Law Updates

Subject

Summary: A change to Annex 3(17) of Chapter 3 of the National Program for Organic Production (NPOP) 8th Edition has been announced by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The revised provisions also came into effect from 18 May 2026.  The amendment also updates the list of food additives, carriers, and processing aids permitted for use in processed organic food products. The revised annexure also includes approved additives such as calcium carbonate, citric acid, lactic acid, lecithin, pectin, carrageenan, guar gum, beeswax, erythritol, and several other substances used in plant- and animal-based organic products.  This notification also specifies certain conditions for the usage of certain additives. For example, some additives are permitted only if sourced from organic production, while others are restricted to some specific applications such as glazing agents, antioxidants, encapsulation materials, or acidity regulators.  APEDA clarified that the approved additives list is dynamic and may be revised further in line with amendments to the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR) or changes in the organic regulations of importing countries.

Subject

Summary: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has also amended the import policy for certain silver products covered under ITC (HS) Codes 71069221 and 71069229 of Chapter 71, Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022. The notification came into force on 16 May 2026 with immediate effect.  As per the revised policy, imports of semi-manufactured silver bars that are containing 99.9% or more silver by weight, along with the other silver bars under the specified HS codes, have been shifted from the “Free” category to “Restricted.” Earlier, these imports were permitted under the RBI rules and regulations.  The revised import conditions now make these products subject to the Policy Condition No. 7 of Chapter 71 under the ITC (HS) 2022 Import Policy. These amendments are also expected to strengthen the monitoring and regulatory oversight of silver imports into India.

Subject

Summary: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has notified the Coastal Shipping (Strategic Plan and National Database) Rules, 2026, under the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025. The rules came into effect on 13 May 2026 and aim to strengthen coastal shipping governance through digital reporting and centralized data management.  Under the new framework, every vessel engaged in coastal trade must submit voyage commencement and completion reports through the National Database of Coastal Shipping Portal. Voyage commencement reports must be filed within 24 hours before departure, while completion reports are required within 24 hours after arrival.  The rules also mandate reporting of incidents affecting navigation safety, cargo, or the environment, along with compliance details under the Act. Any corrections in voyage reports must be submitted within one week of identifying the error.  Additionally, the government will maintain a centralized digital portal, integrated with systems such as the National Single Window System (NSWS) and the Sagarmala National Logistics Portal, to improve data sharing, transparency, and operational efficiency in the coastal shipping sector.

Subject

Summary: The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has revised the Environment Compensation Charge for Delhi-bound commercial vehicles following the Supreme Court order dated 12 March 2026 in the matter of M.C. Mehta v. Union of India. The revision has been approved based on the recommendations of the Commission for Air Quality Management. Under the revised structure, ECC for Category 2 Light Duty Vehicles and Category 3 Two Axle Trucks has increased from Rs 1400 to Rs 2000. For Category 4 Three Axle Trucks and Category 5 Four Axle Trucks and above, the charge has increased from Rs 2600 to Rs 4000. The revised ECC rates will become effective from 1 April 2026. Further, the charges will increase by 5% every year and will be rounded off to the nearest Rs 10 in line with Supreme Court directions and CAQM recommendations. The collection, enforcement, and implementation process will be handled by the concerned authorities as per the approved compliance mechanism.

Subject

Summary: The Government, namely, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (i.e., MoA & FW) has issued a recent notification under the Fertilizer (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, introducing specifications for two customized fertilizers for cotton cultivation in selected districts of the state, Andhra Pradesh. The notification, also published on 8 May 2026, will remain valid for 3 years from that date.  The first customized fertilizer, has been approved for the basal stage of cotton crops. It also prescribes minimum nutrient standards, including 12% total nitrogen, 24% phosphorus, 0.5% zinc, and 0.2% boron, as well as particle-size specifications for quality control.  The second customized fertilizer, is approved for the top-dress stage of cotton crops in the same districts. The formulation mandates a minimum of 24% nitrogen and 16% water-soluble potassium content.

Subject

Summary: The Indian government, through the DGFT, has shared a new update about sending wheat to other countries, which is called "exporting". Usually, there is a big "No" (Prohibited) on sending wheat out of India right now. This is to make sure we have enough food at home.  However, the government has decided to be a little flexible. They are now allowing an extra 25 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of wheat to be sent abroad. Think of this as a special hall pass that allows extra wheat to go to other places. The exact "how-to" steps for this will be shared in a later announcement called a Public Notice.  Even with this change, the old rules from May 13, 2022, still apply. This means that if another country's government really needs help feeding its people, it can ask the Indian government for permission. India can still say "Yes" to these requests to help with their food security, even if it is more than the extra 25 LMT already promised. In short, India is keeping most of its wheat but sharing some extra to help others.