Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 and the Handbook of Procedures Vol. 1, which were expiring on 31st of March 2020, have been extended till 31st of March 2021. DGFT has in this regard, with immediate effect, also made various other changes in the FTP and in the HoP, extending the validity and time periods of various provisions and thus granting relief to the exporters and importers in the present troubled times. Notification No. 57/2015-20 and Public Notice No. 67/2015-20, both dated 31-3-2020 have been issued for the purpose. Some of the important changes are highlighted below.
MEIS Scheme
- Exports for which Let Export Order (LEO) date is between 1-2-2019 and 31-5-2019, the applications can be filed within 15 months from LEO date, instead of 12 months.
Service Export from India Scheme (SEIS)
- Services which will be eligible for the SEIS Scheme for exports during 1-4-2019 to 31-3-2020 will be notified later under Appendix 3X.
- Decision to continue the SEIS Scheme for the exports from 1-4-2020 onwards, will be taken later.
- Last date for filing SEIS application for exports made during 2018-19 will be 31-12-2020, instead of 31-3-2020.
Advance Authorisation Scheme
- IGST & Compensation cess exemption has been extended up to 31-3-2021
- Wastage norms fixed under para 4.07 of HBP will now be valid till 31-3-2021, or for a period of three years from the date of fixation, whichever is later.
- Import validity and Export Obligation period, wherever expires between 1-2-2020 to 31-7-2020, the same has been extended by 6 months from date of expiry. Further, no separate application with composition fee, amendment or endorsement is required for such extension.
- In case the last date for filing an application for Replenishment AA falls between 1-2-2020 to 31-7-2020, the same will get extended by 6 months.
- Under the Import of Diamonds for Certification/Grading & Re-export Scheme, and Exports against Supply by Foreign Buyer, in case the last date for export falls between 1-2-2020 to 31-7-2020, the same will get extended by 6 months. Further, last date under para 4.80 if is expiring between 1-2-2020 and 31-7-2020, it shall also get extended by six months.
RoSCTL Scheme
- Last date for filing RoSCTL (Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes) application for shipping bills having LEO date from 7-3-2019 to 31-12-2019, has been extended from 30-6-2020 to 31-12-2020.
DFIA Scheme
- All DFIAs (including transferable DFIAs), where the validity for import is expiring between 1-2-2020 to 31-7-2020, the validity stands extended by six months from the date of expiry.
EPCG Scheme
- IGST & Compensation cess exemption has been extended up to 31-3-2021
- Import validity, wherever expires between 1-2-2020 to 31-7-2020, the same will get automatically extended by 6 months from date of such expiry.
- In case due date for filing the installation certificate falls between 1-2-2020 to 31-7-2020, the same will get extended by 6 months from the original due date.
- If blockwise EOP (Export Obligation Period) expires between 1-2-2020 to 31-7-2020, the same stands extended by 6 months from the date of such expiry. EOP has also been extended in same manner. Refer changes in para 5.14 and 5.17 of the HoP.
EOU Scheme
- Validity period of LOP/LOI which are expiring on or after 1-3-2020, have been extended up to 31-12-2020.
- IGST & Compensation cess exemption extended up to 31-3-2021
- QPR for quarter ending March, 2020 and June, 2020 & APR for Financial Year 2019-20 can now be filed till 30-9-2020.
- EOP for certain commodities under para 6.06(c) of HoP, in case expires between 1-3-2020 to 30-6-2020, it would be deemed to be valid up to 30-9-2020.
Miscellaneous changes
- Validity of Status holder certificate has been extended up to 31-3-2021.
- Where the due date for filing application to claim TED refund/Deemed export duty drawback falls on or after 1-3-2020, the same has been extended up to 30-9-2020.
- Application for claiming benefits under the Transport and Marketing Assistance for Specified Agriculture Products Scheme for the quarter ending 31-3-2019 and 30-6-2019, can be filed till 30-9-2020.
- Late cut fee under para 9.02 must only be imposed on application filed after expiry of due date prescribed under the PN 67/2015-20 dated 31-3-2020.