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1. Introduction:

1.1 Export Oriented Units (EOU) scheme was introduced vide Ministry of Commerce Resolution dated 31-12-1980. The purpose of the scheme was basically to boost exports by creating additional production capacity. It was introduced as a complementary scheme to the Free Trade Zones/ Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Scheme introduced in the sixties, which had not attracted many units due to locational restrictions. The exporters showed willingness to set up units with long term commitment to exports under Customs bond operations provided they had the freedom to locate them in places of their choice and given most of the benefits as provided to units set up in the Zones.

1.2 The EOUs are governed by the provisions of Chapter 6 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) and its procedures, as contained in the Handbook of Procedure (HBP). Provisions of the said Chapter 6 and its procedures have also been made applicable to the Electronics Hardware Technology Parks (EHTPs), Software Technology Parks (STPs) and Biotechnology Parks (BTPs). Hence the scheme is for EOU/STP/EHTP/BTP and is referred in common parlance as EOU scheme.

1.3 Over the years, the EOU Scheme has undergone various changes and its scope has also expanded substantially as compared to the initial Scheme, which was basically for manufacturing sector with certain minimum value addition in terms of export earnings. Presently, the units undertaking to export their entire production of goods are allowed to be set up as an EOU. These units may be engaged in the manufacture, services, development of software, repair, remaking, reconditioning, re- engineering including making of gold/silver/platinum jewellery and articles thereof, agriculture including agroprocessing, aquaculture, animal husbandry, bio- technology, floriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, viticulture, poultry, sericulture and granites. The EOUs can export all products/ services except prohibited items of exports in ITC (HS).

1.4 Some benefits that are extended to the EOUs to impart to them a competitive edge to compete in export market are, as follows:

(i) EOUs are allowed to import raw materials/ capital goods duty free (including exemption from IGST and Compensation cess up to 31.03.2021), and also allowed to procure excisable goods without payment of duty indigenously;

(ii) Reimbursement of Central Sales Tax (CST);

(iii) CENVAT credit of excise duty/ITC of GST on the goods and service and refund thereof;

(iv) Fast track clearance facilities; and

(v) Exemption from Industrial Licensing for manufacture of items reserved for SSI sector.

(vi) The DTA supplier or recipient EOU can avail refund of GST paid on supplies to EOUs.

2. Customs and Central Excise exemptions:

2.1 EOUs/EHTPs/STPs are entitled to import duty free (including exemption from IGST & cess up to 31.03.2021) raw materials, capital goods and office equipment etc. vide Customs Notification No. 52/2003- Cus., dated 31-3-2003 and procure indigenous excisable goods duty free vide Central Excise Notification No. 22/2003-CE., dated 31-3-2003.

3. Setting up of an EOU:

3.1 Projects having a minimum investment of Rs. 1 Crore and above in building, plant and machinery  are usually considered for establishment under EOU Scheme. Minimum investment criteria is to be fulfilled at the time of commencement of production by the unit. The minimum investment criterion does not apply for certain sectors like Electronic Hardware Technology Park unit, Software Technology Park unit, Biotechnology Park units, Handicrafts, Agriculture, Floriculture, Aquaculture, Animal Husbandry, Information Technology, Services, Brass Hardware and Handmade jewellery sectors. Setting up of trading units is not permitted under EOU scheme. Board of Approval (BOA) may allow establishment of EOUs with a lower investment criteria.

3.2 EOUs are normally permitted to be set up by a Unit Approval Committee headed by the Development Commissioner. Jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs & Central Excise is a member of the said committee. Proposals for setting up EOUs requiring industrial license also require clearance by the Board of Approval (BOA) and Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) is permitted through Automatic Route. Applications for conversion into an EOU/EHTP/STP/BTP unit from existing DTA units, having an investment of Rs. 50 crores and above in plant and machinery or exporting Rs. 50 crores and above annually, shall be placed before BOA for a decision.

3.3 For setting up of an EOU, three copies of the application in the prescribed form (ANF6A) are required to be submitted to the Development Commissioner. In certain cases, approval of the Board of Approval (BOA) is required. Applications for setting up of Electronic Hardware Technology Park/ Software Technology Park units are submitted to the officer designated by the Department of Information Technology for this purpose. After approval of the application and issuance of Letter of Permission, the applicant is required to execute a legal undertaking ( Appendix-6E) with the Development Commissioner/ Designated Officer concerned within the prescribed time period. On execution of legal undertaking, a Green Card is issued to the unit.

3.4 On approval for setting up an EOU by Unit Approval Committee, a Letter of Permission (LOP/LOI) is issued by the jurisdictional Development Commissioner. It mentions interalia the capacity and items of manufacture and export, capital goods permitted to be imported/ procured. Thereafter, the unit has to execute a legal undertaking with the Development Commissioner. The LOP/ LOI issued is construed as a license for all purposes. After obtaining the LOP and execution of legal undertaking, the unit is required to execute a general purpose B-17 bond with the jurisdictional Assistant/Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise. This bond was notified vide Notification No. 6/98 Central Excise (N.T.), dated 02.03.1998 under the erstwhile Central Excise Rules, 1944. A revised B-17 (General Surety/Security) bond updated with references to GSTIN, present FTP provisions and Notification No. 52/2003- Customs dated 31.03.2003 etc., has been notified vide Notification No. 01/2018 CE (NT) dated 05.12.2018 under the present Rules 7, 9, 21 and 22 of the Central Excise Rules, 2017. This new bond will be applicable to the new EOUs. The existing EOUs shall continue with the earlier B-17 bond already executed by them so that there is no disruption in their working. Also, all relevant instructions applicable for the old B-17 bond will be mutatis mutandis applicable to the new B-17 bond.

[Refer Circular 50/2018- Customs dated 06.12.2018]

4. Import/ procurement and warehousing:

4.1 Under the EOU scheme, the units are allowed to import or procure from bonded warehouses in DTA/ International exhibitions in India, without payment of duty all types of goods including capital goods, raw materials, components, packing materials, consumables, spares and various other specified categories of equipment including material handling equipment, required for export production or in connection therewith. However, the goods prohibited for import are not permitted. In the case of EOUs engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, floriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, viticulture, aquaculture, poultry, sericulture, gem & jewellery manufacture and granite quarrying, only specified categories of goods mentioned in the relevant notification are permitted duty-free import. Indigenous excisable goods specified in Notification no. 22/2003-CE dated 31.03.2003 can be procured duty free.

4.2 The Customs exemption Notification No. 52/03-Cus. (for imports) and Central Excise exemption Notification No. 22/03-CE, both dated 31-3-2003 prescribe several conditions to be fulfilled by the beneficiaries keeping in view the objective of the EOU scheme and to prevent abuse. EOUs are also provided various flexibilities in the matter of taking out the materials for job work, inter-unit transfer. The EOUs/ EHTPs/ STPIs/ BTPs are required to be positive net foreign exchange earner except for sector specific provision of Appendix 6 B of FTP where a higher value addition shall be required as per the provisions of FTP. NFE earnings is calculated cumulatively in blocks of 5 years from the commencement of commercial production according to a prescribed formula as per para 6.10 of HBP.

4.3 The EOUs are licensed to manufacture goods within the premises for the purpose of export. The period of LOP is initially for five years after the unit has commenced production, which is extendable by another five years by the Development Commissioner. On completion of the LOP period, it is for the unit to decide whether to continue under, or to opt out, of the scheme. Where unit opts to continue, DC will extend approval period. If no intimation in this regard is received from unit within a period of six months of expiry of approval period, DC will take action, suo motu, to cancel approval under EOU scheme and take further action in this regard. Where units give their option to continue after expiry of six months as stipulated above, DC will grant extension after obtaining approval of BOA.

