Duty Free Import Authorization under FTP 2015-2020

[Ref: Notification No.19/ 2015 – Customs dated 1 April 2015]

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Central Government, being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby exempts materials imported into India against a valid Duty Free Import Authorisation issued by the Regional Authority in terms of paragraphs 4.25 and 4.27 of the Foreign Trade Policy (hereinafter referred to as the said authorisation) from the whole of the duty of customs leviable thereon which is specified in the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975), subject to the following conditions, namely :-

(i) that the said authorisation is produced before the proper officer of customs at the time of clearance for debit;

(ii) that Standard Input Output Norms (SION) number, description, quantity and Free on Board value of the resultant product exported and the shipping bill number(s) and date(s) are endorsed on the said authorisation:

Provided that the said SION does not prescribe the actual user condition;

(iii) that the description and other specifications wherever applicable, value and quantity of materials imported are mentioned in the said authorisation and the value and quantity thereof are within the limits specified in the said authorisation:

Provided that in respect of inputs referred in paragraphs 4.12(i) and 4.12(ii) of the Foreign Trade Policy, the material permitted to be imported in the said authorisation shall be of the specific name/description or quantity, respectively, as the material used in the export of the resultant product. The exporter shall declare these particulars of materials used in the shipping bill/ bill of export:

Provided further that in respect of resultant products requiring inputs specified in paragraph 4.30 of the Foreign Trade Policy, the materials permitted in the said authorisation shall be of the same quality, technical characteristics and specifications as the materials used in the said resultant product. The exporter shall declare these particulars of materials used in the shipping bill or bill of export;

(iv) that the said authorisation shall be transferable subject to such conditions as may be specified;

(v) that the imports and exports are undertaken through the seaports, airports or through the inland container depots or through the land customs stations as mentioned in the Table 2 annexed to the Notification No.16/ 2015- Customs dated 01.04.2015 or a Special Economic Zone notified under section 4 of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005 (28 of 2005):

Provided that the Commissioner of Customs may, by special order or a public notice and subject to such conditions as may be specified by him, permit import and export through any other sea-port, airport, inland container depot or through a land customs station within his jurisdiction;

(vi) that the exports as specified in the said authorisation (both in value and quantity terms) were fulfilled within the period specified in paragraph 4.29 of the Foreign Trade Policy by exporting resultant products, manufactured in India, which are specified in the said authorisation:

Provided that in case of an authorisation for intermediate supply, the export obligation shall have been discharged by supplying the resultant products to the exporter in terms of paragraph 4.05 (c) (ii) of the Foreign Trade Policy;

(vii) that the importer produces evidence of fulfillment of the export obligation to the satisfaction of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be;

(viii) that in relation to the said authorisation issued to a merchant exporter, the name and complete postal address of the supporting manufacturer who manufactured the export product is declared in the shipping bills and specified in the said authorisation.

2. Where the materials are found defective or unfit for use, the said materials may be re-exported back to the foreign supplier within six months from the date of clearance of the said material or such extended period not exceeding a further period of six months as the Commissioner of Customs may allow:

Provided that at the time of re-export, the materials are identified to the satisfaction of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs or Assistant Commissioner of Customs, as the case may be, as the materials which were imported.

Explanation – For the purposes of this notification,-

(I) "Foreign Trade Policy" means the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020, published by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry vide notification No. 01/2015-2020, dated the 1^st April 2015 as amended from time to time;

(II) “Manufacture” has the same meaning as assigned to it in paragraph 9.31 of the Foreign Trade Policy;

(III) “Materials” means,-

(a) raw materials, components, intermediates, consumables, catalysts and parts which are required for manufacture of resultant product;

(b) packaging materials required for packing of resultant product;

(IV) “Regional Authority” means the Director General of Foreign Trade appointed under section 6 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 (22 of 1992) or an officer authorised by him to grant an authorisation under the said Act.

[F.No.605/55/2014-DBK]