Status holders entitlement to free-of-cost export shipments now limited by an annual monetary or percentage-based cap.
Status holders retain entitlement to export freely exportable items on a free-of-cost basis for export promotion, but this entitlement is constrained by an annual limit equal to the lower of a fixed monetary cap or a percentage of average annual export realisation during the preceding three licensing years, effective immediately under Para 3.24(j) of Chapter 3 of the FTP 2015-2020.

Mandatory export/import documents and Authorisation conditions clarified, with Duty Credit Scrips uses and MEIS/SEIS eligibility refined.
Amendments to the Foreign Trade Policy establish mandatory export/import documents (transport document, commercial invoice cum packing list or separate invoice and packing list, shipping bill or bill of entry), empower regulatory authorities to require additional documents or information for restricted or compliance sensitive goods, set required terms and securities in Authorisations (including export obligation, Actual User, minimum value addition, and guarantees), specify that certain import for export operations are ineligible for incentives, define Duty Credit Scrips uses and list categories ineligible for MEIS and SEIS.

Import exemption for ship-breaking fuels: incidental HSD and LDO imports declared free, LDO via authorized channel.
Import of High Speed Diesel (HSD) (ITC (HS) 2710 1930) and Light Diesel Oil (LDO) (ITC (HS) 2710 1940) that are brought on board old ships or vessels intended for breaking and are incidental to such ships or vessels - whether within machinery/engine or as remnant fuel - is declared free; HSD remains under State Trading Enterprise control and LDO imports continue through IOC with reference to the Foreign Trade Policy framework.

Extension of time for export of Red Sanders wood: government to finalize allocations and modalities, subject to judicial orders.
Para 4 substitutes the earlier provision to require the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the implementing revenue agency to finalize allocation of quantities to authorized entities and to complete the export process for Red Sanders wood by the revised deadline, subject to any orders or submissions before competent courts, exercising powers under the Foreign Trade Act and Policy.

Duty Free Import Authorisation withdrawal bars raw sugar imports under DFIA, effective immediately by notification
The Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 is amended by inserting a sub paragraph in Para 4.25 to provide that the Duty Free Import Authorisation Scheme shall not be available for import of raw sugar; this exclusion is notified to have immediate effect, withdrawing entitlement to import raw sugar under DFIA.

Import policy change: Industrial and technical grade urea now freely importable subject to Actual User condition.
Amendment modifies the ITC (HS) code 3102 10 00 entry so that generic urea remains under State Trading Enterprise, while Industrial Urea and Technical Grade Urea (TGU) are freely importable subject to an Actual User condition, effectuating a bifurcated import regime under the foreign trade policy.

Sugar export liberalisation: preferential EU and USA quotas moved to free regime subject to registration, APEDA oversight and certificates.
The notification shifts preferential-quota sugar exports to the EU and USA from an STE regime to a conditional Free regime, requiring prior registration with DGFT, issuance of Certificates of Origin by Additional DGFT Mumbai where applicable, furnishing detailed export data to DGFT and APEDA, operation of the US TRQ by APEDA per its guidelines, compliance with quantitative ceilings notified by DGFT, and APEDA certification plus prior online registration for organic sugar exports; specified pharmaceutical and speciality sugars remain exempt from registration.

Inclusion of services and technology in foreign trade rules expands licensing, refusal and seizure regimes accordingly.
Amendments extend the rules to include services and technology with goods for import/export regulatory purposes, revise definitions to cover importer/exporter and licensing authority, and replace references to "licence" with "licence, certificate, scrip or any instrument bestowing financial or fiscal benefits." They broaden grounds for refusal, introduce recovery and adjustment mechanisms for erroneous benefits, expand powers to search, seize and inspect including electronic records and conveyances, and update confiscation and utilisation provisions to cover goods connected with services or technology while preserving procedural safeguards for seizure and return.

Minimum export price reduction for onions results in an adjusted export threshold under Letter of Credit requirement policy.
The notification amends export conditions to permit onion exports at specified ITC (HS) serial numbers only on Letter of Credit and subject to a Minimum Export Price (MEP) of US$ 850 F.O.B. per metric ton until further orders, and records an operative reduction of the MEP for listed onion varieties to US$ 250 per metric ton, down from US$ 300 per metric ton.