4.4 Inputs imported or procured duty free are required to be accounted for in accordance with SION. For the items having no SION, consumption of inputs is allowed subject to generation of waste, scrap and remnants up to 2% of input quantity. However, if any item in addition to those given in SION are required as input or where generation of waste, scrap and remnants is beyond 2% of the input quantity, consumption is allowed on the basis of self-declared norms for a period of three months till the jurisdictional Development Commissioner fixes ad hoc norms subject to an undertaking by the unit that the self-declared/ ad hoc norms shall be adjusted in accordance with norms as finally fixed by the Norms Committee in DGFT for the unit. Further, a provision has also been made to consider such cases by the Board of Approval for appropriate decision in case of difficulty in fixation of SION by the Norms Committee. The norms fixed by the Norms Committee shall be applicable to the specific unit. [Refer Circular No. 12/2008-Cus dated 24-7-2008]

5. Monitoring and administrative control:

5.1 The EOUs basically function under the administrative control of the Development Commissioner of the Special Economic Zones, whose jurisdiction has been notified by the Ministry of Commerce. In all, there are seven Development Commissioners at Mumbai, Gandhidham, Chennai, Cochin, Visakhapatnam, Noida and Kolkata, who supervise the functioning of the EOUs. The Development Commissioners of the SEZs are the Licensing Authorities in respect of units under the EOU scheme, as per specified territorial jurisdiction as indicated in the FTP.

5.2 The provisions of the Customs and Central Excise law in respect of the EOUs are administered by the Commissioners of Customs and Central Excise, who work under the control of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs. The work relating to the EOUs located in port cities/towns or within the municipal limits of port cities/towns, which was earlier transferred to the jurisdictional Commissioner of Central Excise, will continue to be handled by jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs & Central Excise.

[Refer Circular Nos. 72/2000-Cus, dated 31-8-2000, No.87/2000Cus, dated 2-11-2000; No. 932/22/2010-CX, dated 4-8-2010 and D.O. F.No. 450/17/2017 Custom IV dated 07.11.2017]

5.3 On the policy front, all decisions relating to the EOUs are taken by the Board of Approvals (BOA), set up under the Department of Commerce. The BOA is chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Commerce. In the case of units engaged in manufacture of electronic hardware and software, the policy decisions are taken by the Inter Ministerial Standing Committee (IMSC) set up under the Department of Information Technology and the same are implemented through its Designated Officers. CBIC representative is a member of both the BOA/IMSC. The availability of any benefit under Customs or Central Excise Acts or the notifications issued thereunder has, however, to be determined by the Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise having jurisdiction over the unit. Appropriate inter-ministerial liaison is maintained for ensuring uniformity as far as possible in the FTP provisions and the provisions built in the relevant Customs and Central Excise notifications.

6. Customs bonding:

6.1 The premises of EOU were earlier required to be approved as a Customs bonded warehouse under the warehousing provisions of the Customs Act. The manufacturing and other operations were carried out under customs bond and the unit bears appropriate charges for officers on cost recovery basis. In case of units in Aquaculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Granite quarrying etc exemption from bonding was given for administrative reasons with certain other safeguards being put in place to check that duty free benefits where availed are not abused. The EOUs were required to execute a multipurpose bond with surety/ security with jurisdictional Central Excise and Customs officers.

[Refer Circular No. 15/95-Cus., dated 23-2-1995]

6.2 Recognizing the potential role of these units in the Make in India initiative and as a measure of improving the ease of doing business, it was decided to do away with the need to comply with warehousing provisions by these units. For this purpose, notification 44/2016 Customs dated 29th July 2016 was issued (effective from 13th August 2016) amending the principal notification 52/2003-Customs dated 31st March 2003. As a consequence, these units stand de-licensed as warehouses under Customs Act, 1962, with effect from 13th August, 2016. However EOUs are still required to execute a multipurpose bond with surety /security with jurisdictional Customs and Central Excise officers.

[Refer Circular No.35/2016-Customs dated, the 29th July 2016]

7. Items allowed duty free imports/procurement:

7.1 Under the EOU scheme, the units are allowed to import without payment of duty, all types of goods including capital goods, raw materials, components, packing material, consumables, spares and various other specified categories of equipment like material handling equipment, UPSs, quality assurance equipment, captive power plants, central air conditioning equipment, security systems, pollution control equipment, modular furniture and parts thereof etc. and also procure indigenous excisable goods without payment central excise duty required for the production/ job-work and other operations in terms of letter of permission (LOP). All goods other than prohibited goods are allowed to be imported by an EOU/STP/EHTP. The specified activities for setting up an EOU/STP/EHTP are as follows:

(i) Manufacture of articles for export or for being used in connection with the production or packaging or job work for export of goods or services by export oriented undertaking;

(ii) Manufacture or development of software, data entry and conversion, data processing, data analysis and control data management or call center services for export by Software Technology Park (STP) unit, or a unit in Software Technology Park Complex under the export oriented scheme;

(iii) Manufacture and development of electronics hardware or electronics hardware and software in an integrated manner for export by an Electronic Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) unit or a unit in Electronic Hardware Technology Park Complex under the export oriented scheme; production, manufacture or packaging of articles by export oriented undertaking in horticulture, agriculture and animal husbandry sector;

(iv) Use in aqua-culture farm in connection with operational requirements of such aquaculture farm and export of aquaculture products so produced by export oriented undertaking in aquaculture sector;

(v) Quarrying of granite by export oriented undertaking engaged in processing and manufacture or production of articles of granite for export;

(vi) Manufacture of gems and jewellery and export thereof by EOUs in the Special Export Oriented Complex, Jhandewalan and EOUs in gems and jewellery sector.

7.2 Duty free import and procurement of export promotion material like brochures, literatures, pamphlets, hoardings, catalogues and posters of products to the extent of 1.5% of the value of exports of the previous year is also allowed. The export value of supplies of such promotional material shall not be counted towards fulfilment of NFE and for availing DTA entitlement as specified in para 6.8 of FTP. However, import of such promotional material shall be considered for computation of sum total of all imported goods for arriving at NFE.

[Refer Circular No. 17/2006-Cus dated 1-6-2006]

8. Time limit for utilization of imported capital goods and inputs:

8.1 The period of utilization of goods, including capital goods, procured/ imported by the EOU shall be co-terminus with the validity of LoP (Letter of Permission)

[Notification No. 34/2015-Customs dated 25.5.15 and 30/2015-CE dated 25.5.15]

9. Manufacture in bond:

9.1 EOUs used to be private bonded warehouse under provisions of Section 58 of the Customs Act, To undertake manufacturing or other operations in the warehouse in relation to warehoused goods, the required permission was granted under Section 65 of the Customs Act 1962, read with “Manufacture and Other Operations in Warehouse Regulations, 1966”. The mandatory warehousing has now been done away with w.e.f. 29.07.2016 and EOUs are required to follow the procedure prescribed under Rule 5 of the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules, 2017 for which Notification no. 52/2003-Customs dated 31st March, 2003 has been amended by Notification No. 59/2017-Customs dated 30th June, 2017.The degree of supervision of the Departmental officers on movement of raw materials, components, finished goods and manufacturing process and accounting in an EOU is aimed at providing operational flexibility, easing restrictions and removing practical difficulties faced by EOUs. Accordingly, the manufacture is now allowed without any physical supervision of the Central Excise and Customs authorities, locking of the warehouse premises, control over the issue and return of imported goods. Further, all movements from and to the units like clearance of raw materials/ components to the job worker’s premises, return of goods from the job worker’s premises, clearance to other EOUs, export and sale into DTA can be made by the manufacturer subject to recording of each transaction in the records prescribed by the Board/Commissioners or their private records approved by the Commissioner.

