Extension of Foreign Trade Policy extended operative period and automatic validity extensions granted for import authorisations.
The Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 is extended to remain in force until 31 March 2021 with corresponding date substitutions across FTP provisions. Para 3.08(a) requires separate notification of eligible service categories and reward rates for a specified 12 month period and defers decisions on subsequent continuation. For DFIA instruments and related import authorisations expiring in the early 2020 window, validity is automatically extended by six months from their expiry; similar six month automatic extensions are inserted in other FTP provisions addressing import validity.

Extension of time for Red Sanders export: authorities must finalise allocation and export modalities and complete procedures.
The amendment grants the relevant state government and customs intelligence agency time to finalise modalities, including allocation of export quantities to authorised entities, and to complete the export process for Red Sanders wood by the extended deadline, while leaving all other provisions of the earlier notifications unchanged.

Export Health Certificate requirement for certain animal by-products now mandates issuance by the Export Inspection Council.
The amendment substitutes entries for specified animal by-products in Schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) Export Policy so that exports of bone and bone products (including ossein) and edible gelatine remain free but exports to the European Union require, consignment-wise, a Shipment Clearance Certificate issued by CAPEXIL with exporter, plant approval and shipment details, and a Health Certificate issued by the Export Inspection Council documenting HS code, packaging, origin, destination, vessel and health requirements; other notification terms remain unchanged.

Import quota for pulses limits restricted imports to allocated miller/refiner quotas while retaining MIP and port restrictions.
Notification prescribes annual quotas for pulses under Chapter 7 (Schedule 1 Import Policy) for fiscal 2020 21, marking listed items as Restricted with specified allocations and requiring quota allotment to millers/refiners per DGFT procedure. Existing conditions including Minimum Import Price and a port restriction for peas remain unchanged, and government import commitments under bilateral/regional agreements are exempt from the quota.

Export Prohibition: Hydroxychloroquine exports barred, with limited exceptions for SEZ/EOU, advance licences and humanitarian exports.
The export of Hydroxychloroquine and its formulations is immediately prohibited, covering all relevant ITC HS codes. Exports remain permitted only from SEZ/EOU units or to meet export obligations under advance licences issued before the notification, where an irrevocable letter of credit was issued before the notification or full advance payment was received with documentary evidence, and for government-authorised humanitarian exports on a case-by-case recommendation.

Export prohibition on ventilators and sanitizers instituted immediately; transitional arrangement under FTP not applicable.
All ventilators, including artificial respiratory apparatus and oxygen therapy devices, and all sanitizers falling under any ITC HS code are classified as prohibited for export with immediate effect; the transitional arrangement under Para 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy is not applicable to this amendment.

Export prohibition on medical equipment and related textile inputs now applies immediately, restricting masks, ventilators, and sanitizers for export.
The notification amends the ITC(HS) Export Policy to prohibit exports, with immediate effect, of surgical/disposable (2/3 ply) masks, all ventilators and related respiratory apparatus, textile raw materials for masks and coveralls, and specified sanitizers; transitional arrangements under the FTP are not applicable, and other items not so listed remain free for export.

Import policy changed for zinc dross, naphthas and aviation gasoline, altering free import and actual user conditions.
Zinc Dross is reclassified from Restricted to Free with imports permitted to the actual user or to a trader on behalf of an actual user authorised by the SPCB on a one time basis, subject to Customs verification under Schedule VIII of the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016. Light Naphtha, Heavy Naphtha and Full Range Naphtha are moved from State Trading Enterprise import under Policy Condition (5) to Free import. Aviation Gasoline remains under State Trading Enterprises, but flying clubs may import free as actual users and must comply with safety norms.

Import quota for Urad limits imports to licensed millers under DGFT procedure, with government agreement exemptions.
The import of Urad is restricted and subject to an annual quota of 04 lakh MT; imports under this quota are permitted only to Millers/Refiners pursuant to a procedure to be notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with an exemption for Government import commitments under bilateral or regional agreements. The annual quota for 2020-21 is fixed at 4 Lakh MT and will be effective from 1st May to 31st March; earlier extensions of the 2019-20 import date up to 30th April will be implemented separately.

Transport and Marketing Assistance extension: scheme support continues for specified agricultural exports through the extended one year period.
The Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) Scheme for Specified Agriculture Products is extended so that assistance is available for eligible exports effected up to 31 March 2021; the scheme, introduced by the cited notification and previously covering exports from 1 March 2019 to 31 March 2020, is extended for a further year under the Foreign Trade Policy framework.

