(ii) Ministry of Environment & Forests clarifies regarding the requirement for getting NOC for import of plastic waste & scrap by EOU and SEZ

(ii) Ministry of Commerce & Industry Instruction No. 54 dated 30-4-2010 regarding minor changes in default activities.

(iii) Ministry of Commerce & Industry Instruction No. 53 dated 29-4-2010 regarding putting a mechanism in place in all SEZs so that export and import clearances takes place all 7 days in a week.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry issues letter No. D-12/20/2010-SEZ dated 20-4-2010 clarifying that IT/ITES SEZs includes both Hardware and Software.

Circulars for the year 2009-2010

(ii) Ministry of Commerce & Industry letter No. A-4/11/2007-SEZ dated 8/9/09
regarding filling up of posts in the newly created SEZs on cost recovery basis and
sharing of cost among SEZs.

(i) Ministry of Finance issues Notification No. 22/2009-Central Excise
(NT) dated 7/9/09, effecting changes in Cenvat Credit Rules for sale of
goods from EOU to DTA

(ii) DGFT Public Notice No. 6 dated 4/9/2009 notifying agencies for the
purpose of Paragraph 6.9(e) of the Foreign Trade Policy.

(iii) DGFT Notification No. 7 dated 8/9/09 and Notification No. 9 dated
10/9/09 regarding import of electrical energy (power) from SEZ.

(ii) Ministry of Commerce & Industry issues instruction No. 35 dated 4/9/09, extending the list of default operations.

(iii) Ministry of Commerce & Industry issues instruction No. 36 dated 3/9/09, advising a developer to endorse a copy of the proposal, sent by him to BOA, to the concerned Development Commissioner.

(iv) Ministry of Commerce & Industry issues instruction No. 37 dated 7/9/09, clarifying that import of jewellery and remaking is allowed in the SEZs.

(1) Clarification issued by Ministry of Commerce & Industry vide
email dated 21/5/09 permitting :
(i) IT/ITES units on a shift to shift basis in a IT/ITES SEZ
(ii) Setting up of disaster management/recovery centre of foreign companies in the IT/ITES SEZ
(2) Ministry of Commerce & Industry writes to Chief Secretaries of all the States/UTs to put in place a fast track single window mechanism at state level and take proactive steps in framing state SEZ Act and SEZ Rules latest by 31-7-2009.

(1) Ministry of Commerce issues direction vide its letter No.C.3/13/2009-SEZ
Dated 29.4.09 for submitting required documents of notifications at the time
of formal approval itself.
(2) Ministry of Commerce issues letter F.No.C.3/9/2009-SEZ dated 25.3.09
allowing one year extension of Letter of Permission (LOP) in respect of all
cases where the validity period of 4 years is being completed between
1.3.2009 to 28.2.2010

TOP

Circulars for the year 2008-2009

1) Ministry of Commerce & Industry to take up extension of sunset clause, by 3 years, with Ministry of Finance.

2) Amendments carried out in SEZ Rules

(1) Immediate feedback on difficulties faced in service tax
refund

(2) DGFT Policy Circular No. 56 dated 21/1/09 regarding
clarification on availability of benefits under Chapter 3 of Foreign Trade Policy to EOUs.

(1) Customs Notification No. 03/2009 dated 2/1/2009 regarding issuance of DEPB for supply of goods to SEZs

(2) Reminder to EOUs/SEZ units, importing plastic waste & scrap, to submit the required information to Mr. G.K. Pandey, Advisor, Ministry of Environment & Forests.

(1) RBI Circular No RBI/2008-09/ 326 DBOD. Dir. (Exp). BC.No.101 /04.02.01/2008-09 dated 16-12-2008 extending interest Subvention of 2 percentage points w. e. f. December 1, 2008 till March 31, 2009.

(2) RBI Circular No. RBI/ 2008-09/ 314 DBOD. Dir.(Exp). BC.No.95/04.02.01/2008-09 dated 8-12-2008 extending post shipment rupee export credit facility to overdue bills upto 180 days.

(3) Department of Revenue Notification No. 33/2008-ST dated 7/12/2008 extending refund of service tax facility to services provided by a clearing and forwarding agent in relation to export goods

(4) Department of Revenue Circular No. 106/09/2008-ST dated 11/12/2008 issuing some clarification in respect of refund of service tax for export of goods.

(1) Extending the period of Post-shipment rupee export credit from 90 days to 180 days.

(2) Minimum area for setting up of a Handicraft Sector SEZ reduced to 10 hectares.

(1) RBI Circular No. RBI/2008-09/280 dated 15/11/08, extending period of pre-shipment rupee export credit from 180 days to 270 days

(2) RBI Circular No..2008-09/282 dated 15/11/08 regarding reduction of provisioning norms for all types of standard assets.

