Export duty on iron ore lumps reduced to a lower ad valorem rate under amendment, altering exporters' tariff obligations.
Amendment reduces the export duty on iron ore lumps by substituting the previously notified ad valorem rate with a lower ad valorem rate via Notification No. 130/2008-Cus dated December 7, 2008, effected under section 25(1) of the Customs Act, 1962 as a public interest measure and modifying Notification No. 79/2008-Customs.

Export duty exemption on iron ore fines removed, exempting such exports from customs duty under the Tariff Act.
The Central Government, exercising powers under section 25(1) of the Customs Act, 1962, exempts iron ore fines under Heading No. 11 of the Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 from the whole of the customs duty leviable thereon when exported out of India, on grounds of public interest, by administrative notification.

Customs duty exemption for naphtha imported for public electricity generation granted, with captive-use excluded and related tariff entries revised.
An amendment inserts an exemption for naphtha imported for generation of electrical energy by specified government, licensed or permitted electricity undertakings, effective from the specified future date, while excluding naphtha used for captive generation; the notification also substitutes a ten percent duty entry against several listed tariff serial numbers and makes corresponding textual changes to the principal notification.

Anti-dumping duty on Sulphur Black imports from China imposes differentiated rates by producer-exporter combinations.
The Central Government imposes anti-dumping duty on Sulphur Black (heading 3204) originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China based on designated authority findings of dumped imports, substantial dumping margins and resulting material injury to domestic industry. Differentiated duties payable in Indian currency are prescribed as percentages of CIF value for specified producer-exporter combinations, with the duty effective from the provisional imposition date and valuation and exchange-rate rules governed by section 14 of the Customs Act and Government exchange-rate notifications.

Exchange rate determination for customs valuation sets official currency conversion rates for import and export transactions.
Determination of exchange rates under Section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 prescribing specific rupee conversion rates for listed foreign currencies effective 1 December 2008, superseding the prior notification of 29 October 2008. Two schedules are provided: Schedule I sets per unit rupee equivalents for major currencies with separate imported and export columns; Schedule II sets the rupee equivalent for 100 units of Japanese yen, with distinct rates for imported and export goods. These rates apply to customs valuation for import and export transactions from the effective date.

Drawback rule scope narrowed to specific tariff headings, excluding prior chapter-based reference in notifications
Substitutes the phrase "falling within Chapter 72 or heading 1006 or 2523" with "falling within heading 1006 or 2523" in rule 3(1) second proviso clause (v), rule 6(4) and rule 7(5) of the Customs, Central Excise Duties and Service Tax Drawback Rules, 1995, thereby restricting drawback scope to the specified headings.

Anti-dumping duty on compact fluorescent lamps imposed to offset dumped imports, applied per unit under customs tariff rules.
Provisional anti dumping duties are imposed on imports of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) according to a duty table that specifies per piece amounts by product specification, country of origin and export, and producer/exporter where applicable; the duty equals the difference between the specified amount and the landed value, with "landed value" defined as the assessable value under the Customs Act excluding certain tariff duties.

Duty Credit Entitlement scheme: customs notifications amended to add Haldia and Dabolim as specified locations.
The Central Government amends specified customs notifications under the Export Promotion-Duty Credit Entitlement Certificate Scheme by substituting the phrases "Vadimar and Haldia (Halida Dock Complex of Kolkata Port)" for "and Vadimar" and "Indore and Dabolim (Goa)" for "and Indore" in the opening-paragraph conditions of each listed principal notification.

Customs exemption for Special Protection Group requires Cabinet Secretariat certificate to qualify for operational imports.
Exemption is confined to goods imported for use by the Special Protection Group for operational purposes and is conditional on the importer producing a certificate from an officer in the Cabinet Secretariat not below the rank of Under Secretary to the Government of India certifying that the goods are intended for that operational purpose.

Anti-dumping duty on acrylic fibre continues with exporter-specific rates and a conditional price-based exclusion protecting domestic industry.
Definitive anti-dumping duty on Acrylic Fibre from Korea RP and Thailand is continued after review, with exporter-specific per unit duty rates and a conditional price-based exclusion for Homopolymer Acrylic Fibre (100% acrylonitrile) subject to a 5% variation. The duties remain in force for five years from publication, are payable in Indian currency, and the applicable exchange rate for calculation is that notified under the Customs Act on the bill of entry presentation date.