[Refer Circular No. 88/98-Cus, dated 2-12-1998]

9.2 Exports by EOUs are allowed on self-sealing and self-certification basis.

[Refer Circular No. 12/2005-Cus dated 4.3.2005]

9.3 The EOUs were allowed self-bonding/self-warehousing without the requirement of physical verification of goods by officers of Customs and Central Excise for both imported as well as indigenously procured goods. This relaxation was available to EOUs with a clean track record having physical export turnover of goods or services is Rs.10 Crores or above in the preceding financial year.

[Circular No. 19/2007-Cus dated 3.5.2007 amended by 19/2015 dated 9.6.2015]

9.4 With the removal of mandatory warehousing, EOUs stand delicensed as warehouses under Customs Act, 1962, with effect from 13th August, 2016. EOUs are no longer required to maintain warehoused goods register. Instead the records of receipt, storage, processing and removal of goods is required to be maintained in a prescribed form in digital manner. A digital copy of Form A, containing transactions for the month, shall be provided to the proper officer, each month (by the 10th of month) in a CD or Pen drive, as convenient to the unit. The requirement of sending re-warehousing certificates has also been dispensed with for all EOUs. Instead, upon receipt of goods in the unit, copy of relevant bill of entry shall be provided to the jurisdictional office who shall reconcile the imports with intimation provided under Rule 5 of Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules, 2017.

[Refer Circular No.35/2016-Customs dated, the 29th July 2016 and Circular No.29/2017-Customs dated 17th July 2017]

10. B-17 Bond:

10.1 Import/procurement of goods by an EOU for use in manufacture or in connection with production or packaging of goods for export is exempted from payment of customs and central excise duties. EOUs execute a general purpose B-17 bond along with surety or security covering the duty foregone on imported goods. This bond is prescribed under Notification No. 6/98-CE(N.T.)., dated 2-3-1998 as General Bond to be executed by the EOUs for provisional assessment of goods to Central Excise duty, for export of goods and for accounting/disposal of excisable goods procured without payment of duty. This bond also takes care of the interest of revenue against risks arising out of goods lost in transit, goods taken into Domestic Tariff Area for job work/ repair/ display etc but not brought back. Basically the B-17 bond is an “all purpose” bond covering liabilities of the EOU both under Customs and Central Excise Acts. However, it does not cover the differential duty amount against advance DTA sale for which a separate bond is to be executed.

10.2 The B-17 bond is executed with the jurisdictional Assistant/Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs, as the case may be. The bond is taken for an amount equivalent to 25% of the duty forgone on the sanctioned requirement of capital goods plus the duty forgone on raw materials required for three months. Surety or security equivalent to 5% of the bond amount in the form of bank guarantee or cash deposit or any other mode of security recognized by the Government is required to be given by the EOUs. In the case of surety, a letter from the person standing surety duly certified by a Chartered Accountant for solvency is also required to be submitted.

10.3  Units which have achieved positive NFE and are in existence for the last three years with unblemished track record having export turnover of Rs. 5 Crores or above and have not been issued a show cause notice or a confirmed demand, during the preceding 3 years are exempted from furnishing Bank Guarantee etc. or Surety along with B-17 bond. However, this facility will not be available to the Units where Show Cause Notices have been issued or cases booked on grounds other than procedural violations, under the penal provision of the Customs Act, the Central Excise Act, the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, the Finance Act, 1994 covering Service Tax or any allied Acts or the rules made thereunder, on account of fraud / collusion / wilful mis-statement/ suppression of facts or contravention of any of the provisions thereof.

[Refer Circulars No. 14/98-Cus, dated 10-3-1998, No. 42/98-Cus, dated 19-6-1998, No.66/98-Cus, dated 15-9-1998, No.76/99-Cus, dated 17-11­1999, No. 54/2004-Cus, dated 13-10-2004 and No. 36/2011-Cus, dated. 12-8-2011]

10.4 The B-17 bond, being a general purpose running bond will serve the requirement of continuity bond to be submitted under Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules, 2017, and therefore EOU/STP/EHTP units are not required to submit separate continuity bond.

The waiver of bank guarantee/ surety to EOUs would continue to be governed by various circulars issued from time to time by CBIC with regard to B-17 bonds executed by EOUs and will not be guided by the Circular no. 48/2017-Customs dated 08.12.2017 which governs the general importers and not the EOUs.

[Refer Circular No. 29/2017-Customs dated 17.07.2017 & Circular no. 27/2018-Customs dated 14.08.2018]

10.5 Original B-17 bond is to be kept safely after allotting Bond Nos. and bond values to be mentioned in the bond register for the purposes of debit/credit of duty foregone on the goods imported/procured duty free. Debits for duty foregone are to be made at the fresh import or at the time of local procurement of excisable goods under CT-3. For debit only 25% of the duty foregone (for Capital Goods) should be taken and not the entire duty amount.

Similarly credits of duty foregone may be allowed for the duty contained in inputs used in the manufacture of finished goods exported or cleared in DTA on payment of applicable duties and taxes.

Monitoring of Bond is to be done by AC/DC of Cus/CE on broad basis and it is to be ensured that Bond is discharged at the time of final debonding.

[Circular No. 76/99-Customs dated 17.11.1999 and Circular No. 50/2000 Customs dated 24.05.2000]

10.6  In case of B-17 bond executed by EOU/STP/EHTPs in capacity of Proprietorship or partnership firm, surety cannot be given by Proprietor/ partner himself. Such sureties must be given by an independent legal entity other than the Proprietor/ Partner of the concerned Proprietorship/ Partnership EOU firm. [Refer Circular No. 03/2021-Customs dated. 03.02.2021]

11. Monitoring of export performance / foreign exchange realization:

11.1 The EOUs basically function under the administrative control of the Development Commissioner of the SEZ as per the jurisdiction notified by the Ministry of Commerce. The Development Commissioner is the licensing authority in respect of EOU. In respect of STP / EHTP units, the designated officer (Director) of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is the licensing authority. These authorities are also responsible for monitoring the export performance of the units in terms of Para 6.12 of HBP read with Appendix 6F of FTP.

11.2 The concept of NFEP and EP has been replaced with Net Foreign Exchange Earning (NFE) from 2003-04. Further, duty liability is fixed in proportion to shortfall in NFE. Now the unit has to achieve a positive NFE i.e. their foreign exchange earning has to be more than the foreign exchange outflow. The NFE is calculated cumulatively in the block of 5 years. If the unit is not NFE positive, Development Commissioner is required to inform the Customs authorities for recovery of the proportionate duty. This provision is not only more equitable but also prevents a unit to become unviable on account of huge demand without taking into account the exports performance achieved.

11.3 The Development Commissioner is responsible for monitoring foreign exchange realization/remittances of EOUs in coordination with the General Manager, RBI concerned.

