Transitional Arrangements Liberalised, Shipping Bills and Bills of Lading Issued before the Policy Change will be Honoured

· LC Commitments regardless of Date of Export or Import will also be Honoured

“Policy change of a particular item, the change will be applicable prospectively (from the date of Notification) unless otherwise provided for”

[DGFT Notification 05/2015-2020 dated 25 April 2018]

Effect of this Notification: Transitional Arrangements provision has been detailed under para 1.05(d) of Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20)

Subject: Amendment in Para 1.05(b) of Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020.

In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of FT (D& R) Act, 1992, read with paragraph 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020, as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby amends the provision in Para 1.05(b) of the Foreign Trade policy (2015-20) on Transitional Arrangements as under:

1.05: Transitional Arrangements

Existing Para

Revised Para

(b) In case an export or import that is permitted freely under FTP is subsequently subjected to any restriction or regulation, such export or import will ordinarily be permitted, notwithstanding such restriction or regulation, unless otherwise stipulated. This is subject to the condition that the shipment of export or import is made within the original validity period of an irrevocable commercial letter of credit, established before the date of imposition of such restriction and it shall be restricted to the balance value and quantity available and time period of such irrevocable letter of credit. For operationalising such irrevocable letter of credit, the applicant shall have to register the Letter of Credit with jurisdictional Regional Authority (RA) against computerized receipt, within 15 days of the imposition of any such restriction or regulation

(b) Item wise Import/Export Policy is delineated in the ITC (HS) Schedule I and Schedule II respectively. The importability/ exportability of a particular item is governed by the policy as on the date of import/export. The date of import/ export is defined in para 2.17 of HBP, 2015-20. Bill of Lading and Shipping Bill are the key documents for deciding the date of import and export respectively. In case of change of policy from free’ to ‘restricted/prohibited/state trading’ or ‘otherwise regulated’, the import/export already made before the date of such regulation/restriction will not be affected. However the import through High Sea sales will not be covered under this facility. Further, the import/export on or after the date of such regulation/restriction will be allowed for importer/exporter has a commitment through Irrevocable Commercial Letter of Credit (ICLC) before the date of imposition of such restriction/ regulation and shall be limited to the balance quantity, value and period available in the ICLC. For operationalising such ICLC, the applicant shall have to register the ICLC with jurisdictional RA against computerized receipt within 15 days of imposition of any such restriction/regulation. Whenever, Government brings out a policy change of a particular item, the change will be applicable prospectively (from the date of Notification) unless otherwise provided for.