Export restriction on specified APIs and formulations imposed, making their export restricted until further orders.
Export of specified Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and corresponding formulations listed under Chapters 29 and 30 of Schedule 2 to the ITC (HS) Export Policy 2018 is hereby made restricted with immediate effect. Specific ITC (HS) codes for identified APIs and their formulations have been inserted, changing their present policy status to Restricted, pursuant to powers under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act and the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20. The restriction remains until further orders.

Onion export policy: exports made free without Letter of Credit or Minimum Export Price, effective mid March.
All varieties of onions listed at the specified ITC (HS) codes have been reclassified from prohibited to "Free" for export, effective 15th March, 2020. The amendment removes any requirement for a Letter of Credit and any Minimum Export Price and withdraws the prior Notification No. 46/2015-20 relating to Krishnapuram onions.

Export restriction on personal protection equipment: specified PPE items allowed to export while other PPE, including N-95 masks, remain prohibited.
The amendment designates all Personal Protection Equipment including N-95 masks as prohibited for export except that ten enumerated items are allowed freely. The exceptions include surgical/disposable masks (2/3 ply), all gloves except NBR gloves, ophthalmic instruments excluding medical goggles, surgical blades, non-woven disposable shoe covers, specified breathing appliances, gas masks with chemical absorbents, HDPE/plastic tarpaulin, PVC conveyor belts, and biopsy punches; all other PPE remains prohibited.

Export policy change: surgical masks and most gloves allowed for export, other PPE including N-95 remain prohibited.
The amendment permits free export of Surgical Masks/Disposable Masks (2/3 Ply) and all Gloves except NBR Gloves, while export of all other Personal Protection Equipment, including N-95 masks and specified coveralls, remains prohibited; the change amends Notification No. 44 dated 31.01.2020 and limits the exception to the items expressly listed.

Export permission for Krishnapuram onions limited via Chennai port subject to certification and DGFT registration and customs checks.
Export of Krishnapuram onions is authorised subject to shipment exclusively via Chennai port within the prescribed period, conditional on a quantity certificate from the Assistant Director, Horticulture, Kadapa that must be registered with the Zonal Additional DGFT, Chennai; the Zonal Additional DGFT will monitor and register permitted quantities and Customs at Chennai will clear exports only upon presentation of the Kadapa certificate and the DGFT registration certificate.

Import prohibition on stock lot paper under specified HSN code restricts imports by converting policy from free to prohibited.
Import policy for HSN 4810 items in Schedule I of ITC(HS), 2017 is amended to prohibit the import of stock lot paper products. Specific EXIM sub-headings under 4810 (including imitation art paper, art paper, chrome paper or paper board, lightweight coated papers, various bleached wood-fibre papers, insulating papers, multi-ply and other varieties) previously classified as 'Free' are now subject to a prohibition on stock-lot imports, converting their import status from permissive to prohibited under the applicable import policy.

Export prohibition on specified personal protective equipment imposed immediately, restricting exports of certain masks, gloves, goggles and coveralls.
The amendment imposes an immediate export prohibition on specified PPE categories listed under the relevant ITC HS Codes, including medical coveralls of all classes, medical goggles, masks other than non-medical/non-surgical masks, nitrile/NBR gloves, and face shields, whether exported individually or as part of kits; transitional arrangements are not available under this notification.

Additional ad hoc incentive for specified mobile phone tariff codes available for exports within a limited notified export period.
A 2% Additional Ad hoc Incentive is notified for exports of mobile phones under HS codes 85171211 and 85171219 for exports with Let Export date from 01.01.2020 to 31.03.2020; reward calculation is on realised FOB in free foreign exchange or FOB as per Shipping Bills in freely convertible currencies, whichever is less, and all MEIS provisions and Handbook of Procedures rules apply, with MEIS applications for these codes treated as applications for the Additional Ad hoc Incentive.

Delegation of approval authority for consolidation of goods for export to Development Commissioner, with restrictions on DTA sales and NFE.
Amendment delegates approval for case by case consolidation of goods related to manufactured articles for export from BOA to the Development Commissioner/Designated Officer; EOUs, EHTPs, STPs and BTP/R units (excluding Gems & Jewellery) may be allowed to import or procure such goods from DTA with or without payment of duty/taxes as per Para 6.01(d)(ii) and (iii). Value of procured/imported goods is excluded from NFE and DTA sale entitlement calculations, such goods cannot be sold in DTA, and must be listed separately in export documents.

Certificate of Inspection requirement for rice exports to European countries; immediate for EU and specified states, mandatory from 1 July 2020.
The amendment imposes a mandatory Certificate of Inspection for exports of rice (Basmati and Non Basmati) to European markets: immediate requirement for EU Member States and the specified countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and mandatory certification for exports to remaining European countries from 1 July 2020, amending Schedule 2 Chapter 10 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy, 2018 and revising Notification No. 29/2015 20.