[Refer RBI Circular No. COEXD.3109/05.62.05/1999-2000, dated 21-2-2000]

11.4 The Unit Approval Committee headed by the Development Commissioner is responsible for monitoring the performance of EOUs.

12. Import and export procedures:

12.1 Pre-GST and pre-removal of warehousing provision for EOUs, with regard to clearance of import cargo, the EOUs are placed in a special category, eligible for fast track clearance through the Customs on the strength of procurement certificate issued by the jurisdictional Assistant/Deputy Commissioner. Generally, the EOU cargo is not examined at the gateway port/airport and in case of loose cargo, marks and numbers on the packages are verified. As for sealed containers, the seal number and container number are verified with the Bill of Lading. If the seal is found intact, the container is allowed clearance. The imported cargo so cleared and brought into the unit’s premises were earlier used to be examined by the jurisdictional Central Excise and Customs officials. After examination (percentage check only), the goods were allowed to be used for export production. Re-warehousing certificate was to be submitted to the Assistant/Deputy Commissioner in charge of the port of import within 90 days of the issue of procurement certificate. [Refer Circulars No. 63/97 Cus, dated 21.11.1997, No. 14/98-Cus, dated 10.3.1998]

12.2 Post GST, the EOUs are required to follow Rule 5 of Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules, 2017 instead of erstwhile procedure of Procurement Certificates. The EOUs are required to provide information in duplicate regarding estimated quantity and value of goods to be imported to Jurisdictional DC/AC of Customs. EOU is also required to submit one set of the said information to DC/AC of Customs at the Custom Station of importation who shall allow the benefit of exemption notification to the importer on the basis of said information provided to him.

[Refer Circular no. 29/2017-Customs dated 17.7.2017, Circular No. 25/2017- Customs dated 30.06.2017 and Circular no. 10/2018-Customs dated 24.4.2018]

12.3 Prior to removal of mandatory warehousing, EOUs were required to file Into – Bill of Entry at port of importation and detailed examination of imported goods were done at factory premises leading to issuance of Re-warehousing certificate. But with removal of mandatory warehousing for EOUs in 2016 the system of re-warehousing was done away vide Circular no. 35/2016-Customs dated 29.07.2016. Now EOUs are required to file a Bill of Entry for Home Consumption at the port of importation. EOUs being no longer bonded premises and goods being cleared from port of import as final for home consumption, hence there is no scope of examination at premises of EOU as was envisaged earlier when EOUs were bonded premises. Hence, the procedure/method for import by EOUs is at par with other importers except that their criterion for RMS selection could be different from normal importers.

12.4 On the export side, the units having status of a Super Star Trading House, Star Trading House, Trading House, and Export House were allowed the facility of self-sealing of their export containers.

[Refer Circulars No.90/98-Cus, dated 8-12-1998]

13. Goods imported / exported and found defective:

13.1 Subject to grant of GR waiver by the RBI, the EOUs are allowed to make free replacement of the goods exported by them earlier and found defective, damaged or otherwise unfit by the overseas buyer. However, such defective, damaged or otherwise unfit for use goods are required to be brought back subsequently, to the country. The units are also allowed to re-import part consignment/full consignment in case of failure of the foreign buyer to take delivery.

13.2 The EOUs are also allowed to receive free replacement of the goods imported and found defective, damaged or otherwise unfit for use prior to re-export of the same. However, such damaged, defective goods are required to be re-exported subsequently. In case the supplier of such goods does not insist for re-exportation, such goods are required to be either destroyed or cleared into DTA on payment of full Customs duty.

[Refer Circular 60/99-Cus, dated 10-9-1999]

14. Procurement of indigenous goods under CT-3 procedure:

14.1 The EOUs earlier were required to procure excisable goods from DTA without payment of Central Excise duty on strength of CT-3, which was issued by the Superintendent of Central Excise in charge of the EOU. Such goods were required to be brought directly from the manufacturer/ warehouse into the unit’s premises under A.R.E.-3 procedure. To avoid separate permission every time, the EOUs were issued pre-authenticated CT-3 in booklet form and against such pre-authenticated CT-3. Now, supplies to EOUs by a registered person have been made to be treated as deemed export supplies under Section 147 of CGST Act for which Notification No. 48/2017-Central Tax dated 18.10.2017 has been issued. The EOUs are allowed to procure capital goods, raw materials, consumables etc. on payment of GST by following the procedure as prescribed in Circular no 14/14/2017-GST dated 06.11.2017. As per this procedure, recipient EOU has to give prior intimation of goods to be procured in a prescribed form to registered supplier as well as jurisdictional GST officers of supplier as well as of EOU. The supplies will then be made under the tax invoice. After receipt of goods at EOU, tax invoice will be endorsed by EOU, a copy of which will be given to all to whom original intimation of procurement was given. Goods procured from DTA and found to be defective can be returned to the manufacturer as prescribed by Central Excise law/GST law.

15. DTA sale:

15.1 The goods manufactured by EOUs are allowed to be sold in Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) upon fulfilment of certain conditions in terms of Para 6.8(a) of the FTP read with Para 6.14 and Appendix 6G of the HBP.

15.2 The EOUs (other than gems & jewellery units) are allowed to sell goods (including rejects, scrap, waste, remnants and by-products) in DTA on payment of applicable central excise duty or applicable GST along with reversal of Basic Customs Duty on inputs used in finished goods (including by-products, rejects, waste and scraps arising in the course of production, manufacture, processing or packaging of such goods) if they are NFE positive. Gems and Jewellery units may sell up to 10% of FOB value of export of preceding year subject to fulfilment of positive NFE.

15.3 For a newly set up unit, Advance DTA sale is also allowed on the basis of the projection of export in the first year. For pharmaceutical units, advance DTA sale is allowed on the basis of the projection of export in the first two years. The advance DTA sale is to be adjusted within two years from the date of commencement of production by an EOU. However, in case of pharmaceutical units, this period for adjustments is three years. For this purpose, a separate bond is to be executed with the Assistant/ Deputy Commissioner to cover the difference of duty paid on the advance DTA sale and the duty payable on such goods.

15.4 The DTA sale facility is not available for certain products namely, pepper & pepper products, marble and such other items as are notified from time to time. This facility is also not available to units engaged in the activities of packaging/ labelling/ segregation/ refrigeration/ compacting/ micronisation/ pulverization/ granulation/ conversion of monohydrate form of chemical to anhydrous form or vice versa.

15.5 Specified supplies of goods in DTA as provided in Para 6.09 of FTP and are counted for fulfilment of positive NFE, are also allowed on payment of applicable duties/taxes leviable on these goods.

16. Valuation of goods sold in DTA:

16.1 Section 3 of the Central Excise Act, 1944, provides that the valuation of excisable goods manufactured in the EOU and cleared into DTA is to be done in accordance with the provisions of the Customs law. Thus, when the invoice price of the goods under assessment is in the nature of transaction value, such invoice value can be accepted.

16.2 For goods other than those falling under fourth schedule of Central Excise Act, 1944, the valuation will be as per applicable GST Act.

