Customs Circular No. 24 dated 6^th May 2002

Exim Policy for the year 2002-2007 as been announced on 31.3.2002 by Hon�ble Commerce and Industry Minister. Changes have been carried out in the subject schemes on the demand of trade and in order to remove certain procedural bottlenecks being faced by the trade. Details of changes effected in each scheme are as follows:

2.1 Advance License Scheme

Advance License scheme is contained in chapter � 4 and paras 4.1 & 4.1.1 to 4.1.14 of the Exim Policy. In terms of para 4.1.1 of the Exim policy advance licence can be issued for permitting duty free import of inputs to the utilized in the export products after making normal allowance for wastage. The Scheme also permits duty free import of fuel, oil, energy, catalyst etc. which are consumed during the manufacturing process. Duty Free Imports of mandatory spares upto 10% of the CIF Value of licence is also permitted as earlier. Advance licence can be issued for physical export, intermediate supplies and deemed exports. Annual Advance Licence Scheme has however, been discontinued. Both Advance License and the materials imported against it are subject to actual user condition even after fulfillment of export obligation. One departure made in the new Advance Licence Scheme is to abolish DEEC Book. Advance License issued under the new Scheme on pre-export basis (i.e. to say where import takes place before, fulfillment of export obligation) would inter-alia contain description, value and quantity of materials permitted against it and value and quantity of export obligation to be fulfilled; advance license issued on post-export basis (i.e. to say after fulfillment of export obligation) would in addition also contain details of exports made against the licence. In respect of Advance Licences issued on post-export basis, in doubtful cases, or where investigations have been launched by Customs or other Agencies, Customs may require. DGFT authorities to cause verification of the details of exports having actually taken place. E.O. Discharge Certificate by DGFT authorities would be issued on the basis of export documents and bank realization certificate in terms of Para 4.25 of the Handbook of Procedure, Vol. 1. Redemption of Bond/ BG filed against Advance Licence with the Customs would normally be allowed on the basis EO Discharge Certificate issued by the DGFT authorities. However, in doubtful cases, or where investigations have been launched by Customs or other Agencies, Customs may require DGFT authorities to cause further verification.

Other procedural requirements of the Advance Licence Scheme outlined in earlier Circulars issued from time to time shall continue to be followed with the above modifications.

Customs Notification Nos.43/2002-Cus, Dated 19.4.2002 & 47/2002 � Customs dated 22.4.2002 have been issued to operationalise this Scheme.

2.2 DFRC Scheme

DFRC Scheme was first announced in Exim Policy 2000 � 2001 with effect from 1.4.2000 DFRC Scheme has been continued in Exim Policy 2002 � 2007 with some minor changes. The earlier DFRC Scheme announced in 2000 � 01 Exim Policy required that for the purpose of allowing DFRC benefits benefit to import inputs used in the resultant export product, the quality, technical characteristics and specifications of the inputs under import should be the same as those used in the resultant export product. For this purpose the quality, technical characteristics and specifications of each input used in the resultant export product were required to be specified on the shipping bill and at the time of import customs was required to co-relate it with the input under import so as to allow DFRC benefit to those inputs which were of the same quality, technical characteristic and specifications. Under the new DFRC Scheme such co-relation of quality, technical characteristic and specifications has been done away except in the case of items were which are listed in para 4.31 of the Handbook of procedure Vol. 1 as amended by DGFT/ Notice No. 4/2002-2007 dated the 1.4.2002. In respect of such items customs shall continue to ascertain the quality, technical characteristics and specifications of the inputs under import with reference to the quality, technical characteristics and specification of the inputs used in the export product as declared on the shipping bill. Quantity of each input shall be permitted in the DFRC licence in terms of SION for the relevant export product as earlier. Licence issued under DFRC scheme are freely transferable as earlier.

Other procedural requirement of DFRC Scheme as specified in DOR�s earlier Circular Nos. 33/2000-Cus. dated 2.5.2000, 42/2000-Cus, dated 2.5.2000 and 59/2000-Cus, dated 11.5.2000 shall continue to be followed with the aforesaid modifications.

