Relaxations / Extensions of various Compliance Deadlines for Exporters: PIB

Relaxations / Extensions of various Compliance Deadlines for Exporters

Department of Commerce has provided a number of Relaxations / Extensions of various Compliance Deadlines etc. to address Corona Pandemic Related Hardships of Exporters.

In order to give relief to businesses and affected individuals amidst the stress caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has introduced several relaxations and extensions in deadlines, etc. with regard to compliances mandated under its schemes and activities. The key relaxations pertaining to the Department of Commerce are as follows:

A. FACILITATION UNDER FOREIGN TRADE POLICY (FTP) 2015-20 BY  DGFT 

1. Extension of FTP beyond 31^st March 2020

 The Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020 and Handbook of Procedures (HBP) which was valid till 31^st March 2020 have been extended by one year till 31^st March 2021

2. Advance Authorizations and EPCG Authorizations: Extension of Export Obligation Period etc.

(i) In respect of those Advance Authorizations and EPCG Authorizations, wherein the extended Export Obligation Period has either expired or is expiring between 1st February 2020 to 31st July 2020, the Export Obligation Period has been extended for further six months from the date of expiry.

(ii) In respect of those Advance Authorizations and EPCG Authorizations wherein the import validity period has either expired or is expiring between 1st February 2020 to 31st July 2020, the import validity period has been extended for further six months from the date of expiry.

(iii)  In respect of those EPCG Authorizations wherein Block period to fulfill the Block-wise export obligation has either expired or is expiring between 1st February 2020 to 31st July 2020, the Block period has been extended for further six months from the date of expiry.

(iv) In respect of those EPCG Authorizations wherein the time period to produce the Installation Certificate before the RA concerned has either expired or is expiring between 1st February 2020 to 31st July 2020, the time period has been extended for further six months from the date of expiry.         

3.    Extension of validity of Registration cum Membership Certificate (RCMC) beyond 31st March 2020

 It has been decided that Regional Authorities (RAs) of DGFT will not insist on valid RCMC (in cases where the same has expired on or before 31 March 2020) from the applicants for any incentive/authorizations till 30 September 2020.

4.  Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS)

 The last date for filing annual claims under SEIS is 12 months from the end of relevant financial year of the claim period, which is expiring for 2018-19 claims on 31^st March 2020, has been extended to 31st December 2020.

5. Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)

 The last date for filing MEIS claims is 1 year from the Let Export Order (LEO) date of each Shipping Bill, and another 2 years beyond that with imposition of a late cut. The last date of filing MEIS claims without late cut for all Shipping Bills for which the initial one-year period expired / will be expiring on or after 1^st Feb 2020 and on or before 31^st May 2020, has been extended by 3 months beyond the expiry date of the initial one-year period.

6. Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL)

The last date for filing RoSCTL claims for export shipments between 7 March to 31 December 2019 of 30th June 2020, has been extended to 31st December 2020. 

7. Status Holder

 The validity period of all Status Certificates issued under FTP 2015-20 to an IEC holder has been extended up to 31st March 2021.

8. Remissions under provisions of Hand Book of Procedure (HBP)

1. Under para 4.12 (vi) of the Handbook of Procedure (HBP), validity date of norms ratified is limited to 31.3.2020 or three years whichever is later. This has been relaxed to be co-terminus with extended date of foreign trade policy / 3 years whichever is later.
2. Under para 4.41 (a) of HBP, Validity of Advance Authorizations for imports is capped at 12 months. Now the validity period of the Authorization for imports stands automatically extended by six months for Authorizations where import validity is expiring after 01 Feb 2020. The option to avail further validity extensions under para 4.41(c) shall be available.
3. Under para 4.42 (a) & (c) of HBP, Export Obligation (EO) period allowed under Advance Authorization Scheme is 18 and 24 months respectively. The EO period under this para now stands automatically extended by 6 months for Authorizations expiring after 01 Feb 2020. Option for further extensions as per HBP 4.42 (e) and (f) shall remain available after this period is over.
4. Under para 4.42 (d) of HBP, items under 4J get EO extension equal to half of the initially allowed period of EO. Now the EO period for items falling under appendix 4J stands automatically extended for a further period of six months for Authorizations expiring after 01 February 2020.
5. Under para 4.80 (C) (D) (E) of HBP, the period allowed for exhibition exports are restricted to 60/90/120/45/365 days (depending on conditions mentioned) for replenishment of inputs of precious metals used. All durations mentioned under the given paras of HBP now stand extended by six months in addition to allowed durations for cases expiring after 01 February 2020.
6. Under para 4.82 (c) and (d), 4.83(b), 4.84(c) of HBP, replenishment scheme / outright purchase/loan basis period allowed for exports realisation is capped at 90, 180 days or credit terms, 120 days and 150 days, etc. All durations mentioned under the given paras of HBP now stand extended by six months in addition to allowed durations for cases expiring after 01 February 2020.
7. Under para 4.85(b) and (c) of HBP,  EO period under Advance Authorisation for Gems & Jewelry allowed at 120 and 90 days respectively. All EO periods now stand extended by six months for cases falling under these paras which expire after 01 February 2020.

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