The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Public Notice No. 19/2024-2025-DGFT, dated August 29, 2024, announcing amendments to Appendix-4J of the Handbook of Procedures 2023. This update modifies the export obligation periods for various import items with pre-import conditions. Key changes include a six-month period for spices, tea, coconut oil, raw sugar, and natural rubber; twelve months for certain drugs, silk, and penicillin; and an eighteen-month period for fabrics under the Special Advance Authorization Scheme. These revisions aim to simplify and rationalize the export obligations based on stakeholder feedback, improving ease of business.
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi
Public Notice No. 19/2024-2025-DGFT | Dated: 29th August, 2024
Subject: Amendments in Appendix-4J of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.
F. No. 01/94/180/075/AM24/PC-4.—In exercise of powers conferred under Paragraph 1.03 and 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, as amended from time to time, the Director General of Foreign Trade hereby makes the following amendment in Appendix-4J of the Handbook of Procedures 2023:
1 In the Appendix-4J table, the existing entries are amended to be read as under:
| Serial No. | Import Item(s) | Export Obligation Period with pre-import condition from the date of clearance of each import consignment by Customs Authority |
| 1 | Spice
(a) Pepper; cardamom and chilies for Value Addition purpose like crushing / grinding / sterilisation or for manufacture of oils and oleoresins and not for simple cleaning, grading, repacking etc. |
6 Months |
| (b) Spices other than pepper, cardamom and chilies for manufacture of Spice oils, Oleoresin | 12 Months | |
| (a) Other than (a) & (b) above | 6 Months | |
| 2 | Drugs imported from unregistered source (with a specific export order and pre-import condition) | 12 Months |
| 3 | Tea | 6 Months |
| 4 | Coconut Oil | 6 Months |
| 5 | Silk in any form | 12 Months |
| 6 | Raw Sugar | 6 Months |
| 7 | Precious Metal Gold/Silver/Platinum (Pertains to Gem and Jewellery Sector) | 4 Months |
| 8 | Penicillin and its salts [ITC (HS) Code No. 29411010, if imported from unregistered source | 12 Months |
| 9 | Natural Rubber | 6 Months |
| 10 | Import items as allowed under notified SION/prior fixation of norms by NC for export of all items covered under Chapter 7 and Chapter 15 of ITC(HS) Classification. | 6 Months * |
| 11 | Fabrics including interlining under Special Advance Authorization Scheme for export of Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories (Para 4.04A of FTP 2023) | 18 Months from the date of issue of Authorisation (not from the date of import) and further extension as allowed in Para 4.40(a), (b), (c) and (e) of HBP) |
| 12. | Maize (ITC HS Code 1005) | 3 Months |
| 13. | Walnut in any form | 6 Months |
| 14. | Wheat | 6 Months |
(* Shea Nut, Shea Butter, Palm Mid Fraction, ILLIPE Kernel, and Wool Grease are excluded from this table altogether.)
Effect of the Public Notice: The Export Obligation Period with pre-import condition from the date of clearance of each import consignment by Customs Authority in some of the existing entries under Appendix-4J has been rationalised after stakeholder consultations, for ease of doing business.
(Santosh Kumar Sarangi)
Director General of Foreign Trade
Ex-officio Addl. Secretary to the Government of India
e-mail: [email protected]
(Issued from File No. 01/94/180/075/AM24/PC-4)