Foreign Trade Policy notification establishes a five year trade framework and takes effect from its notified commencement.
Notification establishes the Foreign Trade Policy for the 2015-2020 policy period by exercise of statutory authority by the Central Government, notifying the policy and declaring that it shall come into force with effect from the commencement date specified in the instrument; issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade with administrative particulars.

Import of new vehicles: two additional seaports permitted for clearance under the revised import policy.
The Import Policy Condition for Chapter 87 is amended to add Kattupalli Port and APM Terminals, Pipavav to the list of authorized customs ports for import of new vehicles; the revised condition specifies permitted seaports, airports and ICDs through which new vehicles may be cleared.

Updation of SCOMET list expands controlled biological agents, toxins, and dual use materials, tightening export controls.
The Central Government amends the SCOMET list to add specified biological agents, toxins and plant pathogens; substitutes detailed fuel substance and polymeric substance entries to enumerate hydrazine, hydrazine derivatives, hydrazinium salts, a hydrazine replacement fuel, spherical aluminium powder criteria, and specific energetic polymers; revises metal powder production equipment and propellant control systems with performance-based criteria; and adds combustion chambers, fiber optic gyro coil winding machines and ruggedised analogue-to-digital converters, thereby refining export control coverage in Categories 2, 3, 5 and 7.

Export control of military stores requires Department of Defence Production NOC and precise shipping bill itemisation before export.
Exports of items listed as Military Stores (MS 001-MS 016) are freely exportable only on fulfilment of procedural conditions: obtain a No Objection Certificate from the Department of Defence Production per its SOP; prefix the Export Licensing Note serial (e.g. MS 001a) in the Shipping Bill description; and state the NOC number and date in the Shipping Bill. Exporters must also consult the SCOMET list for potential dual use items requiring a DGFT licence.

Mandatory trade documents limited for exports and imports; regulatory authorities may require additional documentation for restricted goods.
Exports require Bill of Lading/Airway Bill, Commercial Invoice cum Packing List (or separate Commercial Invoice and Packing List), and Shipping Bill/Bill of Export; imports require Bill of Lading/Airway Bill, Commercial Invoice cum Packing List (or separate Commercial Invoice and Packing List), and Bill of Entry. For restricted goods or where statutes impose conditions, the regulatory authority may notify or request additional documents or information electronically or in writing. The rule limits baseline mandatory documents to those specified and becomes effective 1 April 2015.

Diamond certification: new Surat laboratory added to the approved list under Foreign Trade Policy for diamond grading.
The Central Government amended paragraph 4A.2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014 to add International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research India Private Limited, Surat, as an approved laboratory for certification and grading of diamonds, thereby recognizing the laboratory for certification/grading of diamonds at the Policy's specified carat threshold.

Removal of Minimum Export Price restores free export policy for fresh or chilled potatoes, eliminating prior export pricing restriction.
The notification removes the Minimum Export Price on fresh or chilled potatoes by substituting the tariff-item table in the prior notification to record potatoes as subject to a free export policy, eliminating the MEP and associated export restriction with immediate effect.

Import prohibition on shark fins converts prior free import status to a categorical ban under ITC tariff classification.
Importation of Shark fins under EXIM code 0305 71 00 is reclassified from free to prohibited, amending Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2012; importers and customs authorities must apply the revised classification and treat the commodity as inadmissible for import under the current policy.

Prohibition on export of shark fins bars international shipment of shark fins under the Foreign Trade Policy export controls.
A new ITC(HS) export entry designates shark fins of all species as Prohibited; the notification amends the customs classification for fish and aquatic products to bar the export of shark fins, making such exports not permitted under the Foreign Trade Policy and subject to immediate enforcement.

Minimum import price for cardamom set; imports allowed only at or above prescribed CIF value with FSSAI compliance.
Amendment fixes a minimum import price regime for cardamom: listed uncrushed/non-ground varieties are on a free import policy provided consignments meet the prescribed CIF value threshold per kilogram and comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; the MIP is fixed with immediate effect.

Minimum export price reduction for edible oils in small branded consumer packs lowers the export pricing requirement.
The Director General of Foreign Trade amended prior notifications to permit export of edible oils in branded consumer packs of up to 5 kgs subject to a Minimum Export Price of USD 900 per metric tonne, effective immediately, reducing the previous MEP of USD 1100 per metric tonne for that category.