Duty free import entitlements for handlooms, handicrafts, leather, marine, sports goods and toys expand under FTP amendment.
Para 1.41 inserts sectoral duty free import entitlements into Chapter 1 of FTP 2015-20, granting basic customs duty exemptions (basic customs duty free from 01.07.2017) for specified inputs calculated as percentages of prior year FOB export value: Handlooms (trimmings/embellishments up to 5%, carpet samples up to 1%); Handicrafts (tools/trimmings up to 5%, with Handicraft EPC authorised to import for some exporters); Leather and Footwear (specified items up to 3% for leather garments; footwear components and other leather products up to 5%); Marine (specified inputs up to 1%); Sports Goods and Toys (specified inputs up to 3%).

Eligibility threshold for Duty Credit Scrips revised to require net foreign exchange earnings in year of service, clarifying individual criteria.
The eligibility timing for Duty Credit Scrips is amended so that qualifying net free foreign exchange earnings must be realized in the year of rendering service rather than in the preceding financial year; existing higher and lower monetary thresholds for general service providers and for Individual Service Providers and sole proprietorships respectively are retained.

Import exemption for captive mining and oil rigging equipment permitted subject to re-export or scrapping certification.
A new Policy Condition (10) in Chapter 87 of ITC (HS) 2017-Schedule I exempts imports of automotive mining equipments, oil rigging equipments for captive operations and vehicles for research and development from Policy Conditions 1 and 2, applicable to both new and used items; the exemption is conditional on re-export or scrapping under certification by concerned authorities once the item's purpose is served, and such equipment/vehicles must not ply on public roads except for mobilization and demobilization.

Import restriction on urad and moong: subject to an annual import quota and quota procedure; split and other forms included.
Imports of Vigna mungo (urad) and Vigna radiata (moong) are placed under a restricted import regime across HS 0713 31 00, 0713 90 10 and 0713 90 90, and are subject to a consolidated annual import quota administered under the chapter's policy condition; government import commitments under bilateral or regional agreements are excluded from this restriction.

Transitional arrangements preserve pre-change import/export rights when covered by irrevocable letters of credit, subject to registration and limits.
Where an import/export policy changes from free to restricted or otherwise regulated, transactions completed before the change remain unaffected; High Sea sales are excluded. Imports/exports on or after the change are permissible only if an Irrevocable Commercial Letter of Credit was established before the imposition, and are limited to the balance quantity, value and period in that ICLC. The ICLC must be registered with the jurisdictional Regional Authority against a computerized receipt within fifteen days of the imposition.

Import restriction on yellow peas imposes licensed imports with registration for prior shipments and recognized payment evidence.
Import policy for yellow peas is revised from free to restricted for 1 April-30 June 2018 under Policy Condition 4: a fixed import ceiling will be allocated by licence equal to the ceiling minus quantities already imported since 1 April 2018. "Already imported" includes shipments arrived by 25 April 2018 and shipments backed by Irrevocable Commercial Letters of Credit or advance payments made through banking channels before 25 April 2018; these must be registered with the jurisdictional Regional Authority.

Regulatory clearance requirement: imports of radiation-generating medical equipment now require AERB prior clearance and IS conformity.
Imports of radiation-generating medical apparatus and components under Exim Code 9022 require prior regulatory clearance from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and must comply with the Atomic Energy Act and Rules; diagnostic X-ray equipment must conform to IS 7620 (Pt 1).

Import policy: New HS classifications for Kabuli chana and Bengal gram designated free for import under ITC HS schedule.
Incorporation of specific Harmonized System classifications under Exim Code 0713 of ITC(HS), 2017 Schedule I establishes three new subheadings for Kabuli chana, Bengal gram (desi chana) and other chickpeas, each designated with a Free import policy, thereby updating ITC(HS) listings for customs classification and import treatment under the Foreign Trade Policy framework.

Export policy of edible oils liberalised: all edible oils except mustard oil permitted for export, mustard oil remains regulated.
All varieties of edible oils, except mustard oil, are made Free for export without quantitative ceilings, pack-size restrictions or other export limits until further orders. Export of mustard oil in branded consumer packs up to 5 kg is permitted subject to a Minimum Export Price of USD 900 per metric tonne. The amendment is issued under Section 3 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 read with paragraph 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 and supersedes earlier notifications relating to SI. No. 92.

Import of seal skin is prohibited under Chapters 41, 42 and 43 of ITC (HS) 2017 import policy.
A policy condition is inserted in Schedule-1 (Import Policy) to state that the import of seal skin, in any form, is prohibited for the ITC (HS) classifications covering Chapters 41, 42 and 43, thereby formally notifying the import policy for those chapters.

