Trade Update 18

Foreign Trade Update

A. Procedural details concerning the extensions in Import Validity period and Export obligation period in Advance authorizations/ Duty Free Import Authorisations filing.
Along with the extension of Foreign Trade Policy and Foreign Trade Procedures upto March 31, 2021 (summarized in the DGS Weekly Trade Update- XVI), the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) also notified that for all existing Advance Authorisations and Duty Free Import Authorisations (Authorisations) whose validity is expiring between February 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, the validity is extended automatically by 6 months from the date of expiry. The procedural details in this regard has been notified vide Policy Circular No. 35/2015-20 dated April 23, 2020, as follows:

1. For Authorisations where no revalidation/export obligation period extension has been granted till date- The relaxations permitted would be updated in the ICEGATE/Customs System automatically based on a defined protocol between the DGFT NIC division and Customs. The NIC division will thereafter send the Regional Authority-wise list of such authorisations to individual RAs with an update script to be run on the local server. In case the revised updates are not available in the ICEGATE system, the exporter may approach the DGFT RA vide email or letter to carry out the necessary amendment. The RAs will thereafter conduct the necessary examinations and make the amendments.
2. For Authorisations where revalidation/export obligation period extension has been granted till date- Due to system architectural issues, automatic update is not possible and therefore, the exporter has to make an amendment request to the DGFT RA vide email or letter. The RAs will thereafter conduct the necessary examinations and make the amendments.
3. For physical (non-EDI) Authorisations- The Authorisations need to be produced physically before the DGFT RA. The RAs will thereafter conduct the necessary examinations and make the amendments.

The above Policy Circular can be accessed vide the following link:
http://dgft.gov.in/sites/default/files/P%20Circular%20Scan%20No%2035.pdf