Prohibition on pulse exports (excluding Kabuli Chana) extended, maintaining export ban under foreign trade regulations.
The executive notification extends the prohibition on exports of pulses except Kabuli Chana by substituting the operative paragraph of earlier export-control notifications, invoked under the Foreign Trade Act and Foreign Trade Policy and issued in public interest to maintain the export-control regime for the specified commodities.

Exemption to prohibition on pulse exports permits a specified shipment to the Republic of Maldives under an immediate FTP amendment.
An amendment to existing export notifications adds a new paragraph creating a territorially limited exemption to the prohibition on export of pulses, permitting export to the Republic of Maldives. The change is effected under powers of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act and the Foreign Trade Policy, has immediate effect, and is issued in public interest by the Director General of Foreign Trade.

Prohibition exemption on non-basmati rice exports permitted through designated PSUs subject to procurement, certification, tender and verification conditions.
The amendment permits specified exports of non-basmati rice to identified neighbouring countries through designated agencies, subject to conditions: rice must meet a maximum brokens standard; exports must be carried out directly and only by designated PSUs with no associate exporters; MEA will ensure contracts are with designated buying agencies; PSUs must procure through competitive tenders under prescribed guidelines; suppliers must certify procurement and levy compliance; PSUs should procure at prices close to derived MSP to avoid domestic disruption; PSUs will supply at commercially negotiated prices and obtain landing certificates for end point verification. Other provisions remain unchanged.

Duty Credit Scrips may be used to pay customs duties where export obligation defaults under authorizations chapters four and five.
Duty Credit Scrips may be used or debited towards payment of Customs Duties in case of export obligation defaults under authorizations issued under Chapters 4 and 5 of the Policy, replacing the first sentence of Para 3.17.11 of FTP 2009-14.

Value addition requirement for Advance Authorisation tightened, with specified exemptions and sectoral rules applying under Foreign Trade Policy
Advance Authorisation exports must satisfy a minimum value addition of 15%, except for items specified in Appendix 11B of HBP v1; Gems and Jewellery sector value addition shall be governed by paragraph 4A.2.1 of HBP v1.

Import of new vehicles restricted to specified customs and air cargo ports, limiting authorised entry points for vehicle imports.
The notification amends the Import Licensing Note to permit the import of new vehicles only through designated customs ports and air cargo complexes, prescribing exclusive authorised locations as the sole entry points for new vehicle imports under the Foreign Trade Policy.

Export prohibition exemption: limited wheat export to Nepal allowed via public agency from central pool at economic cost.
The export prohibition on wheat is amended to exempt a specified limited quantity for export to Nepal, to be exported by the public agency from Central Pool stocks and supplied at economic cost as an exception to the general ban.

Tariff based competitive bidding allows mega power projects to forgo international competitive bidding when power is tied up or awarded.
Paragraph 8.4.4(iv) of the Foreign Trade Policy is amended to allow an exemption from the international competitive bidding requirement for mega power projects where the required quantum of power has been tied up through tariff based competitive bidding or where the project has been awarded through tariff based competitive bidding, making tariff based competitive bidding a substitute for ICB in these specific circumstances.

Toy import safety certification required: conformity to recognised standards and independent lab accreditation for consignments.
Importation of toys under the relevant ITC (HS) headings is free but requires a certificate of conformity to recognised safety standards (ASTM F963, ISO 8124 Parts I-III, IS 9873 Parts I-III, or EN 71) and a manufacturer's Certificate of Conformance evidencing representative sample testing by an independent laboratory accredited under ILAC MRA and linking the consignment to the stated period of manufacture.

Export controls for animal by-products require consignment-wise shipment and health certifications for EU-bound shipments.
Amendments permit exports of specified animal by-products and related preparations to the EU subject to consignment-wise Shipment Clearance Certificates issued by CAPEXIL (detailing exporter, plant, IEC, plant approval, product, quantity, invoice, port and destination) and post-shipment Production Process and/or Health Certificates to buyers. For items intended for human consumption or as required by EU rules, the health certificate is to be issued jointly by CAPEXIL and the Regional Animal Quarantine Officer.

Foreign Trade Policy amendment limits blanket 'onwards' export applicability and allows specific export dates by public notice.
The amendment replaces the terminal word 'onwards.' in specified FTP provisions with "onwards, unless a specific date of export / period is specified by public notice/notification." This conditions default continuing applicability on any later public notice or notification that specifies a particular export date or period and is issued under the statutory authority for the Foreign Trade Policy.

Tariff-based competitive bidding allows exemption from ICB requirement for mega power projects, enabling deemed-export benefits for expansion.
The amendment exempts mega power projects from the ICB requirement where required power has been tied up or the project awarded via tariff-based competitive bidding, and makes supplies for expansion of specified existing mega power projects eligible for the deemed export benefits under paragraph 8.3(a),(b) and (c) of the FTP.

Import policy amendment: specified Exim code reclassified from restricted to free, altering import control regime.
Import policy for items under Exim Code 7208 is amended to read as "Free" instead of "Restricted", effectuating a removal of prior import restrictions for that 4-digit classification pursuant to powers under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act and the Foreign Trade Policy; the change is issued in the public interest.