Import of second-hand goods for repair allowed free, subject to waste treatment compliance and mandatory re-export requirements.
Para 2.31(III) of the Foreign Trade Policy permits free import of second hand goods for repair, refurbishing, re conditioning or re engineering, subject to the condition that waste generated during such processes is treated in accordance with domestic laws, rules, regulations and environmental, safety and health norms, and that the imported item is re exported as prescribed by the Customs notification.

Duty Free Import Authorization timing rules revised; DFIA issuance delayed with an exception for raw sugar exports.
Amendments adjust DFIA treatment for sugar: white sugar exports under the specified SION remain eligible though DFIA issuance is deferred and such authorisations are valid for a limited import period; additionally, the general prohibition on DFIAs for inputs with pre import or Actual User conditions does not apply to raw sugar exports made before the stated cut off, creating a narrow exception.

Import restrictions removed: apple imports now permitted through all ports and land borders by government notification.
The notification amends the import policy for apples under Exim code 0808 10 00 to change the policy status to Free and removes the earlier port-specific restriction, thereby permitting import of apples through all ports and land border crossings rather than only the previously listed sea ports, airports and specified land/air entry points.

IGST exemption under EOU scheme extended to continue integrated tax and compensation cess relief by amendment to Foreign Trade Policy
Extension of the IGST and compensation cess exemption under the EOU scheme by amendment to Para 6.01(d)(ii) of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20, to continue exemption from Integrated Tax and Compensation Cess for Export Oriented Units until 01.10.2018.

IGST and Compensation Cess exemption extended under Advance Authorisation and EPCG schemes, prolonging tax relief until October deadline.
Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and Compensation Cess exemption under the Advance Authorisation Scheme is extended until 01.10.2018, and the same exemption under the EPCG Scheme is extended until 01.10.2018, thereby amending Paras 4.14 and 5.01(a) of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 to continue tax relief for inputs and capital goods used for export production.

Import prohibition on pepper applies below a CIF threshold; oleoresin imports exempt under AAS subject to testing and reporting conditions.
Most tariff subheadings for pepper under Chapter 09 are converted from free import to Prohibited unless imported above a prescribed CIF threshold per kilogram. Imports under the Advance Authorisation Scheme for oleoresin extraction are exempt from the minimum import price condition if light black pepper meets a minimum piperine content, customs samples are tested at Spices Board labs per ISO 5564, oleoresin yield is assessed per ISO 1108, and manufacturer-exporters provide monthly import, production, re-export, stock and spent-material disposal reports to the Spices Board.

Prohibition on trade with DPRK: FTP amendment expands export and import bans aligned with UNSC resolutions.
The amended Paragraph 2.17 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 prohibits direct or indirect import and export to/from DPRK of conventional weapons, all arms and related materiel, and items listed in specified UNSC and IAEA documents or otherwise determined by the Central Government to contribute to DPRK's nuclear, ballistic missile or WMD programmes. It also bans luxury goods and items enhancing DPRK military capabilities (excluding specified food and medicine exemptions), imposes sectoral export and import prohibitions with UNSC referenced exemptions and procedures, and defines relevant terms and references.

Exemption rules amendment narrows exemptions to defence and security procurement and deletes delegated procurement exemption under policy.
The amendment modifies exemption provisions so that procurement by the Central Government or its agencies and undertakings is exempt only for defence and security purposes; procurement by State Governments is exempt only for security purposes; and the previous exemption for orders placed through the Directorate General Supplies and Disposals, New Delhi, is deleted, thereby narrowing the categories of government procurement excluded from application of the rules.

Minimum Import Price requirement for light black pepper imposed; exemptions under Advance Authorisation Scheme subject to testing and reporting conditions.
The notification amends import policy to impose a Minimum Import Price on light black pepper (EXIM 0904 11 20), while exempting imports under the Advance Authorisation Scheme for oleoresin extraction by manufacturer-exporters provided they meet conditions: minimum 6% piperine content, Customs sampling and ISO 5564 testing for piperine, ISO 1108 yield assessment for oleoresin, and monthly reporting of import, production, re-export, stock and disposal details.

Shelf life requirement for imported food mandates remaining shelf life or near-expiry limit; re-imports allowed only for export under conditions.
The Para 4(A) shelf life rule now requires imported edible/food products governed by the Food Safety & Standards (Import) Regulation, 2017 to have, at importation, a remaining shelf life of not less than 60% of original shelf life or three months before expiry, whichever is less, based on label declaration of manufacture and expiry. The shelf life condition is not applicable to re-imports for export, which remain subject to phytosanitary conditions, a Customs undertaking that goods will not be sold domestically, and submission of a re-export certificate.