Amendment to Land Customs Routes updates designated roads for Moreh and Nampong under customs notification.
The Central Government, invoking clauses (b) and (c) of section 7 of the Customs Act, 1962, amends the Table to Notification No. 63/94-Customs (N.T.) for serial number 5 (Myanmar). It substitutes the route entry for Moreh with Imphal-Pallel-Tamu Road (NH-39) and the route entry for Nampong with Ledo-Tirap-Nampong Pangsu Pass Road, under Notification No. 26/98-Cus. (N.T.).

Appointment of Commissioner of Customs authorises adjudication of specified show cause notices under customs law.
The Central Government, invoking powers under sub section (1) of section 4 of the Customs Act, 1962, appoints the Commissioner of Customs, Ahmedabad as the proper Commissioner for adjudicating cases arising from a specified show cause notice and its addendum/corrigendum, thereby allocating adjudicatory responsibility for those proceedings to that office.

Package weight threshold for courier imports amended, replacing prior clause; impacts clearance eligibility upon official publication.
The Courier Imports (Clearance) Amendment Regulations, 1998, made under section 157 of the Customs Act, substitute clause (b) of regulation 2(2) of the 1995 Regulations to provide that clause (b) shall apply to goods where the weight of the individual package exceeds thirty two kilograms; the amendment is effective on publication in the Official Gazette.

Customs duty exemption for refined and raw sugar extended to cover the relevant tariff heading by notification amendment.
The amendment inserts entry 7A in Notification No. 12/97-Cus to exempt refined sugar, including white crystal sugar, and raw sugar under the relevant tariff heading from special customs duty, made under powers conferred by the Customs Act and the Finance (No. 2) Act as necessary in the public interest.

Tariff amendment: refined and raw sugar now attract a specified customs rate under substituted tariff entry.
Amendment to Notification No. 11/97 Customs substitutes Serial No. 10 in the Table by inserting a tariff entry for refined sugar including white crystal sugar, and raw sugar under heading 17.01 and specifying the corresponding customs duty notation, thereby updating the tariff schedule for those sugar products.

Anti-dumping duty rescission: notification cancelling prior provisional measure following imposition of final duty on terephthalic acid.
The Central Government rescinds a prior notification concerning Purified Terephthalic Acid by issuing Notification No. 14/98-Cus., cancelling Notification No. 85/97-Customs, consequent to the imposition of a final anti-dumping duty and effected under the Customs Tariff Act and governing anti-dumping rules.

Anti-dumping duty on purified terephthalic acid: country- and exporter-specific duties apply on imports.
The Central Government, under the Customs Tariff Act and anti-dumping rules, notifies imposition of anti-dumping duty on Purified Terephthalic Acid originating in or exported from Korea RP, Thailand and Indonesia, based on the designated authority's final findings; the notification prescribes country- and exporter-specific duty rates to be applied on importation.

Exchange rate determination for export goods prescribes updated foreign currency conversion rates to govern export valuation procedures.
The Central Government prescribes specific exchange rates for conversion between Indian currency and listed foreign currencies for export goods, superseding the earlier notification; the rates in the appended Schedule I (per one unit) and Schedule II (per one hundred units) are to be applied for customs valuation and export procedures from the stated commencement date.

Exchange rate determination for calculating stamp duty and customs valuation specified by central government in notification.
Central Government prescribes the rate of exchange for specified foreign currencies for converting into Indian currency and vice versa for calculating stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 and for purposes of section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 in relation to imported goods; the notification supersedes the earlier notification and fixes the rates set out in Schedule I (per unit) and Schedule II (per 100 units) to be effective from the stated commencement date.

Import exemptions for export-oriented units expanded to allow offsite subcontracting of tools and restricted computer training use.
Amendments standardize the definition of hundred percent export oriented undertakings to include units approved by the Board of Approvals or the Development Commissioner, authorize the Assistant Commissioner of Customs to permit temporary removal of imported goods and equipment (including moulds, jigs, tools and drawings) to sub-contractors for job work provided they are returned to bonded premises within a stipulated period, and allow use of computer systems for training inside bonded premises subject to no terminals being installed outside and meeting prescribed net foreign exchange conditions where required.