[Refer Circulars No.23/84-CX-6, dated 29-5-1984 and No. 330/46/97-CX dated 2081997and Instruction F.No. 268/35/92-CX-8, dated 17-8-1994]

17. Duty liability on DTA clearances/sales:

17.1 In terms of proviso to Section 3(1) of the Central Excise Act, 1944, duty payable on goods falling under Fourth schedule to the Central Excise Act’ 1944 cleared in DTA is equal to the aggregate of the Customs duties which would be leviable under the Customs Act, 1962 or under any other law for the time being in force, on like goods produced or manufactured outside India, if imported into India. The value for payment of duty (after granting applicable depreciation on capital goods) is arrived at in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act, as if these are imported goods. In case of clearance of goods under GST, DTA sale will be on payment of applicable GST alongwith reversal of Basic Customs Duty foregone on inputs used in finished goods (including by-products, rejects, waste and scraps arising in the course of production, manufacture, processing or packaging of such goods) and applicable cesses. An amount equal to anti dumping duty foregone on the goods at the time of import shall also be paid on the equivalent quantity of goods used for manufacture of any goods which are cleared into DTA or on such quantity of goods which are cleared as such into DTA.

17.2 On fulfillment of positive NFE, the EOUs other than Gem and Jewellery units can sell goods including rejects, waste, scrap, remnants, by-products and services in DTA. However, Gem and Jewellery units may sell upto 10% of FOB value of export of the preceding year in DTA, subject to fulfillment of positive NFE. The words “FOB value of exports” refers to physical exports only. Therefore, the value of deemed exports made by the unit is not considered while determining the FOB value of exports.

[Instruction vide F.No. 305/48/2000-FTT dated 07.04.2000]

17.3 Sales made to a unit in SEZ is also taken into account for purpose of arriving at FOB value of export by EOU provided payment for such sales are made from Foreign Exchange Account of SEZ unit. Sale to DTA would also be subject to mandatory requirement of registration of pharmaceutical products (including bulk drugs). An amount equal to Anti Dumping duty under section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 leviable at the time of import, shall be payable on the goods used for the purpose of manufacture or processing of the goods cleared into DTA from the unit.

17.4 For services, including software units, sale in DTA in any mode, including on line data communication, is also permissible up to 50% of FOB value of exports and/ or 50% of foreign exchange earned, where payment of such services is received in foreign exchange. However, sale in DTA in respect of services classified under Chapter Heading 9988 and 9989 under GST, but covered in LOP/para 9.31 of FTP as manufacturing of goods, will continue to be covered under para 6.08(a) of FTP. At the time of DTA clearance, applicable GST and compensation cess as per GST classification would apply.

[Refer Notification No. 10/2015-2020 dated 07.06.2018 of DGFT]

17.5 In case of new EOUs, advance DTA sale are allowed not exceeding 50% of its estimated exports for first year, except pharmaceutical units where this will be based on its estimated exports for first two years.

17.6 Supplies of specified items such as accessories like tags, labels, printed bags, stickers, belts, buttons or hangers produced or manufactured in an EOU are allowed on payment of GST to a unit in DTA for use in the manufacture or processing of goods which are exported and thereupon such supplies shall be counted towards fulfillment of positive NFE of EOU.

[Refer Circular No. 12/2008-Cus., dated 24-7-2008]

17.7 The concessional rate of duties for goods falling under Fourth Schedule to the Central Excise Act’ 1944 sold in DTA by an EOU are prescribed under Notification No. 23/2003 CE, dated 31-3-2003.

18. Goods manufactured from indigenous materials in EOUs:

18.1 Excisable goods manufactured out of wholly indigenous excisable inputs are allowed clearance into DTA on payment of only Central Excise duty.

[Refer Circular No. 12/2008-Cus., dated 24-7-2008]

18.1.1 The indigenous goods supplied to the EOUs/EPZ/SEZ/EHTP/STP units after availing the deemed export benefits are to be treated as ‘imported goods’ and accordingly, duty as applicable to the imported goods is liable to be paid. Once the goods are treated as imported goods and applicable Customs Duty is paid at the time of their transfer/sale back into DTA or exit, there is no requirement of refund of the deemed export benefits availed on such goods or for the production of a certificate from the Development Commissioner regarding refund or nonavailment of deemed export benefits at the time of clearance of such goods or exit.

18.1.2 Alternatively, the EOU/STP/EHTP units would also be allowed to clear the domestically procured goods or on exit, on payment of Excise Duty as per Notification No. 22/2003CE dated 31.03.2003 only on production of certificate from Development Commissioner to the effect that deemed export benefits have been paid back or not availed, as the case may be, as envisaged in Circular No.74/2001-Cus dated 04.12.2001.

[Refer Circular No.13/2017-Cus F. No. DGEP/FTP/07/2015(Part-I) Date:10.04.2017]

18.2 Where goods are either non-excisable or are leviable to nil rate of import duty, no exemption in respect of inputs utilized for manufacture of such goods is allowed. An EOU is required to pay back the duty foregone on the inputs used in manufacture of goods cleared in DTA on which no duty is leviable.

18.3 Proviso to sub-section (1) of section 5A of the Central Excise Act, 1944 states that unless specifically provided in a notification, no exemption therein shall apply to excisable goods which are produced or manufactured by an EOU and cleared to the DTA. Further, EOUs are eligible for duty free import or domestic procurement of their inputs or raw materials under Notification No. 22/2003-CE dated 31.3.2003 and Notification No. 52/2003- Customs dated 31.03.2003. However, as per a proviso [the second proviso to para 6 in case of Notification No. 22/2003-CE and first proviso to para 3 in case of Notification No. 52/2003- Customs], if the goods produced or manufactured by EOUs and cleared to DTA if imported are either non-excisable or leviable to Nil basic customs duty [BCD] and additional duty of customs [CVD], then EOUs cannot avail the exemptions under these notifications on inputs utilized in manufacture/processing/packaging etc. of such goods [cleared to DTA]. In addition, there are a number of customs and excise duty exemption notifications which prescribe concessional [including Nil] duty rates on specified goods [inputs/raw materials etc.] for use in manufacture of specified goods, subject to conditions prescribed. EOUs were not able to avail benefit of such exemptions on inputs imported or procured domestically by them.

The matter has been clarified vide Annexure III of D.O. F.No. 334/7/2017-TRU dated 12-2017 of JS(TRU-I). Non-applicability of exemptions under notifications issued under section 5A of the Central Excise Act, 1944 is only in respect of excisable goods produced or manufactured by an EOU and cleared to DTA and not in respect of inputs/raw materials procured by them domestically and utilised for production/manufacture of goods which are cleared by them to DTA. In view of the above, it has been clarified that EOUs will also be eligible to import or procure raw materials/inputs at other concessional/Nil rate of BCD, excise duty/CVD or SAD, as the the case may be, provided they fulfill all conditions for being eligible to such concessional or Nil duty. For these purposes, if an EOU is already registered with the jurisdictional Central Excise Authority, it will not be required to take any fresh registration under the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty for Manufacture of Excisable Goods) Rules, 2016 or the Central Excise (Removal of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty for Manufacture of Excisable and Other Goods) Rules, 2016, as the case may be. Further, there will be no need for an EOU to separately comply with the Central Excise (Removal of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty for Manufacture of Excisable Goods) Rules, 2016 for availing the CVD exemption, if the procedure under the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty for Manufacture of Excisable Goods) Rule, 2016 is followed by it for availing exemption / concession from BCD on imports of inputs/raw materials.

