Export certification change: betel leaf exports to European Union now require registration with the designated authority for health certificates.
Export of betel leaves remains free but exports to the European Union now require registration with the newly designated competent authority for issuance of the health certificate instead of the previously specified authority; exporters must follow that authority's registration and health-certification procedures prior to export.

SEIS entitlement cap announced; deadline for claims set with specified eligible services, exclusions, and new filing rules
Notification prescribes SEIS entitlement for services rendered in FY 2019-20 by listing eligible services and admissible rates in Appendix 3X, providing Duty Credit Scrip on Net Foreign Exchange earned, imposing an entitlement cap per IEC for that year, disallowing SEIS for receipts in Indian Rupees, setting an online ANF 3B filing deadline after which applications will be time-barred, and excluding specified categories of foreign exchange receipts and provider types from entitlement calculations.

Export obligation extension grants time for specified Advance and EPCG authorisations, subject to extra export requirement and no composition fee.
Automatic extension of Export Obligation for specified Advance and EPCG Authorisations until 31.12.2021 is allowed without composition fees, conditional on a 5% additional export obligation in value terms on the balance EO as of expiry. No application to the Regional Authority is required; EO fulfilment will be verified by the RA at EODC/closure/regularisation. The option to use existing composition-fee extension routes remains, but composition fees previously paid for extensions are non-refundable.

Import policy amendment permits specified non-biodiesel diesel and non-gasoline fuel imports by entities under MoPNG resolution.
Amendment to policy condition no. 5 of Chapter 27 of ITC(HS), 2017 narrows the exception to IOC import permissions: gasoline conforming to IS 2796 is excluded from the general marketing-rights exception, while automotive diesel fuel not containing biodiesel and conforming to IS 1460 is permitted to be imported by entities pursuant to the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas resolution, thereby implementing a Government Resolution and aligning the import policy with MoPNG directions under the Foreign Trade Policy and FT(D&R) Act.

Scrip application deadline revised; late cut rates adjusted and duty credit scrip validity capped from issue.
The notification fixes 31st December 2021 as the final date for submitting online applications for specified MEIS, SEIS, 2% ad hoc incentive, ROSCTL and ROSL claims, after which applications become time barred and late cut remedies are unavailable; it also prescribes the applicable late cut percentages for submissions made up to that date. It further sets the validity of Duty Credit Scrips issued on or after the notification date at twelve months from date of issue, superseding prior HBP provisions.

Free import policy extension for tur and urad; consignments require timely bill of lading issuance and customs clearance.
Extension of the Free import policy for Tur (Pigeon Peas) and Urad (Vigna mungo) maintains concessional import treatment and conditions consignments to having a Bill of Lading issued by the prescribed cutoff and to being cleared through Customs by the stated final clearance cutoff, thereby tying admissibility under the Free policy to shipping documentation and Customs clearance timelines.

Last date of import: shipment or Bill of Lading/Lorry Receipt governs admissibility; Customs clearance barred after final cutoff.
The controlling datum for imports under Notification No. 20/2015-20 is the date of shipment or the date of issuance of the Bill of Lading (seaports) or Lorry Receipt (LCS Petrapole), fixed as 31.10.2021 or until further orders, whichever is earlier; consignments with Bill of Lading or Lorry Receipt issued on or before 31.10.2021 shall not be allowed by Customs beyond 31.01.2022.

Prior Informed Consent procedure now required for mercury imports, making them subject to restricted import conditions.
Import of mercury under ITC HS Code 28054000 is revised from Free to Restricted and made subject to Policy Condition No. 3, requiring a Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure pursuant to the Minamata Convention to be obtained from the National Focal Point in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, with procedural details available from the Ministry's Hazardous Substance Management Division.

Transport and Marketing Assistance scheme provides freight and marketing reimbursement for eligible agricultural exports subject to conditions and exclusions.
The Revised TMA scheme reimburses exporters registered with the relevant export promotion council for international freight and marketing of eligible agricultural products in HSN chapters 1-24 subject to Annexure 1 exclusions. Assistance is paid by direct bank transfer on production of Bill of Lading/Airway Bill and an indemnity bond, applies only to exports via EDI ports, uses TEU rules for sea and per kilogram rates for air, and excludes specified categories including trans shipments, imported goods, restricted/prohibited items, MEP/duty subject products and courier/e commerce exports.

Inclusion of Ports of Import expands permitted import ports to include Mumbai, Tuticorin and Vishakhapatnam under FTP.
The Central Government amended Para 3 of Notification 20/2015-20 to include Mumbai Sea Port, Tuticorin Sea Port and Vishakhapatnam Sea Port as additional permitted ports of import under the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020, while all other conditions of the original notification continue to apply.

