Law Updates

Subject

Summary:   The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has notified a fresh amendment to the export policy of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) under Notification S.O. 5032(E). The notification amends policy condition 3 of Chapter 44 in Schedule-II of the ITC (HS) 2022, making the export of Red Sanders wood and roots from private or cultivated land a restricted activity. Under the revised norms, exporters must apply for a Restricted Export Authorisation, supported by a Certificate of Origin issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF). The certificate must confirm legal procurement and provide details of physical stock verification. All export authorizations will be reviewed on merit, considering conditions like quantity ceilings under CITES regulations. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), based on CITES recommendations, has fixed an annual export quota of 10 metric tonnes for Karnataka and 100 metric tonnes for Gujarat. These limits will apply from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027, for artificially propagated Red Sanders. Export of wild specimens remains prohibited.

Subject

Summary: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has officially notified a new Standard Input Output Norm (SION) under the “Engineering & Electronic Items” category for mobile phone exports. Issued under File No. 01/81/171/00016/AM24-25/DES-II, this new entry, marked as SION C-2057, falls within the framework of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. With the introduction of SION C-2057, Regional Authorities (RAs) are now empowered to issue Advance Authorisations directly, without forwarding individual applications to the Norms Committee. This move is expected to simplify the approval process, boost efficiency, and maintain regularity in export authorisation procedures. The new SION provides standardised input-output ratios for mobile phone manufacturing, ensuring clarity for exporters and reducing administrative delays. This update marks a vital step toward streamlining trade facilitation and encouraging India’s electronics export ecosystem under the current Foreign Trade Policy.

Subject

Summary: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a Public Notice amending Appendix 2B of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, which lists the agencies authorised to issue Certificates of Origin (Preferential). Exercising powers under the FTP, the DGFT has officially added the authorised agencies permitted to issue Certificates of Origin (CoO) for the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). This amendment ensures that exporters seeking special tariff benefits under the India-EFTA TEPA can obtain CoOs from the designated agencies listed in the updated Appendix 2 B. The move aims to simplify certification processes, boost trade facilitation, and encourage smoother implementation of the newly effective India-EFTA TEPA framework. The Public Notice formally notifies and operationalises the inclusion of authorised agencies allowed to issue Preferential Certificates of Origin under the India-EFTA TEPA, ensuring clarity and compliance for stakeholders.

Subject

Summary: The Central Government has introduced a partial amendment to the import policy regulating synthetic knitted fabrics under Chapter 60 of the ITC (HS), 2022. Exercising powers under Sections 3 and 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, and in alignment with paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, the amendment amends Notification No. 05/2025-26 dated 23.04.2025. The import policy for ITC (HS) Code 60053600 has been revised to maintain its status as “Restricted,” subject to a Minimum Import Price (MIP) of USD 3.5 per kg, except for fabrics ranging between 28 to 48 GSM. All other HS Codes under the previous notification stay unchanged. In addition, Advance Authorisation holders, Export Oriented Units (EOUs), and SEZ units will remain exempt from the MIP condition, provided that imported inputs are not sold in the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA). This step focuses on balancing import regulation with support for domestic textile manufacturing.