Law Updates

Subject

Summary: The Central Government has issued Vegetable Oil Products Production and Availability (Regulation) Amendment Order, 2025 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This amendment updates the 2011 order regulating vegetable oil products. Key changes comprise revised definitions of terms such as "vegetable oil," "producer," and "registration certificate." Producers must now register with the Directorate of Sugar and Vegetable Oils before manufacturing, storing or selling vegetable oil products. The Directorate reserves the power to approve or revoke registration after making essential inquiries. Monthly reporting requirements are announced, which oblige producers to submit detailed returns of raw material, production, sales, stock, and dispatch data. Directorate and authorized officers are empowered to examine premises, records, vehicles and vessels and seize stock if inconsistencies are found. The amendment is effective from its publication in the Official Gazette.  

Subject

Summary: The Central Government has issued the draft Gas Cylinders (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2025 under the Explosives Act, 1884. The purpose of this amendment is to revise the definition and technical characteristics of gas cylinders as defined under the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016. Under the proposed changes, a “gas cylinder” will now include enclosed metal containers with a volume of more than 500 mL but not more than 1,000 litres, the purpose of which is to contain and transport compressed gas. This definition extends to LPG, LNG, CNG, or CHG cylinders used in motor vehicles. Significantly, this modification allows cylinders used for CHG, CNG, nitrogen and compressed air to keep a water capacity of up to 3,000 litres, provided certain diameter limits are met, 60 cm for nitrogen and compressed air, and 80 cm for CHG and CNG. Moreover, compound cylinders for CHG must not be wrapped with glass fibre. The draft is open for public comment for 30 days from its Gazette publication date, after which finalization will follow.

Subject

Summary: The Central Government has, under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, issued the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts (Amendment) Order, 2025. This revision replaces the appendix in the 2020 Hall Marking Order with an updated version that revises the technical standards and provisions for hallmarking gold jewellery and artefacts. The updated annex contains clearer standards for purity levels, marking processes, and certification requirements to support consumer protection and ensure uniform standards across the industry. This amendment comes into force immediately after publication in the Official Gazette, strengthening the role of the Bureau of Indian Standards in regulating gold hallmarking practices.

Subject

Summary: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), has announced the allocation of 5,841 MT of sugar for export from India to the European Union (EU) under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for the period 2025-26 (October 2025 to September 2026). Export of sugar (HS Code 17010000) to the EU under TRQ is permitted as "Free" subject to conditions specified in Notification No. 03/2015-20. The Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) will oversee the export process, including issuing necessary certificates of origin. All reporting requirements and additional certifications, if any, must be followed as per previous notifications. This allocation aims to support India's sugar export to the EU market for the designated period.

Subject

Summary: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified the Cosmetics (Amendment) Rules, 2025, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. These rules amend several provisions of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. Key changes include definitions for "use before" and "date of expiry," clarifying that products should be used before the first day of the month mentioned, and expire on the last day. The term "controlling officer" is replaced with "Controlling Authority" throughout the rules. Rule 7 now designates the Government Analyst under the Act as the analyst for cosmetics. The Central Drugs Laboratory will function as the Central Cosmetics Laboratory for testing, appeals, and other duties. Records for batches and raw materials must be kept for 3 years or 6 months after expiry, except for soap manufacturers, who follow Licensing Authority-approved procedures. Rule 31A introduces cancellation or suspension of licenses for violations, with appeal provisions to the State Government. Labelling norms for export have been updated to meet destination country laws. "Licence" is replaced by "approval" in several rules, with changes reflecting regulatory clarity and alignment. Courier provisions have been removed. These amendments aim to strengthen compliance, transparency, and governance in the cosmetic manufacturing sector.

Subject

Summary: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended para 10.16 of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023 to widen the scope of the General Authorization for Export of Chemicals (GAEC). Under the revised guidelines, exporters of SCOMET items in Categories 1C, 1D, 1E, 3D001, and 3D004 (excluding software and technology) are required to submit an online application to ANF-10A. One significant update now comprises the export or re-export of chemicals listed in Schedule 10(N) to the specific country mentioned therein. Moreover, under a new clause (10.16(A) (I) (b)), exporters intending to ship to a non-listed country need to specify those destinations for consideration. If available, exporters can also submit an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Certificate or a Status Holder Certificate. This amendment, effective immediately, facilitates the controlled and transparent export of sensitive chemical items while growing eligible destinations under the GAEC framework.