19. Clearance of by-products, rejects, waste, scrap, remnants, non-excisable goods, etc.:

19.1 Scrap/ waste/ remnants arising out of production process or in connection therewith are allowed to be sold in DTA, as per SION notified by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (under Duty Exemption Scheme), on payment of concessional duties/GST as applicable. Such sales of scrap/ waste/ remnants shall not be subject to achievement of positive NFE. In respect of items not covered by SION norms, Development Commissioner may fix ad-hoc norms for a period of six months and within this period, norm should be fixed by Norms Committee and ad-hoc norms will continue till such time. Sale of waste/ scrap/ remnants by units not entitled to DTA sale, or sales beyond DTA sale entitlement, shall be on payment of full duties. Scrap/ waste/ remnants may also be exported. However, no duties/ taxes on scrap/ waste/ remnants are charged, in case same are destroyed with permission of Central Excise & Customs authorities.

19.2 The DTA clearance of by-products and rejects is not allowed to the EOUs, which have failed to achieve the positive NFE.

19.3 DTA clearance of goods manufactured by the EOUs which are not excisable the duty on inputs and consumables etc. procured/ imported duty free under exemption notifications, which have gone into production of such non- excisable goods cleared into DTA, is recovered, besides payment of GST.

19.4 In case of Gems and Jewellery EOUs and EHTP/STP units, scrap, dust or sweepings of gold/ silver/ platinum generated in the unit is allowed to be forwarded to the Government Mint or Private Mint for conversion into standard gold bars and return thereof to the unit subject to the observance of procedure laid down by the Commissioner of Central Excise & Customs. The said dust, scrap or sweepings are also allowed clearance into DTA on payment of applicable customs duty on the gold/ silver/ platinum content in the said scrap, dust or sweepings. Samples of the sweepings/ dust are taken at the time of clearance and sent to mint for assaying. The assessment is finalized when the reports are received from the mint.

[Refer Circular No.19/99-Cus, dated 29-4-1999]

19.5 The rate of duties for excisable by-products, rejects, waste etc, cleared in DTA by an EOU are prescribed under Notification No. 23/2003-CE, dated 31-3-2003.

20. Special concessions for certain waste products and other goods:

20.1 Gems and Jewellery units may sell jewellery upto 10% of FOB value of exports of the preceding year in DTA, subject to fulfilment of positive NFE. In respect of sale of plain jewellery, studded jewellery, EOU shall pay duty and taxes as applicable to sale from nominated agencies.

21. Reimbursement of Central Sales Tax (CST) / Drawback:

21.1 Supplies from DTA to EOUs are regarded as “deemed exports” and considered for discharge of any export obligation on the supplier. For such supplies, the DTA supplier (or the EOU if the DTA supplier gives a disclaimer) is eligible for the following benefits:

(i) Supply of goods against Advance Authorisation/ Advance Authorisation for annual requirement / DFIA;

(ii) Deemed Export Drawback;

(iii) Exemption from terminal excise duty where supplies are made against ICB. In other cases, refund of terminal excise duty.

21.2 Goods manufactured in India and supplied to EOU are eligible for reimbursement of CST.

21.3 All the above benefits are administered and disbursed by the Development Commissioner/ Regional Authority of DGFT under the Ministry of Commerce.

22. Clearance of samples:

22.1 EOUs may on basis of records maintained by them, and on prior intimation to jurisdictional Central Excise and Customs authority:

(i)  Supply or sell samples in DTA for display/ market promotion on payment of applicable duties/taxes.

(ii) Remove samples without payment Central Excise of duty, on furnishing a suitable undertaking to jurisdictional Central Excise and Customs authorities for bringing back samples within a stipulated period.

(iii) Export free samples, without any limit, including samples made in wax moulds, silver mould and rubber moulds through all permissible mode of export including through courier agencies/ post. For statutory requirement of Stability & Retention sample with manufacturer, an EOU may re-import without payment of duty, those samples, which were exported by it, under intimation to Custom Authorities, and FOB value of such samples shall not be counted for NFE purpose and other export benefits, if any.

(iv) Send samples to other EOUs for display on returnable basis within a period of 30 days.

22.2 EOUs are allowed to send samples abroad through the courier. The packages containing such samples are sealed in the presence of the departmental officer and are handed over to the representative of the courier company authorised by the Commissioner of Central Excise & Customs for presentation to the Customs at the port of export. These sealed samples are not normally examined again before “let export” is given if the seals are found intact and not tampered. The representative of the courier company later hands over the proof of export to the jurisdictional Assistant/ Deputy Commissioner. [Refer Circulars No.22/98-Cus dated 27-3-1998; and No.52/99-Cus, dated 20-8-1999]

23. Clearance of Fax/ Laptop Computers outside approved premises:

23.1 EOUs may:

(i) Install one fax machine at a place of choice, outside the premises of unit, subject to intimation of its location to concerned Customs Central Excise authorities.

(ii) Temporarily take out of premises of unit, duty free laptop computers and video projection systems for working upon by authorized employees.

(iii) Install personal computers not exceeding two in number, imported/ procured duty free in their registered / administrative office subject to CBEC guidelines.

(iv) For IT and IT enabled services, persons authorized by software units may access facility installed in EOU/EHTP/STP/BTP unit through communication links.

24. Sale of surplus/ unutilized goods:

24.1 EOUs are allowed to sell surplus/unutilized goods and services, imported or procured duty free, into DTA on payment of duty but for exemption, in case the unit is unable, for valid reasons, to utilize the goods. The permission for such DTA sale is given by the jurisdictional Assistant / Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs.

24.2 Unutilized goods and services may also be transferred to another EOU/EHTP/STP/BTP/ SEZ unit or exported. Such transfer to another such unit would be treated as import for receiving unit.

24.3 The inter unit transfer would be on invoice on payment of applicable GST taxes. However, such transfer would be without payment of custom duty. The supplier unit will endorse on such documents the amount of custom duty, availed as exemption, if any, on the goods intended to be transferred. The recipient unit would be responsible for paying such basic customs duty, as is obligated under Notification no. 52/2003-Cus dated 31-3-2003 (as amended), when the finished goods made out of such goods or such goods are cleared in DTA.

[Refer Circular no.29/2017-Customs dated 17.7.2017]

24.4 Obsolete/ surplus capital goods and spares can either be exported, transferred to another EOU/EHTP/STP/BTP/SEZ unit or disposed of in the DTA on payment of applicable duties. The benefit of depreciation, as applicable, will be available in case of disposal in DTA only when the unit has achieved positive NFE. Duty is not charged in case of obsolete/ surplus capital goods, consumables, spares, goods manufactured, processed or packaged and scrap, waste, remnants are destroyed within the unit after intimation to Central Excise & Customs authorities or destroyed outside unit with the permission of Central Excise & Customs authorities.

25. Destruction of flowers/ horticulture products:

25.1 Flowers, vegetables and agricultural products have a very short shelf life and are prone to malformation, injury, damage, infection etc. These products cannot be preserved for a longer period. There are circumstances (especially in case of floriculture units) when the EOUs do not find the goods exportable/marketable for various reasons such as malformation, injury, damage, infection by pest and diseases etc. and the units have to resort to forced destruction of flowers, vegetables etc. In such cases, duty is not charged from the EOUs.

25.2 At times, the flowers and floriculture products deposited in the warehouse of the airlines at the international airports for the purpose of exports are not exported owing to various reasons, such as, delay in flights, cancellation of flights etc. In such cases, the units are allowed to sell such flowers and floriculture products in DTA on payment of applicable duty/taxes. For such DTA sales, the unit must have DTA sale entitlement under the scheme. The unit is required to obtain permission from the concerned Development Commissioner for such DTA sale and shall clear the goods on payment of duty assessed by the concerned Assistant Commissioner / Deputy Commissioner in charge of the cargo. The DTA sale is allowed against documents as are used for DTA sale by EOUs in the manner as if the goods cleared from the unit itself.