Gold import eligibility limited to nominated agencies for high purity gold, enforcing regulated import channels.
The explanation clarifies that "Gold in any form" includes gold above 22 carats under Chapter 71 of ITC (HS), 2017, Schedule I (Import Policy), and that such imports may be made only by nominated agencies as notified by the respective regulators for banks and for others.

Aircraft import permission expanded to include IFSC based leasing entities, enabled by regulator NOC instead of ministry approval.
Amendment to Policy Condition No.1 of Chapter 88, ITC (HS) 2017 adds Aircraft Leasing Entities located in an International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) to the list of persons/entities permitted to import aircraft and helicopters without an import licence, and replaces prior ministry permission with a civil aviation regulator NOC for imports undertaken for scheduled, commuter, non scheduled air transport or aerial work operations, with the stated aim of reducing transaction costs and easing procedures.

Import relaxation for GM soya cake permits specified non living crushed de oiled imports from designated ports under ITC(HS) codes.
Relaxation of Para 6(b) of the General Notes Regarding Import Policy, ITC(HS) 2017 permits import of crushed and de oiled GM soya cake (non living organism) under ITC(HS) codes 23040020 and 23040030, limited to a specified aggregate quantity, allowed only through designated seaports, land customs stations and a railway station, with strict customs monitoring to ensure the aggregate limit is not exceeded.

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) issues FOB based transferable e scrip rebates for eligible exports.
RoDTEP refunds currently un refunded indirect duties, taxes and levies borne on exported products and on their distribution, subject to ceilings and rates set by a Department of Revenue committee and an annual budget fixed by the Ministry of Finance. Rebates are generally a notified percentage of FOB (with per unit caps or fixed quantum where specified) and are issued as transferable electronic duty credit scrips maintained in a CBIC ledger. Eligibility, a list of exclusions, foreign exchange realisation rules, IT enabled application procedures, RMS based audit sampling, recovery, suspension and penalty mechanisms, and an inter ministerial policy committee are prescribed; detailed itemwise rates and caps are in Appendix 4R.

Export restriction on coronavirus rapid antigen testing kits imposed; exports moved to restricted category requiring authorization.
The export of coronavirus rapid antigen testing kits under specified ITC (HS) codes has been reclassified from Free to Restricted under Schedule-2 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy. The Central Government, invoking Section 3 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act and provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, issued a DGFT notification effecting this change, which applies immediately to the listed HS codes and to any other HS code covering such kits.

Import-export restrictions: Notifications may impose prohibitions or restrictions to protect public interest, security, and supply chains.
DGFT is empowered to issue Notifications imposing Prohibition or Restriction on imports and exports to address critical shortages, apply trade standards and classifications, regulate fisheries imports linked to domestic production controls, safeguard the external financial position, promote domestic industry, prevent import surges injurious to domestic producers, and ensure essential supplies for domestic processing and distribution. The amendment also affirms controls for protection of public morals, health, intellectual property compliance, conservation of natural resources, prohibition of prison-labour products, protection of national treasures, restrictions related to fissionable materials and arms, emergency measures in international relations, and actions under United Nations Charter obligations.

IEC updation extension: annual IEC update period extended and modification fees waived for updates completed in August.
The annual requirement to update and confirm IEC details electronically, normally during April-June, is extended for the compliance year so updates and online confirmations may be completed through the end of August; modifications effected during August will attract no fee. The amendment revises Para 2.05(d) of Chapter 2 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020, and preserves the requirement to confirm electronically where no changes are made.

Import policy amendment extends CHIMS trial period and fixes online registration to commence after the trial, affecting specified IC HS codes.
Amendment modifies paragraph 3 of Notification No. 05/2015-2020 to confirm online CHIMS testing availability from 01.05.2021 on a trial basis, extends the CHIMS trial until 30.09.2021, and provides that CHIMS and online registration will be effective for Bills of Entry filed on or after 01.10.2021 for the listed IC HS codes.

Export exemption for essential commodities to Maldives permitted, subject to environmental clearances and coastal regulation compliance.
The Central Government permits specified annual exports of Eggs, Potatoes, Onions, Rice, Wheat Flour, Sugar, Dal, Stone Aggregates and River Sand to the Republic of Maldives for 2021 22 through 2023 24, exempting these consignments from existing or future restrictions. Exports of River Sand and Stone Aggregates require CAPEXIL to verify appropriate clearances, prohibition of extraction in the Coastal Regulation Zone, and exporters to obtain environmental clearances or No Objection Certificates from the designated State nodal authority, subject to State laws and judicial orders.

Import permission for watermark bank note paper revised; name corrected and quarterly return requirement removed.
Imports of water mark bank note paper are permitted without an import licence for specified Note Printing Presses and designated units of Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Ltd., subject to submission of a certificate of import by the Head of Unit and an actual user condition. The notification corrects the corporate name in Policy Condition 1(I) and deletes Policy Condition 1(II) requiring quarterly returns to the Ministry of Finance, removing that reporting obligation to reduce compliance burden.