Other Simplifications

Inter-face with DGFT has been reduced considerably as can be seen from the following measures: The export obligation period under Advance Licence has been enhanced from 12 months to 18 months and similarly the validity of the Advance Licence has been enhanced from 12 months to 18 months. Hence the exporter gets more time for export and import automatically without coming to DGFT for extension.

In case the exporter is not able to complete exports even in this enhanced period, provision has been made for extension of export obligation period by Regional Licensing Authority to the extent of 6 months on payment of penalty@ 1% of unfulfilled export obligation value. This will also provide an incentive to the exporter to complete export obligation within the original period of 18 months. Jigs, Tools, Fixtures, Moulds, Tackles, Computer Hardwares and Instruments imported for the purpose of jobbing under DES can now be retained on payment of Customs Duty without the permission of Advance Licensing Committee if the item imported is not in the Negative List of Imports.

The value limit for Advance Licence under production programme basis has been enhanced from 25% of average FOB value of his exports to 100% of average FOB value of his exports so that the exporter could obtain Advance Licence in one go for his requirement and does not have to come to Regional Licence Authority time and again.

The financial powers of Regional Licensing Authority for issuance of licence where input-output norms have already been fixed and for issue of EPCG licences has been enhanced so that the parties could get the facility at the nearest point. Exporters of Gem & Jewellery earlier had to complete the exports within 90 days in outright purchase basis or Replenishment Scheme or within 60 days under Loan Scheme and his period could be further extended by 30 days.

The time period under all these categories has been enhanced by 30 days straight away without any provision of further extension so that the exporter does not have to come to DGFT for getting extension. Counter-Assistance System in the Headquarters DGFT and all the Regional Licensing Offices will be further strengthened and Head of the Office will be personally responsible for streamlining the Counter-Assistance System inrespect of every scheme under EXIM Policy so that delays do not occur in processing applications under the various EXIM Policy Schemes.

Wherever exporters cannot file their claims for incentives under EXIM Policy because of genuine reasons, a facility has been provided to consider such applications which have been submitted late but not later than six months of the specified last date, by applying a cut of 10% on their entitlement. This will do away with the need to request for relaxation of the Policy and Procedures for accepting late applications.

Every attempt has been made to clearly specify the operational requirements under various schemes to avoid the need for seeking clarifications. Need to submit a large number of documents with every application has been reviewed and the minimum number of documents prescribed. Besides, the repetitive nature of information sought in every application has been dispensed with and application forms have been greatly streamlined and rationalised to elicit only the barest essential information required for giving exporters the benefit of EXIM Policy Schemes.