[Refer Circular No.31/2001-Cus., dated 24-5-2001]

26. Sub-contracting:

26.1 EOUs, including Gems and Jewellery units, are allowed to sub-contract their production process to DTA. These units may also sub-contract upto 50% of the overall production of previous year in value terms for job work in DTA. For this, permission is to be obtained from the jurisdictional Customs authorities. Sub-contracting of both production and production process are also allowed to be undertaken through another EOU or SEZ unit on the basis of records maintained by the unit. The units are also allowed to sub-contract part of the production process abroad and also export therefrom with the permission of Assistant/ Deputy Commissioner of Customs/ Central Excise having jurisdiction over the unit. The intermediate goods so removed to sub- contractor abroad shall be allowed to be cleared under export documents

[Refer Circular No. 12/2008-Cus., dated 24-7-2008]

26.2 To help utilize the idle capacity, an EOU can undertake job work for export, on behalf of DTA exporter, provided the goods are exported directly from EOU’s premises and export documents are prepared jointly in the name of DTA/EOU. For such exports, the DTA unit is entitled for refund of duty paid on the inputs by way of Brand rate of duty Drawback.

26.3 Sub-contracting by EOU Gems and Jewellery units through other EOUs, or SEZ units, or units in DTA shall be subject to following conditions:-

(i) Goods, finished or semi finished, including studded jewellery, taken out for sub- contracting shall be brought back to the EOU within 90 days.

(ii) No cut and polished diamonds, precious and semiprecious stones (except precious, semi­precious and synthetic stones having zero duty) shall be allowed to be taken out for sub­contracting.

(iii) Receive plain gold/ silver/ platinum jewellery from DTA/ EOU/ SEZ units in exchange of equivalent quantity of gold/ silver/ platinum, as the case may be, contained in said jewellery.

(iv) EOUs shall be eligible for wastage as applicable as per para 4.60 of HBP for subcontracting and against exchange.

(v) DTA unit undertaking job work or supplying jewellery against exchange of gold/ silver/ platinum shall not be entitled to deemed export benefits.

[Refer Circulars No. 65/2002-Cus. dated 7-10-2002 and No. 26/2003-Cus dated 1-4-2003]

27. Temporary removal of goods:

27.1 The EOUs, STP, EHTP units engaged in development of software are allowed to remove imported laptop computers and video projection system out of the premises temporarily without payment of duty subject to following the prescribed procedures.

[Refer Circulars No.17/98-Cus dated 16-3-1998. No.84/2000-Cus., dated 16-10-2000 and No. 17/2003-Cus.dated 24-3-2003]

28. Inter-unit transfer:

28.1 Inter-unit transfer of manufactured and capital goods from one EOU unit to another EOU/SEZ unit is permitted in terms of Para 6.13 of the FTP. Sale of unutilized goods is also allowed from one EOU to another EOU/SEZ unit in terms of Para 6.15 of FTP. Interunit transfer of the raw material is not allowed in normal course. However, where a unit proves that it is not able to utilize the raw material, same can also be allowed to be transferred.

28.2 Inter-unit transfer is allowed without payment of duty. Goods supplied by one unit to another unit are treated as imported goods for the receiving unit in terms of Para 6.13(c) of the FTP. Further the value of goods obtained from another EOU is to be included in the import value for fulfilment of NFE in terms of Para 6.10of the HBP. Further, such supplies are also counted towards FE earning provided these are permissible in terms of Para 6.15 of the HBP. However the applicable GST shall be payable.

28.3 In respect of a group of EOUs / EHTPs / STPs / BTP Units which source inputs centrally in order to obtain bulk discount and / or reduce cost of transportation and other logistics cost and / or to maintain effective supply chain, inter unit transfer of goods and services may be permitted on a case-to-case basis by the Unit Approval Committee. In case inputs so sourced are imported and then transferred to another unit, then value of the goods so transferred shall be taken as inflow for the unit transferring these goods and as outflow for the unit receiving these goods, for the purpose of calculation of NFE.

28.4 Capital goods and goods manufactured, produced, processed, or packaged in an EOU can be taken to another EOU/ SEZ unit without payment of duty under the cover of the usual commercial documents, such as, invoice & delivery challan for manufacture and export there from or for use within the unit after giving intimation to the proper officer. Both the units have to keep account of such removal and receipt Upon receipt of goods, copies of documents shall be provided to the jurisdictional office of the sending and receiving unit by way of intimation. However the applicable GST shall be payable.

29. Repair, reconditioning and re-engineering:

29.1 EOU/EHTP/STP/BTP units may be set up with approval of BOA to carry out reconditioning, repair, remaking, testing, calibration, quality improvement, up- gradation of technology and re-engineering activities for export in foreign currency. Provisions of paras 6.8, 6.9, 6.10, 6.13, 6.14 of the FTP and para 6.28 of the HBP shall not, however, apply to such activities. In other words the unit undertaking these activities are not permitted sale in DTA and some other benefits.

30. Replacement/repair of imported /indigenous goods:

30.1 EOUs may send capital goods abroad for repair with permission of Customs authorities. Any foreign exchange payment for this purpose will also be allowed. However, no permission will be required for sending capital goods for repair within the country.

30.2 Removal of capital goods by all units irrespective of status within the country for the purpose of test, repair, calibration and refining on the basis of prior intimation to the proper officer subject to maintenance of proper accounts of removal and receipts of goods is also allowed.

[Refer Circular No. 17/2006-Cus, dated 1-6-2006]

31. Special provisions relating to Gems and Jewellery EOUs:

31.1 The EOUs in Gems and Jewellery sector are allowed certain special facilities as mentioned below, with prior permission of Assistant/ Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs.

(i) An authorized person of the EOU can import gold in primary form, upto 10 Kgs in a financial year through personal carriage, as per guidelines prescribed by RBI and DOR;

(ii) The items of gems and jewellery to be taken out temporarily into DTA without payment of duty for the purpose of display and to be returned thereafter;

(iii) Personal carriage of gold/ silver/ platinum jewellery, cut & polished diamonds, semi-precious stones, beads and articles as samples upto US$ 1 million for export promotion tours and temporary display/ sale abroad with the approval of development Commissioner subject to the condition that the exporter would bring back the goods or repatriate sale proceeds within 45 days from the date of departure through normal banking channel and that the unit shall declare personal carriage of such samples to Customs while leaving country and obtain necessary endorsement;

(iv) Export of jewellery including branded jewellery for display and sale in the permitted shops setup abroad, or in the showroom of their distributors or agents provided that items not sold abroad within 180 days, shall be re- imported within next 45 days;

(v) Gems and jewellery manufactured in the EOUs situated in the municipal limits of Calcutta, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai and sold to a foreign-bound passenger are allowed to be transferred to the retail outlets or showrooms set up in the departure lounge or Customs warehouse at international airports for being handed over to the said passenger for the purpose of export.

(vi) Removal of moulds, tools, patterns, and drawings into the DTA for jobwork without payment of duty and to be returned to the unit thereafter.

32. Cost Recovery charges:

32.1 Cost recovery charges are the amount recoverable from the EOU on account of the expenses incurred by the Government for the posting of Central Excise & Customs staff at its premises to supervise their operations. The cost of posts created for EOUs has been determined at an amount equivalent to the actual salary and emoluments of the staff deployed i.e. the average pay and allowances including D.A., H.R.A etc. The EOUs pay in advance the cost recovery charges determined for the entire year. Generally, one Central Excise and Customs officer supervises the functioning of four to five units and the cost recovery charges are shared amongst them.