(1) Change in the Value Addition Norms for export of jewellery : DGFT Public Notice No. 98 dated 24-10-2008

(2) Increasing the time period of validity of the certificate of the nominated agencies from 3 working days to 7 working days : DGFT Public Notice No. 92

(1) DGFT Public Notice No. 90/2008 dated 8/10/08, authorizing DCs to issue GSP Certificates even for trading SEZ units

(2) Interconnectivity facility between existing STPI and SEZ for HR related work.

(1) Payment of Service Tax on taxable services provided by SEZ Units to units/persons outside SEZ.

(2) Refund of Service Tax to SEZ Units on export of goods.

(1) DGFT Notification No. 42 dated 18/9/08, permitting DEPB benefits for supply of goods from DTA to SEZ evelopers/Co-developers against Indian rupee

(2) DGFT Public Notice No. 81 dated 16/9/08 regarding availability of refund of CST for supply of goods to EOUs.

(3) DGFT Public Notice No. 71 dated 2/9/08, amending bank certificate of payment, given in Appendix 22B, permitting issuance of bank certificate of payment by the Bank of the EOU instead of domestic supplier

(iv) Instruction by RBI vide letter Ref.DBOD.Dir (Exp) No. 3704/ 04.02.02/ 2008-09 dated 2/9/08 regarding instructions to regional offices for settlement of trade transaction with Iran

(1) Jurisdiction for issuance of Import Export Code Number to SEZ Units : DGFT Public Notice No. 66 dated 19-8-2008

(2) Ministry of Commerce & Industry letter F.No. 1/153/ 2007- SEZ, dated 22/8/08, regarding carrying out of default operations by SEZ Developers/Co-developers and allowing duty free material for the same.

Sub : Supply of HSD to EOUs and SEZs by Indian Oil Corporation

Sub : (1) DGFT Public Notice No. 57 dated 1/5/08 making All Industry Rate of Deemed Drawback for HSD and Furnace Oil as "NIL"

(2) DGFT Public Notice No. 58 dated 5/8/2008 regarding
amendment in Paragraph 6.35 of Handbook of Procedures,
Vol. I.

ii) DGFT Public Notice No.53/RE-2008)2004-09 dated 23.7.08 regarding changes in the EOU Scheme.

Sub : (1) Follow up action of the open house meeting, organized by EPCES, in Mumbai, under the Chairmanship of Shri G.K. Pillai, Secretary Commerce on 20/6/2008.

(2) Shri G.K. Pillai, Secretary Commerce to chair next EPCES open house in Kolkata on 4/9/2008 : Suggestions/ issues invited.

Sub : (i) DGFT Public Notice No. 50 dated 17/7/2008 regarding import of spices under EOU Scheme

(ii) DGFT Notification No. 24 dated 18/7/2008 regarding applicability of transitional arrangements on export of Maize.

Procedure for filing claim for payment of interest on delayed refund of deemed export DBK/TED/CST :

(i) Clarification by DGFT vide Policy Circular No. 9 dated 5.6.08
(ii) Aayat Niryat Form by Public Notice No. 10 dated 29-4-2008

(i) Ministry of Finance Notification No. 23/2008-Central Excise(NT) dated 23/5/2008 and Notification No. 24/2008-Central Excise (NT) dated 23/5/2008 regarding payment of duty by EOUs on DTA clearances on monthly basis

(ii) DGFT Public Notice No. 18 dated 22/5/2008 regarding increasingDTA sale of Instant Tea from 20% to 30%.

(i) Ministry of Finance Notification No. 23/2008-Central Excise(NT) dated 23/5/2008 and Notification No. 24/2008-Central Excise (NT) dated 23/5/2008 regarding payment of duty by EOUs on DTA clearances on monthly basis.

(1) Section 10B of the Income Tax Act relating to exemption of income tax to EOUs amended by Finance Act, 2008

(2) Ministry of Finance Notification No.26/2008-CE dated 5.5.2008 and Notification No.60/2008-Cus dated 5.5.2008 relating to implementation of some of the changes carried out in the Foreign Trade Policy.

(i) Rate of CVD applicable on clearance of goods from SEZ to DTA and EOUs to DTA

(ii) Acceptance of Xerox copies of documents by Regional Licensing Authorities

(iii) Clarification that transshipment Bond is not required.

Amendments carried out in the EOU/SEZ Scheme in the Annual Supplement of Foreign Trade  Policy,  released today by Shri Kamal Nath,  Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry

(1) DGFT Notification No 72 dated 22-1-2008 regarding debonding of EOUs under EPCG Scheme.

(2) DGFT Public Notice No. 102 dated 16-1-2008 regarding amendment in time frame for filing deemed export claims

(3) DGFT Public Notice No. 103 dated 17-1-2008 regarding amendment in the procedure for filing Focus Product Scheme and Focus Market Scheme

(4) Ministry of Commerce letter No. 14/06/2007-TPD dated 7-1-2008 regarding advise on reducing/eliminating child labour

(1) DGFT Public Notice No 100 dated 10-1-2008 regarding procedure for making application under Focus Product Scheme, Hi Tech Product Export Promotion Scheme, Focus Market Scheme

(2) DGFT Public Notice No. 93 dated 27-12-2007 regarding changes in the procedure relating to VKGUY

(1) DGFT Notification No. 70 dated 27-12-2007 permitting reimbursement of duty of fuel supplied by depots of domestic oil companies.

