Public Notice No. 37 dated 9^th October 2000

In exercise of powers conferred under paragraph 4.11 of the Export and Import Policy 1997-2002, as notified in the Gazette of India extraordinary, Part-II- Section 3 - Sub-section (ii) vide S.O. No. 283(E) dated 31/ 3/ 97, the Director General of Foreign Trade hereby makes the following amendment in Handbook (Vol. 1), (RE-00), 1997-2002.

1.      The second sub-paragraph of paragraph 9.1 shall be amended to read as under:

Export Processing Zones can also be set up by State Governments or in private/ joint sector as per guidelines issued vide Notification No: 42 (RE)/ 92-97 dated 31st May, 1994 (Appendix 16-G). Guidelines on setting up of Special Economic Zones in the public/ private/ joint/ state sector is given in Appendix 16-I.

2.      The following shall be added as paragraph 9.2 (d):

For setting up a unit in a SEZ, 5 copies of the application in the form given in Appendix 16-J may be submitted to the Development Commissioner (DC) of the SEX concerned.

3.      The paragraph 9.5 shall be amended to read as under:

Letter of permission (LOP)/ Letter of intent (LOI) issued to EOU/ EPZ/ EHTP/ STP units by the concerned authority would be construed as a licence for all purposes, including for procurement of raw materials and consumables either directly or through canalizing agency. Standard format for LOP/ LOI for EOU/ EPZ units is given in Appendix 16-D and for Trading/ Service units in Appendix 16-DD. Standard format for LOP/ LOI for SEZ units is given in Appendix 16-K.

4.      The paragraph 9.6 shall be amended to read as under:

The LOP/ LOI shall specify the items of manufacture/ service activity, annual capacity, projected annual export performance (EP) for the first five years in dollar terms, Net Foreign Exchange Earnings as a Percentage of Exports (NFEP), limitations, if any, regarding sale of finished goods, by-products and rejects in the DTA and such other matter as may be necessary and also impose such conditions as may be required. In case of any change in approved activity of undertaking any new activity by SEZ units, the Development Commissioner shall issue amended LOP within six days on receiving intimation from the unit.

5.      The paragraph 9.10 (d) shall be amended to read as under:

The goods, except capital goods and spares shall be utilised by EOU/ EPZ units as per Policy within a period of two years or as may be extended by Customs authority. For items covered by chapter 8 of the Policy, the provisions of that chapter shall apply to such units.

However, in case of SEZ units, the goods shall be utilised within the approval period of 5 years.

6.      The following shall be added as paragraph 9.20 (c):

The approved SEZ unit shall be required to execute a legal undertaking with the DC concerned in the format to be prescribed.

7.      The first sub-paragraph of paragraph 9.37(a) under the head "Approval of Units", shall be amended to read as under:

Applications for setting up of units in EPZ or as EOU outside the EPZ, other than proposals for setting up of unit in the service sector (except software and IT enabled services, trading or any other service activity as may be delegated by BOA) and conversion of sick/ closed DTA unit into EOU, satisfying the following conditions, may be approved by DC.

8.      The paragraph 9.37(b)(i) shall be amended to read as under:

Import of additional capital goods: to allow import of additional capitals goods subject to the condition that the total value of imported capital goods is not more than US $ 20 million or 10% of the approved value of capital goods even if it exceeds US $ 20 million

9.      The paragraph 9.44 shall be amended to read as under:

SEZ unit shall maintain proper account, in format convenient to it and financial year-wise and make available on-line to the Development Commissioner/ Customs information in the format prescribed at Appendix 16H and till such time on-line connectivity is established submit the same quarterly and regularly to the Development Commissioner/ Customs. For gem and jewellery a monthly statement shall be submitted in the same format.

10.    The paragraph 9.45 shall be renumbered as paragraph 9.46 and shall be amended to read as under:

The provisions of paragraph 9.1, 9.2, 9.4, 9.6, 9.10, 9.14, 9.15, 9.16, 9.17, 9.18, 9.19, 9.20, 9.24A, 9.24B, 9.28, 9.29, 9.29A, 9.32, 9.33, 9.34, 9.35, 9.37, 9.38, 9.39 and 9.40 will also apply to SEZ units.