Customs Notification No. 46/2002-Cus, dated 22.4.2002 has been issued to operationalise this Scheme.

2.3 DEPB Scheme

DEPB Scheme has been continued in the Exim Policy 2002 - 2007 for some more time. Under the new DEPB Scheme, DEPB scrips would be issued only on post-export basis (i.e. to say on completion of exports) as pre/ export DEPB Scheme has already been discontinued. The provisions of DEPB Scheme are contained in Para 4.3 and 4.3.1 to 4.3.5 of the Exim Policy. One significant change in the new DEPB Scheme is that in terms of Para 4.3.5 of the Exim Policy even excise duty paid in cash on inputs used in the manufacture of export product shall be eligible for brand rate of drawback as per rules framed by Department of Revenue, which the earlier DEPB Scheme did not permit. Since the exemption from SAD is now incorporated in DEPB Customs Notification itself, henceforth the element of SAD shall also be debited in the DEPB scrip.

The Schedule of DEPB rates are contained in a separate book issued vide DGFT Public Notice No. 2/2002-07 dated 31.03.2002. In the preamble of the said Schedule general instructions for DEPB rates are specified in Sr. No. 1 of the said general instructions specify that DEPB benefit shall not be applicable if the exports have taken place in terms of any sub-serials nos. of said Sr. No. 1 General Instructions contained in Sr. Nos. 2 to 12 should also be carefully gone through before processing/ permitting any export under DEPB Scheme. DEPB Scrips are freely transferable as earlier.

Other procedural requirements of DEPB Scheme, as outlines in DOR Circular No. 10/97-Cus. dated 17.4.97 and subsequent DOR Circulars issued from time to time under DEPB Scheme shall continue to be followed with the above modifications.

Verification of DEPB Scrips shall continue to be done by Customs. However, in doubtful cases, or where investigations have been launched by Customs or other Agencies, Customs may require DGFT to take suitable corrective action.

Customs Notification No. 45/2002-Cus, dated 22.4.2002 has been issued to operationalise this Scheme.

2.4 EPCG Scheme

EPCG Scheme is contained in Chapter 5 of the Exim Policy 2002 � 2007. 5% of Duty EPCG Scheme, which was hitherto in operation, has been continued with some changes. Whereas the normal EO period of EPCG Licence is value not exceeding Rs. 100 crores has been maintained at 8 years, in respect of licenses of value Rs. 100 crores or more, a longer EO period of 12 years has been prescribed. The four blocks in respect of such EPCG Licence would comprise of

The new EPCG Scheme also permits granting extension of block-wise EO period more that once during the total EO period by competent authority. In addition, in respect of EPCG License having total EO period of 8 years, the Scheme also permits extension of overall EO period up to a total period of 2 year by competent authority. The provision regarding recovery of differential duty and interest in the event of non-fulfillment of block-wise EO period for 2 consecutive blocks has been done away with Para 5.5 of the Exim Policy also permits fulfillment or export obligation under EPCG Scheme by Export of goods capable of being manufactured from the capital goods imported under EPCG Scheme. Similarly, export obligation under the Scheme is also allowed to be fulfilled by export of same goods (for which EPCG Licence is obtained), manufactured or produced in different manufacturing units of license holder.

It is reiterated that redemption of Bond/ BG against license (with Customs) issued under EPCG Scheme should normally be allowed on the basis of EO Discharge Certificate issued by DGFT authorities. However in doubtful cases or where investigations have been launched by Customs or other Agencies, Customs may require DGFT to take suitable corrective action.

Other procedural requirements of EPCG Schemes as outlines in DOR Circular Nos. 39/2000-Cus, dated 11.05.2000, 80/2000-Cus, dated 22.09.2000 and earlier DOR Circulars shall continue to be followed with the aforesaid modifications,

Customs Notification Nos. 44/2002-Cus, dated 19.04.2002 has been issued to operationalise this Scheme.

3.     Corresponding trade notice and standing orders may be issued for guidance of staff and trade.

4.     Receipt of this Circular may please be acknowledged.