[Refer Instructions F.No.305/105/85-FTT, dated 10-6-1986 and F. No. 11018/63/87-Ad IV, dated 11-1-1988]

33. Supervision by Departmental officers:

33.1 In terms of the Manufacture and Other Operations in Warehouse Regulations,1966 operational flexibility is provided to EOUs and they do not need to carry out manufacturing operations under physical supervision of Central Excise and Customs officers and are also exempt from locking of the warehouse, control over the issue of imported goods etc. by these officers. All the movements from and to the EOU like clearance of raw materials/ component to the job workers premises, return of goods from the job-workers’ premises, clearance to other EOUs, export and sale in DTA are allowed to be made by the EOU subject to maintenance of the records.

33.2 In absence of physical control greater stress is given on proper maintenance of prescribed records & accounts and non-maintenance of the accounts by the units is viewed seriously. The officers incharge of EOUs are required to scrutinize/examine the accounts/ records and transactions of the EOU at least once a month and ensure that all movements of goods are recorded in the proper register. The Chief Commissioner is empowered to order special audit of the EOU by Cost Accountant nominated in this regard. Cost audit is employed as a tool to check the correctness of raw materials, quantity used, finished goods produced or other such situation. [Refer Circular No.88/98-Cus, dated 2-12-1998]

34. Monitoring of EOUs:

34.1 In terms of 6 F of Appendices and ANFs, the performance of EOUs is to be reviewed by the Unit Approval Committee (UAC) of the SEZ headed by the Development Commissioner which consists of Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs or his nominee as one of the members. The purpose of review is to ensure that the performance of EOUs is effectively monitored and action is taken against the units which have contravened the provisions of the FTP/HBP and the Customs Law/ Procedures. Besides, such monitoring gives an opportunity to the Government to discuss and help resolve the problems/ difficulties being faced by the EOUs. The idea is to remove all bottlenecks in export promotion efforts while not jeopardizing the interests of revenue.

34.2 In terms of Appendix- 6E, EOUs are required to submit to concerned Development Commissioner quarterly performance report [QPR] for the period ending March/June/September and December every year within 30 days of close of quarter, and annual performance report [APR] within 90 days of close of financial year failing which further imports and DTA sale are not permitted. Appendix – 6E was amended by DGFT vide Public Notice no. 36/2015-2020 dated 04.09.2018 requiring EOUs to submit a copy of QPR/APR to Jurisdictional AC/DC of Customs/Central Excise.

35. Recovery of duty forgone and penal action for abuse/diversion etc.:

35.1 EOUs are required to achieve positive NFE as stipulated in the FTP and in case of failure to do so, the duty forgone under the EOU scheme along with interest is recoverable from the units. Further, the duty is recoverable from the units in case of non receipt of imported/ indigenously procured goods in the factory premises after import/ procurement, loss of goods in transit, non accountal of imported/ indigenously procured goods, unauthorized DTA sale, clandestine removal etc. Duty can also be demanded in case of failure to utilize duty free imported/ indigenously procured goods including capital goods within the prescribed time limit. The duty is also recoverable on goods removed for job work/ display/ testing/ quality testing, but not received back in the unit within the specified period of time.

35.2 Apart from recovery of duty forgone, the law also provides for taking penal action where any EOU is found to have indulged into any fraudulent activities e.g. clandestine removal of production into DTA without payment of duties, diversion of duty free materials in transit to the unit after customs clearance or after receipt etc., not only the offending goods can be seized and confiscated, but even units penalized heavily/ prosecuted.

36. De-bonding of goods/ exit from EOU scheme:

36.1 An EOU can clear any capital goods to any other place in India or de-bond in accordance with FTP with the permission of the Development Commissioner and on payment of duty, taxes and cess but for exemption on the depreciated value.

36.2 Clearance or deboning of capital goods are allowed on payment of duty but for exemption on the depreciated value thereof, if the unit has fulfilled the positive NFE criteria taking into consideration the depreciation allowable on the capital goods at the time of clearance or deboning. In case of failure to achieve the said positive NFE, the depreciation shall be allowed on the value of capital goods in the same proportion as the achieved portion of NFE.

36.3 Clearance/ deboning of capital goods on the depreciated value proportionate to the NFE achieved by the unit which is arrived at after taking into consideration the rate of depreciation allowable on such capital goods is allowed. In case the unit has not achieved positive NFE in the above manner, the duty foregone at the time of import shall be paid on such value of goods in proportion to the non-achieved portion of NFE.

36.4 Clearance or de-bonding of capital goods in the event of Exit from EOU scheme to Export Promotion Capital Goods scheme is also allowed only when EOU has fulfilled positive NFE criteria on the date it wishes to de-bond or migrate to EPCG scheme. Thus, if a unit has not achieved NFE taking into consideration rate of depreciation allowable, it cannot exit to the EPCG scheme.

36.5 A unit is also allowed clearance or de-bonding of capital goods in the event of Exit to Advance Authorization scheme as a one time option provided the unit has fulfilled NFE criteria. Thus, if a unit has not achieved positive NFE taking into consideration rate of depreciation allowable on capital goods, it cannot exit to the Advance Authorization scheme.

[Refer Circular No. 12/2008-Cus., dated 24-7-2008]

36.6 The depreciation of computers and capital goods shall be allowed in straight line method as specified below:

(i) For computer and computer peripherals:

For every quarter in the first year @ 10%

For every quarter in the second year@ 8%

For every quarter in the third year@ 5%

For every quarter in the fourth and fifth year@ 1%.

(ii) For capital goods other than computer and computer peripherals:

For every quarter in the first year@ 4%

For every quarter in the second year@ 3%

For every quarter in the third year@ 3%

For every quarter in the fourth and fifth year@ 2.5 %

and thereafter for every quarter@ 2%

36.7 For the purpose of computing rate of depreciation for any part of a quarter, a full such quarter is taken into account. There is no upper limit for such depreciation and depreciation upto 100% could be allowed.

36.8 Raw materials, semi-finished and finished goods including empty cones, containers suitable of repeated use lying in stock at the time of de-bonding can also be cleared on payment of duty but for exemption

36.9 Used packing materials such as cardboard boxes, polyethylene bags of a kind unsuitable for repeated use can be cleared without payment of duty.

36.10 As per para 6.18(e) of FTP and 6K of Appendices and ANFs, an EOU can opt out of the scheme after taking approval of the Development Commissioner. Such exit is permitted subject to payment of the duties and the industrial policy in force at the time of exit. The Development Commissioner first gives permission for “in principle” de–bonding then unit is required to pay all pending Customs/ Central Excise duties to obtain no-dues certificate from Central Excise & Customs authorities. Thereafter the Development Commissioner permits final de-bonding.

36.11 If the unit has not achieved the export obligation, it is also liable to pay penalty under Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act at the time of exit.

36.12 After obtaining in principle de-bonding order, the unit is required to assess the duty liability by itself and submit such details to jurisdictional Customs/ Central Excise authority. The Assistant/ Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs is required to confirm the duty liability within 15 days of the receipt of the details of assessment from the unit and issue ‘No dues Certificate’ to the unit. In case of any discrepancy, it has to be conveyed to the unit within 15 days.

[Circular No. 07/2006-Customs dated 13.01.2006]

Source – Custom Duty Manual 2023

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