11.    The following shall be added as paragraph 9.45 SEZ unit may be permitted to:

(a)     Export finished goods directly from the job worker's premises provided the job worker's premise is registered with the Central Excise Department. However, export of such products from the job worker's premises shall not be allowed through third parties as provided for under paragraph 9.11 of the Policy.

(b)     In case of sub-contracting of production in the DTA in terms of paragraph 9.38 of the Policy, a sample of the export product being subcontracted shall be sent in advance to the jurisdictional Excise Officer of the sub-contractor in the DTA.

(c)     In case of SEZ units undertaking job work for export on behalf of DTA unit in terms of para 9.38 of the Policy, the finished goods shall be exported directly from the SEZ unit and export documents shall be in the name of DTA unit.

12.    The guidelines for monitoring the performance of EOU/ EPZ/ SEZ units as contained at pages "App. 116/ 117" of Appendix-16E shall be amended as per the Annexure-I to this Public Notice.

13.    The Appendix-16H shall be amended as per the Annexure-II to this Public Notice.

14.    The Appendix-16J shall be added in the Handbook (Vol.1) as per the Annexure-III to this Public Notice.

This issues in public interest.

Annexure-I

Appendix-16E

Guidelines for monitoring the performance of EOU/ EPZ/ SEZ units

1.      The annual review of performance of each operational unit and its compliance with the conditions of approval shall be undertaken by the Development Commissioner before the end of the first quarter of the following financial year;

2.      A summary of annual performance review will be sent by each Development Commissioner to the Ministry of Commerce for information under the three formats indicated below latest by 30th June every year;

Proforma I: Summary of annual performance of the EOU/ EPZ/ SEZ units, sector-wise with sectoral sub-totals.

Proforma II: Comparative statement of performance and monitoring as compared to previous year;

Proforma III: Unit-wise statement on NFE and NFEP showing the result of review.

3.      The criteria for condoning marginal shortfall, keeping the unit under `watch' or initiating penal action in respect of EOU/ EPZ units would be as follows:

i)         No action - If the EOU/ EPZ unit has achieved the NFEP and Export Performance (EP) as per norms in Appendix - I of Exim Policy;

ii)      Condone - If the shortfall in NFEP and/ or export performance (as per norms in Appendix - I) is upto 10% during 1^st and 2^nd year;

iii)     Watch - If the shortfall in NFEP (as per Appendix - I) is more than 10% but NFEP achieved is not negative and/ or shortfall in EP does not exceed 10% of the norm in Appendix - I during first or second year;

iv)     Penal action - If NFEP achieved is negative and/ or shortfall in export performance is more than 10% of the norm in Appendix - I in 3rd or subsequent years the unit should be issued show cause notice by the Development Commissioner. If after consideration of reply of unit, the default is more than permissible limit, the Development Commissioner may initiate penal action under the FT (D&R) Act, 1992;

However, cases where NFEP achieved is negative during first year of performance, may also be kept in `condone' category and penal action may be taken only if the trend continues in the second or subsequent year of their operation;

v)      If penal action has been initiated against a unit on account of shortfall in NFEP/ EP as stated above in a particular year and it defaults against in subsequent year(s), fresh penal action will be initiated against the unit.

4.      In all cases of debonding where the unit has imported inputs and failed to fulfil the conditions of LOP with regard to NFEP/ EP, appropriate steps are to be taken for penal action after issuing Show Cause Notice to the units. Steps may also be initiated for cancellation of LOP/ LOA of units which is not operating for more than a year;

5.      The Minimum export obligation expressed as minimum FOB value of exports shall be as per the norm for the 5 year period for various sectors given in Appendix-I of Exim Policy from time to time;

6.      NFEP is to be calculated as per Para 9.29 of Exim Policy. For purpose of uniformity, guidelines for calculation of NFEP given in Annexure - I, may be followed; and

7.      Annual monitoring in the cases of old units which have completed more than five years will be evaluated cumulatively for the last five years (seven years for units with investment of Rs. 200 crores or above) only. In case a unit has completed less than five years from the date of commencement of commercial production it will be monitored for the number of completed years. However, units which have not completed one year, from the date of commercial production, need not be monitored.

