject to a disclaimer from the company or firm that realized the foreign exchange) or by the company or firm that directly realized the foreign exchange, by inserting this option into designated paragraphs of FTP RE2006 and RE2007.

DEPB entitlement extended to DTA to SEZ supplies, including rupee payments from SEZ developers for specified supplies.
Amendment to paragraph 4.3.1 grants exporters DEPB credit as a percentage of FOB value for exports made in freely convertible currency. For DTA supplies to SEZ Units/Developers/Co Developers, DEPB applies where exports are in freely convertible currency or payment is made into the SEZ foreign currency account. Exporters are also entitled to DEPB where SEZ Developers/Co Developers make payment in Indian Rupees for supplies received w.e.f. 10 February 2006.

Import restrictions on agglomerated artificial stone impose processed tile conditions and require transitional applications to DGFT.
Amendment to Schedule I (Imports) classifies Chapter 68 items as free but restricts import of rough/unprocessed blocks and slabs of agglomerated/artificial stones; processed tiles/slabs of agglomerated/artificial stones are permitted freely only if they meet a specified CIF value per square metre. Importers seeking Transitional Arrangements under the Foreign Trade Policy must apply to DGFT Headquarters within two weeks with details of their LCs and contracts.

Seed export controls: seed-quality rice, maize and durum wheat allowed subject to licensing, treatment declaration and labeling.
Export of seed-quality non-basmati rice, maize seed and durum wheat is permitted as Free subject to submission at customs of a dealer in seeds licence issued under the Seed Control Order (1983) and a declaration that the consignment has been chemically treated and is not fit for human consumption, and subject to labelling of packets to indicate chemical insecticide treatment and unsuitability for food or feed.

Export conditions for PUSA-1121 rice: permitted only under specified quality, registration, testing and designated-port requirements.
Amendment permits export of PUSA-1121 non-basmati rice subject to specified grain dimension criteria, minimum FOB pricing, mandatory registration or contract registration requirements, pre-shipment testing by notified laboratories, and export restricted to designated ports; other provisions of the principal notification remain unchanged.

Export conditions for PUSA-1121 rice: permitted subject to varietal and quality standards, APEDA registration, specified ports and minimum price.
Export of the PUSA-1121 variety of non-basmati rice is permitted as an exception to the prohibition provided the rice meets grain quality standards (length exceeding seven millimetres and length to breadth ratio exceeding four), contracts are registered with APEDA prior to shipment, exports observe a prescribed minimum FOB price, shipments are restricted to specified ports, and exports are allowed with immediate effect for paddy procured in the relevant marketing season.

Export controls on PUSA-1121 rice permit shipments only with registration, quality thresholds and port restrictions.
Amendment permits export of PUSA-1121 non-basmati rice despite general prohibition, subject to grain size and length-to-breadth ratio thresholds, prior APEDA contract registration, a prescribed minimum FOB price, and shipment only through specified ports; exports from paddy procured in KMS 2008-09 allowed immediately. Basmati rice exports are free subject to grain dimension requirements, pre-shipment quality certification for the Russian Federation by listed laboratories or other notified agencies, a prescribed minimum FOB price, restriction to the same ports, and an operative date for certain provisions, with all other notification terms unchanged.

Financial assistance for legal expenses: exporters may obtain support for statutory trade compliance litigation under the MAI scheme.
The Department of Commerce will provide financial assistance to deserving exporters, on Export Promotion Council recommendation, to meet legal expenses for trade-related matters, restricted to statutory compliances such as registration charges and litigation in anti-dumping and countervailing cases, in accordance with the Market Access Initiative scheme.