Duty credit scrip usage expanded to permit payment of customs duties for export obligation defaults, with penalties payable in cash.
Duty Credit Scrips may be utilised or debited to discharge Customs Duties arising from export obligation defaults for Authorizations issued under Chapters 4 and 5 of the Foreign Trade Policy, and this permissive use is extended to Authorizations issued under previous FTPs; penalty and interest must be paid in cash.

Exemption from quantitative ceilings for certified organic exports allows their shipment despite restrictions on non-organic equivalents.
Organic wheat, organic non-Basmati rice (excluding paddy/rough), organic edible oils, and organic sugar certified under NPOP/APEDA are exempt from quantitative ceilings and prohibitions applicable to non-organic counterparts, provided exports occur from Custom EDI ports; the annual export ceiling for APEDA-certified organic pulses and lentils has been increased and requires prior APEDA contract registration and shipment through Custom EDI ports.

Tariff-rate quota for raw sugar amended to allow duty-free zonal imports with revised ports, routing and conversion requirement.
Amendment permits duty-free import of raw sugar under a tariff-rate quota allocated across three geographic zones with port-specific entry points and zone-wise quantity caps; it revises which Regional Authorities receive applications, expands permitted South Zone ports, extends the TRQ validity to a later date in June 2017, and imposes an Actual User Condition requiring conversion of imported raw sugar into white/refined sugar within two months from bill of entry or entry inwards.

Tariff Rate Quota for raw sugar permits duty free imports subject to zonal allocations, licensing, reporting, and penalties.
A Tariff Rate Quota allows duty-free import of a specified aggregate quantity of raw sugar under Exim Code 170114, subject to zonal and port-specific quantity limits. Eligible millers/refiners must apply online with self-declared refining capacity and supporting documents to designated Regional Authorities and DGFT; allocations will be made by DGFT considering zonal limits and applicant capacity. Allocated importers must provide contract/LC details within the prescribed time, surrender unutilized quota by the deadline or incur a penalty on CIF value and possible penal actions, submit weekly shipment arrival reports, and abide by reallocation and DGFT reservation provisions.

Export restriction on edible oils updated; exemptions for specified oils and branded consumer packs allowed under MEP.
Amendment modifies the export prohibition on edible oils by listing exemptions including castor oil; coconut oil via specified ports and land customs; deemed exports from DTA to 100% EOUs for non edible production; DTA to SEZ transfers for processed food manufacture subject to value addition norms; oils from minor forest produce under specific ITC(HS) codes; APEDA certified organic edible oils; rice bran oil in bulk; and groundnut, sesame, soybean and maize oils in bulk; branded consumer packs up to five kilograms are permitted subject to a stated Minimum Export Price.

Export obligation period set to match project duration or minimum period; filing timelines and DFIA eligibility clarified.
Amendments: Export Obligation period for deemed exports or projects abroad is co-terminus with contracted project execution or a minimum period; applicants may file beyond 24 months from file number generation per Handbook of Procedures paragraph 9.02; Duty Free Import Authorisation will not be issued for inputs subject to an Actual User condition under SION or a pre import condition under Appendix 4J.

Prohibition on trade with DPRK restricts specified imports and exports, with UN Committee approval required for limited exceptions.
Prohibition on direct or indirect imports and exports to and from DPRK is imposed by substituting Paragraph 2.17 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020: items listed in specified UNSC and IAEA instruments and any items determined by the Central Government that could contribute to DPRK WMD or missile programmes are barred; conventional arms and related materiel are prohibited. Exports of luxury goods, certain aviation and rocket fuel, and new helicopters and vessels are banned except with prior UN Committee approval. Imports from DPRK of coal, specified ores and minerals, statues (subject to Committee approval) and certain metals are prohibited.

Wording correction in Foreign Trade Policy clarifies use of 'and/or' in Paragraph 4.34(i) to remove ambiguity.
The corrigendum amends the English text of Notification No. 40/2015-2020 by replacing 'availed and Gems' with 'availed and/or Gems' in amended paragraph 4.34(i) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, clarifying the conjunctive relationship between the terms.

Replenishment of precious metals: exporters may obtain duty-free gold, silver and platinum inputs under prescribed conditions.
Exporters of gold, silver and platinum jewellery and articles may obtain these precious metals as inputs from a Nominated Agency in advance or as replenishment after export under the prescribed procedure. If CENVAT credit on precious metal inputs has been availed and rebate is claimed on exported gems and jewellery, replenishment is allowed only when duty free inputs are used in manufacture of dutiable goods in the same factory/unit; sale or transfer of such duty free inputs is not allowed.

Export and re-import at zero duty extended to authorised Indian offices of recognized diamond grading laboratories for certification.
The amendment extends the export and re-import at zero duty facility for cut and polished diamonds (each of 0.25 carat or above) so that exporters meeting the turnover criterion or the authorised offices/agencies in India of laboratories specified in the Handbook of Procedures may export to those laboratories and re-import within three months, subject to applicable revenue/customs guidelines and the Handbook's laboratory list.

Military export licensing: amendment excludes soft skinned vehicles from NOC requirement for export control purposes.
Amendment clarifies Category MS007 covers military ground vehicles and components specially designed or modified for military use and expressly excludes soft skinned vehicles; consequently, soft skinned vehicles are removed from the list of Military Stores requiring a NOC from the Department of Defence Production for export.

Sandalwood export restriction limits exports to specified finished products and licensed waste categories under conditionalities.
Sandalwood is broadly prohibited for export, with exceptions: finished handicraft and machine-finished products are free to export; sandalwood oil is free but subject to quantitative ceilings; de-oiled spent dust and specified waste-derived sandalwood items are restricted and permitted only under licence subject to DGFT-notified conditionalities.

Import policy notification: Harmonised System import classification and itemwise policy with conditions now effective, accessible online.
Notification promulgates the Indian Trade Classification (Harmonised System) of Import Items as the operative import classification and policy schedule, indicating for each import item the applicable import policy and associated conditions, and makes the schedule effective immediately with the full text and policy conditions available on the Department's official website.

Minimum import price for Areca Nuts raised; imports allowed only at or above revised CIF threshold.
Amendment increases the minimum CIF valuation for Areca Nuts imports and retains the Free import policy for whole, split, ground and other forms only where CIF meets the enhanced threshold; consignments below the revised CIF floor are not eligible for import under the Free category as per Schedule 1 (Import Policy) of the ITC (HS) 2012.

Export controls on animal by-products require EU-bound consignments to carry CAPEXIL shipment clearance and joint health certificates.
Specified animal by-products are designated as freely exportable but exports to the European Union require consignment-wise documentation: a Shipment Clearance Certificate issued by the export council and, post-shipment, a Production Process Certificate and/or Health Certificate issued jointly with the animal quarantine authority detailing exporter/plant particulars, HS codes, product description, quantity, invoice, port of loading, destination, packaging, origin, vessel and health requirements.

Import prohibition on specified reptile and fur products restricts previously free imports, enforcing wildlife protection and CITES compliance.
The amendment reclassifies specified reptile skins and several whole fur items from Free (previously subject to Wildlife Protection Act compliance and CITES) to Prohibited, while retaining free entry for other furs but explicitly prohibiting chinchilla fur. This regulatory change imposes an absolute import ban on the listed items, aligning import policy with wildlife conservation and international species trade obligations.