8.      Development Commissioner will monitor Foreign Exchange realization/ remittance of EOU/ EPZ units in coordination with the concerned General Manager of RBI as per instructions issued on the subject vide RBI circular No. COEXD. 3109/ 05.62.05/ 99-2000 dated 21.2.2000.

SEZ units:

The criteria for monitoring the performance of SEZ units would be as follows:

(a)     The performance of the SEZ units to be monitored annually. However, penal action to be initiated only if NFEP achieved is negative in 3rd or subsequent years. In case of existing EPZ units converting into SEZ scheme, the date of commencement of commercial production under the EPZ scheme will be the date for reckoning the number of years completed by the units for the purpose of monitoring.

(b)     The performance of the SEZ units shall be monitored by a Committee as provided for in Para 9.40 of the Policy.

Annexure-II

Appendix-16-H

Monthly/ Quarterly Report to be furnished by Units in SEZ

Quarterly/ monthly statement to be furnished by the SEZ unit in terms of paragraph 9.44 of Handbook of Procedure (Vol. I).

                                                                        (All figures to be given in US$)

1.      Name of the unit

2.      Period of reporting

3.      Item(s) of manufacture/ trading/ service

4.      Date of commencement of production/ operation

Annexure-III

Appendix-16-J

Application for Setting Up Units in Special Economic Zone

The application should be submitted to the Development Commissioner of the concerned Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for setting up units in SEZ, in 5 copies along-with a crossed Demand Draft of Rs. 1,000/ - (Rupees 2,500/ - in case of items falling under Schedule I & II of the New Industrial Policy) drawn in favour of the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Industrial Development, payable at the State Bank of India, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi

For Official Use only

Application No.  ___________________

Date : ___________________________

Date _____ Month _____ Year _______

Details of Bank Draft

Amount Rs.  ________________

Draft No.       ________________

Draft Date     ________________

Drawn on      ________________

                   (Name of the Bank)

                   Payable at ________________

I.       Name and Address of the Promoter (Block Letters)

         Name of the company/ Applicant                            ______________________________

         Full Address                                                         ______________________________

         (Regd. Office in case of limited companies                ______________________________

         & Head Office for others                                         ______________________________

                                                                                    ______________________________

         Pin Code                                                              ______________________________

         Tel. No.                                                                ______________________________

         Fax No.                                                                ______________________________

         E-Mail No.                                                            ______________________________

II.      Nature of the Applicant Firm:

         (Please tick (�) the appropriate box)

         1.        Government undertaking

         2.        Public Limited Company

         3.        Private Limited Company

         4.        Proprietorship

         5.        Partnership

         6.        Others (please specify)

III.     Indicate Whether this Proposal is for

         (Please tick (�) the appropriate box)

1.      Establishment of a New Undertaking, for manufacturing/ Trading/ Service

2.      Effecting Substantial Expansion of the approved activity.

3.      Manufacture of New product or for new service or trading.

Please furnish the following in case of manufacturing unit:

IV.     Item(s) of Manufacture: (Including By-product/ Co-products)

         (If necessary, additional sheets may be attached)

Item(s) Description                     Capacity (Unit =   )                     Item Code (ITC HS Code No.)