Wastage allowances and DTA clearance: revised rules permit limited domestic clearance and specified manufacturing wastage rates.
Amendments permit DTA clearance of jewellery up to 10% of prior-year export value on payment of duties; authorize exchange of machine-made precious-metal jewellery for metal of equal purity and weight under Assistant Commissioner of Customs conditions; and prescribe specific wastage percentages for gold/platinum and silver by jewellery category, with rules on calculation and admissibility.

Customs exemption rate adjustment for materials imported under advance licence, amending specified notification clauses and prior threshold.
Amendment increases the percentage threshold in exemptions for materials imported under advance licence with actual user condition or licences issued after 1 4 1997 by substituting the prior five percent figure with a higher figure in the Explanation to clause (iv)(b) of Notification No. 30/97-Cus. and in the Explanation to clause (ii)(b) of Notification No. 31/97-Cus., effected under the Customs Act authority.

Export obligation under EPCG scheme: phased multi year discharge, revised minimum CIF thresholds and utilisation adjustment.
Amendments require licences in specified manufacturing and primary production sectors with CIF value between One Crore and Twenty Crores to discharge export obligation over six years with block proportions of 15%, 35% and 50%; software sector licences between Ten lakhs and Twenty Crores follow the same six year, phased proportions. Minimum import values including spares are set at One Crore for listed sectors and Ten lakhs for software. Actual licence utilisation beyond ten percent is deemed to adjust CIF value and corresponding export obligation proportionately. A policy cross reference is expanded to include an additional sub clause.

Inclusion of jigs, fixtures, dies and moulds under EPCG scheme expands eligible spare parts for maintenance of capital goods.
Amendments to customs exemption notifications expressly include spare parts such as jigs, fixtures, dies and moulds as eligible imports under the EPCG scheme for maintenance of capital goods imported, assembled, or manufactured, and revise explanatory cross references to the Export and Import Policy to incorporate additional policy clauses, aligning the notifications with updated Policy language.

Anti-dumping duty on Vitamin-C imports imposed, affecting shipments from specified origins with set rates and limited duration.
Imposition of an anti-dumping duty on Vitamin C under sub heading 2936.27 is prescribed for imports originating in or exported from specified countries, with country specific per kilogram rates and a defined expiry; the measure is based on the designated authority's preliminary findings published in the Gazette.

Import exemption conditions for fuel injection parts require use undertakings and Central Excise certificates confirming manufacture use.
The amendment grants conditional concessional treatment for specified fuel injection equipment parts and related machinery when imported for manufacture, warranty or after sales service purposes up to the stated cut off date. Importers must furnish an undertaking that the goods will be used for the Table specified purposes; for parts in categories (A), (B) and (C) they must produce, within a period specified by the Assistant Commissioner of Customs, a certificate from the Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise confirming use, and for category (D) goods they must not sell or dispose of them for two years and must similarly produce the Central Excise certificate within the specified period.

Exchange rate determination under Customs Act sets conversion rates for specified foreign currencies for export goods.
Central Government prescribes conversion rates for specified foreign currencies into Indian rupees for export goods under section 14(3)(a)(i) of the Customs Act, superseding a prior notification; the applicable rates are listed in two schedules-one giving rates per single unit and the other per one hundred units-and the notification specifies the date from which these rates apply.

Exchange rates for imported goods set for stamp duty and customs valuation, superseding prior notification and prescribing listed currency rates.
Prescribes official rates of exchange for specified foreign currencies to govern calculation of stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act and valuation under section 14 of the Customs Act for imported goods; supersedes prior Notification No. 17/98 and fixes that, with effect from 1st April, 1998, the conversion rate for each currency listed in Schedules I and II shall be the rate shown opposite that currency.

Appointment of adjudicating authority designates a commissioner to adjudicate specified customs show cause notices involving named importers.
The Central Government appoints the Commissioner of Customs (Air Cargo), Delhi to be the adjudicating authority under sub-section (1) of Section 4 of the Customs Act, 1962 for specified show cause notices listed by importer and original issuing authority, transferring adjudication of those particular matters to the designated commissioner.

Appointment of adjudicating authority: Chennai Customs Commissioner designated to adjudicate specified Trichy customs cases.
The Central Government designates the Commissioner of Customs, Chennai to act as Commissioner of Customs, Trichy for adjudication of customs cases concerning M/s. K. Kamalabai, pursuant to its appointment powers under the Customs Act, in respect of matters arising from show cause notice C. No. VIII/10/2/95-Cus. Adj., dated 24th February, 1996.