(2) DGFT Public Notice No. 94 dated 1-1-2008 permitting EPCG Licence Holders to make supplies to SEZ units/SEZ Developers/Co-developers

(1) Follow up action of Bangalore Open House :

(B) EPCES meets Revenue Secretary, Chairman CBEC, Member (Customs), DG (EP), DOR and other senior officers of Ministry of Finance

(2) Department of Revenue issues Circular No. 43/2007-Cus dated 5-12-2007 regarding disbursement of Drawback claims on supplies from DTA to SEZ units/SEZ Developers.

DGFT Public Notice No. 74 dated 24/10/2007 regarding guidelines for conversion of DTA unit into EOU

DGFT Notification No. 38 dated 15-10-2007, prohibiting export of Non-Basmati Rice w.e.f. 9-10-2007.

Inviting suggestions relating to Chapter 6 of Foreign Trade Policy,
Chapter 6 and Appendix 14 of Handbook of Procedures, Vol. I for Annual Review of the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09

Ministry of Finance announces Customs Valuation (Determination of Value of Export Goods) Rules, 2007 vide notification No. 95/2007-Customs(NT) dated 13/9/07........

(1) Extension of benefit of VKGUY/Hi Tech Products Export
Promotion Scheme/Focus Product Scheme for supply of goods from DTA to SEZ units : follow up of Ludhiana Open House held under the Chairmanship of Shri G.K. Pillai, Secretary Commerce on 4/5/2007.

(2) DGFT Public Notice No. 39 amending Appendix 14-1-I of Handbook of Procedures, Vol. I, permitting supplementary claims for CST.

EPCES Circular No. 18
Dated 3-8-2007

FOLLOW UP OF LUDHIANA OPEN HOUSE

(i) DGFT Notification No. 19 dated 30-7-2007, extending benefit of newly announced “Export of High Technology Products Scheme” to EOUs.

(ii) Duty free import/procurement of capital goods related toinfrastructure meant for agro processing Scheme amended videDGFT Notification No. 19 dated 30-7-2007.

(iii) DGFT Notification No. 15 dated 20-7-2007, regarding procurement and export of spares/components upto 5% of FOB value of exports for EOUs.

(iv) DGFT Public Notice No. 30 dated 26-7-2007, guidelines for execution of Bank Guarantee/Legal Undertaking for domestic procurement aligned with DoR guidelines.

(I) RBI issues instructions for providing Pre-shipment & Post-shipment credit at the interest rate not exceeding BPLR minus 4.5% for specified 9 Sectors for SME Exporters
(II) Upward revision of drawback rate for supply of Furnace Oil and HSD by domestic oil companies to the units located in SEZ from Rs. 1050/MT to Rs. 1160/MT.

EPCES Circular No. 16
Dated 11-7-2007

Ministry of Finance Notification No,. 84/2007-Customs dated 6/7/2007 and Notification No. 29/2007-Central Excise dated 6/7/2007 providing for the following:-

(i) Duty free re-import of goods by EOUs after participation in the International Exhibitions
(ii) EOUs to pay anti-dumping duty in case EOUs imports raw material which is subject to anti-dumping duty and sells such raw material or finished goods made there from into the DTA.
(iii) The raw material imported by EOUs to be accounted for as per SION or ad-hoc norms/ norms finalized by the Board of Approvals.
(iv) Goods received from domestic tariff area (DTA), under the benefit of deemed exports, to be counted as imported goods.
(v) Providing for sale of services in the Domestic Market
(vi) Sale of goods in the DTA on payment of applicable duty (instead of appropriate duty)

EPCES Circular No. 12
Dated 19-6-2007

(1) Views on increasing trade/investment flows between India and African countriesin Hydrocarbon and Mineral Sector

(2) DGFT Notification No. 9 dated 11-6-2007 prohibiting import of rough diamondsfrom Cote d’lvorie.

(3) Ministry of Finance Notification No. 76/2007-Customs dated 6-6-07 and Notification No. 26/2007-Central Excise dated 6-6-07, regarding clearance/ debonding of goods by EOU under Advance Authorization

(1) Customs Notification No. 72/2007 dated 21-5-2007 regarding implementation of the amendments carried out in the Foreign Trade Policy.

(2) DGFT Notification No 6 dated 23-5-2007, extending benefit of Focus Market Scheme and Focus Product Scheme for exports through non-EDI Ports as well : as per the promise made in Ludhiana Open House, organized by EPCES, under the Chairmanship of Shri G. K. Pillai, Secretary Commerce