Exchange rate update revises customs conversion rates for Pound Sterling and Japanese Yen, effective 19th November.
Amendment substitutes the Schedule entries in Notification No. 115/2008-CUSTOMS (N. T.) to revise the rupee conversion rates: replacing SCHEDULE-I Serial No. 7 for Pound Sterling and SCHEDULE-II Serial No. 1 for Japanese Yen with updated rates for imported and exported goods, under Section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962, effective from 19th November, 2008.

Import duty revision: higher tariff on crude soyabean oil and increased duties on specified steel items announced.
The Government amends the Table to notification No. 21/2002-Customs by substituting the effective rate of duty at S.No.29A with 20% and by substituting the effective rate of duty at S.No.190A, S.No.190C and S.No.197 with 5%, exercising statutory power to vary duty rates in the public interest.

Tariff value amendment updates import valuation for specified edible oils, brass scrap and poppy seeds under the Customs Act.
The Board, invoking sub-section (2) of section 14 of the Customs Act, substitutes the Table in Notification No. 36/2001-Cus (N.T.) by issuing Notification No. 127/2008-Cus.(N.T.), dated 17 November 2008, which sets specific tariff values in US$ per metric tonne for listed goods, including various palm oils, crude soybean oil, brass scrap (all grades) and poppy seeds, thereby amending the prior tariff-value schedule for customs valuation.

Common Adjudicating Authority appointment reallocates customs show-cause adjudication to a designated commissioner for centralized handling.
Designation of the Commissioner of Customs, Inter Container Depot, Tughlakabad, New Delhi, as the Common Adjudicating Authority to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the Commissioner of Customs, Chennai, for adjudicating show-cause proceedings arising from a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence reference concerning Mr. S.M. Asif and associated publications, thereby reallocating responsibility for those adjudications to the named commissioner.

Common adjudicating authority appointed to exercise Customs Act powers for adjudication of DRI show cause notices.
Designates a common adjudicating authority by appointing the Commissioner of Customs (Import), New Customs House, Mumbai to exercise the powers and discharge duties of specified territorial customs officers solely for adjudicating the show cause notices issued by the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence, Zonal Unit, Ahmedabad concerning M/s Parth Marketing and others.

Common Adjudicating Authority designation centralises customs adjudication for a linked show cause notice to a single port authority.
Designation appoints the Common Adjudicating Authority at Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, Nhava Sheva, to exercise the powers and discharge duties of several specified Customs Commissioners for adjudicating the show cause notice issued against M/s Tini Pharma Limited and others, consolidating jurisdiction and centralising the adjudication of that matter under the Customs Act.

Common adjudicating authority appointed to adjudicate show cause notices relating to KDL Biotech and associated customs proceedings.
Appoints a common adjudicating authority under sections 4(1) and 5(1) of the Customs Act to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of specified customs officers for the purpose of adjudicating show cause notices issued by the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence relating to M/s KDL Biotech Limited and others.

Common adjudicating authority appointed to transfer adjudication powers for specified customs show cause proceedings to Nhava Sheva.
Appointment of the Commissioner of Customs, Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, as common adjudicating authority under sub section (1) of section 4 and sub section (1) of section 5 of the Customs Act, 1962, to exercise the powers and duties of the Commissioner of Customs, Inter Container Depot, Tughlakabad, New Delhi, limited to adjudication of matters relating to the show cause notice concerning M/s. Vishal Hira Merchants Private Limited and others arising from the specified DRI file.

Common Adjudicating Authority appointed to exercise delegated Customs Act powers for adjudication of a specified show cause notice.
Appoints a Common Adjudicating Authority under sections 4(1) and 5(1) of the Customs Act, 1962 by delegating to the Commissioner of Customs (Import), Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, Nhava Sheva the powers and duties of two specified customs officers for the limited purpose of adjudicating matters arising from the show cause notice relating to M/s B.N. Industries and others issued by the revenue intelligence directorate.

Common adjudicating authority appointed to adjudicate show cause notices against Park Organics, consolidating customs adjudicatory powers.
Appoints the Commissioner of Customs (Export), Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, Nhava Sheva, as a common adjudicating authority under sub section (1) of section 4 and sub section (1) of section 5 of the Customs Act, 1962, to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of specified customs officers for adjudicating show cause notices issued to M/s Park Organics Limited by the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai Zonal Unit, consolidating adjudicatory competence from four named customs offices.