_________________                  ___________________               ______________________

_________________                  ___________________               ______________________

_________________                  ___________________               ______________________

Please furnish the following in case of trading/ service unit:  (Rs. in lakhs)

VI. FOB Value of Exports (1$ = Rs.)

VII.    Investment:                                                                                   (Rs. In Lakhs)

         (a)       Land                                                                      ________________________

         (b)       Building                                                                 ________________________

         (c)       Plant and Machinery                                               ________________________

                   (I)  Indigenous                                                         ________________________

                                                                                                (US $ Thousand)

                   (ii) Import CIF Value                                                ________________________

                   (iii) Total (I) + (ii)                                                     ________________________

VIII.   Whether Foreign Technology Agreement is envisaged (please tick (�) the appropriate box)

         Yes     _____________                              No        _____________

         (I)        Name and Address of foreign collaborator     _________________________

                                                                                                (Rupees lakhs)

         (ii)       Terms of collaboration

                                                                                                (Gross of Taxes)

                   (a) Lumpsum payment                                                        ________________

                   (b) Design & Drawing fee                                         ________________

                   (c) Payment to foreign technician                             ________________

                   (d) Royalty (on exports)                                           ________________%

                   (e) Royalty (on DTA sales if envisaged)                     ________________

                   (f)  Duration of agreement                                        ________________

                                                                                                (No. of years)

IX.     Equity including Foreign/ NRI Investment

(i)

                                                            ($ Thousand)                 (Rs. lakhs)

         (a)       Authorized                         ________________        ________________

         (b)       Subscribed             ________________        ________________

         (c)       Paid up Capital                   ________________        ________________

(ii)     Pattern of share holding in the paid up capital (Amount in Rupees)

                                                            (Rs. in lakhs)     (US $ Thousand)

         (a)       Foreign holding                   ________________        ________________

         (b)       Non Resident Indian company/ Individual holding

                                                            ________________        ________________

                   (i)  Repatriable                    ________________        ________________

                   (ii) Non-repatriable  ________________        ________________

         (c)       Resident holding                 ________________        ________________

         (d)       Total (a+b(i+ii)+c equity)      ________________        ________________

         (e)       (iii) External commercial Borrowing _______________   ________________

           Foreign Exchange Balance sheet

XII.    REJECTS

         Generation of Rejects/ Sub-standard           __________________________

         goods of the finished                                  __________________________  

                                                                        (percentage of 5 yrs production)

XIII.    SUB-CONTRACTING

         a)  Whether any of the required components are       --------------  --------------

            proposed to be sub-contracted to small scale       --------------  --------------

            and ancillary units.                                                         Yes                  No

XIV.   EMPLOYMENT

                                                                                                (All figures in number)

         Existing                                                                            Proposed

         a) Supervisory                   -----------------------             -----------------------

         b) Non-supervisory -----------------------             -----------------------

XV.    NET FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNING

                                                                        Percentage

         Positive Foreign Exchange earning in five year in terms         -----------------------

         of paragraph 16.4 of the policy                                            -----------------------

XVI.   MARKETING

         a) Whether marketing tie-up/ Buy-back envisaged/   --------------------    ---------------

           finalized?(Attach documents, if any)                                  ---------------------   ---------------

                                                                                                Yes                              No

                                                                        G.C.A.                          R.P.A.

                                                                        -----------------       ---------------

         b) Destination of exports (in percentage)

XVII.  OTHER INFORMATION

Place : ___________                                                                  Signature of the Applicant

                                                                                    _________________________

Date: ___________                                                                    Name in Block Letters

                                                                                    _________________________

                                                                                    Designation________________

Official Seal/ Stamp___________

                                                Full Official Address :     ...............................

                                                                                    ...............................

                                       Full Residential Address :        ...............................

                                                                                    ...............................

UNDERTAKING

I/ We hereby declare that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my/ our knowledge and belief. I/ we will abide by any other condition which may be stipulated by the concerned Development Commissioner of Secretariat of Industrial Approvals (Deptt. of Industrial Policy and Promotion). I/ We fully understand that any Permission Letter granted to me/ us on the basis of the statement furnished is liable to cancellation or any other action that may be taken having regard to the circumstances of the case if it is found that any of the statements or facts therein are incorrect or false.

Place: __________

Date: ___________