Chapter - 3 Promotional Measures and Status Certificates of Application for Grant of Status Certificate Maintenance of Accounts.

CHAPTER 3

Exports from India Schemes

3.01 Merchandise Exports From India Scheme (MEIS)

(a) Policy for Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) is given in Chapter 3 of FTP.

(b) An application for claiming rewards under MEIS on exports(other than Export of goods through courier or foreign post offices using e- Commerce), shall be filed online, using digital signature, on DGFT website at http://dgft.gov.in with RA concerned in ANF 3A. The relevant shipping bills and e BRC shall be linked with the on line application.

(c) If application is filed for exports made through EDI ports, then hard copy of the following documents need not be submitted to RA: hard copy of applications to DGFT, EDI shipping bills, electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (e-BRC) and RCMC. The applicant shall submit the proof of landing in the manner prescribed under paragraph 3.03 of HBP.

(d) In case application is filed for exports made through non EDI ports, then applicant need to submit export promotion copy of non EDI shipping bills. The applicant shall submit the proof of landing in the manner prescribed under paragraph 3.03 of HBP. The applicant shall upload scanned copies of any other prescribed documents for claiming scrip unless specified otherwise. However applicant need not submit hard copy of applications to DGFT, electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (e-BRC) and RCMC in this case also.

(e) Applicant shall file separate application for each port of export.

(f) Processing of Non EDI Shipping bills at RA: In cases the Non EDI shipping bills or the shipping bills not received through the Message Exchange from Customs, concerned RA shall verify the details entered by the exporter from the original shipping bills before grant of scrip.

(g) No manual feeding allowed for EDI shipments: For EDI Shipping Bill, no manual feeding of Shipping bill details shall be allowed to the applicants in the online system. Rewards will be granted by RAs without the need for cross verifying EDI Shipping Bill details.

(h) RA shall process the electronically acknowledged files and scrip shall be issued after due scrutiny of electronic documents.

(i) The documents which are not required to be submitted in original, shall be retained by the applicant for a period of 3 years from the date of issuance of scrip.

(j) Licensing Authority may call such documents in original at any time within 3 years. In case the applicant fails to submit the original documents on demand by Licensing Authority the applicant shall be liable to refund the rewards granted along with interest at the rate prescribed under Section 28 AA of Customs Act 1962, from the date of issuance of scrip.

(k) Eligibility of product, corresponding ITC[HS] code, and markets(as given in Appendix 3B) for claiming rewards under MEIS shall be determined from Let Export Date as per Paragraph 9.12 of HBP.

3.02 Applications for Export of goods through courier or foreign post offices using e-Commerce

(a) Application shall be filed on line, using digital signature, in ANF 3D by exporter. The applicant shall submit the proof of landing in the manner prescribed under paragraph 3.03 of HBP.

(b) Applicant shall file separate application for each port of export.

(c) RA will manually examine the submitted documents before grant of scrip.

3.03 Proof of Landing

(a) Wherever the reward under MEIS is available to all countries, proof of landing shall not be required to be submitted for claiming the reward

(b) Uploading/submission of documents, as a proof of landing:

As a measure of ease of doing business, documents as a proof of landing of export consignment in notified market can be digitally uploaded in the following manner:-

(i) Any exporter may upload the scanned copy of document as mentioned at paragraph 3.03 (c) (i) under his digital signature.

(ii) Status holders falling in the category of Three Star, Four Star or Five Star export house category may upload scanned copies of documents as mentioned at paragraph 3.03(c) (iv).

(iii) In all other cases the physical copy, in original, shall be filed by all categories of exporters.

(c) Applicant shall be required to submit or upload, as the case may be, any one of the following documents as a proof of landing of export consignment in notified Market:

(i) A self attested copy of import bill of entry filed by importer in specified market, or

(ii) Delivery order issued by port authorities, or

(iii) Arrival notice issued by goods carrier, or

(iv) Tracking report from the goods carrier (Shipping Line/Airline etc. or his accredited agent in India) duly certified by them, evidencing arrival of export cargo to destination Market, or

(v) For Land locked notified Market, Rail/Lorry receipts of transportation of goods from Port to Land locked notified Market,

(vi) Any other document that may satisfactorily prove to RA concerned that goods have landed in / reached the notified Market.

(d) In case of (iv) and (vi) above, the accredited agent of the Goods Carrier must certify that he is the accredited agent of the concerned Goods Carrier on the date of issuance of the tracking report / document.

(e) Further, in the case of issuance of any other document under (vi) above, the accredited agent must state that proof of landing of goods in relevant notified Market is given based on information available in the Goods Carrier’s backup database and he has verified the same and issued this document accordingly.

(f) In cases of exports using e commerce, exporter may submit express operator landing certificate/online web tracking print out indicating airway bill number as prescribed in enclosure (B) to ANF 3D.

3.04 Service Exports From India Scheme (SEIS)

(a) Policy for Service Exports From India Scheme (SEIS) is given in Chapter 3 of FTP.

(b) An application for grant of duty credit scrip for eligible services rendered shall be filed online for a financial year on annual basis in ANF 3B using digital signature.

(c) RA shall process the application received online after due scrutiny.

Common Procedural features applicable to MEIS and SEIS, unless specifically provided for:

3.05 Transitional Arrangement

(a) For the goods exported or services rendered upto the date of notification of current Foreign Trade Policy, which were otherwise eligible for issuance of scrip under erstwhile chapter 3 of the earlier Foreign Trade Policy(ies) and scrip is applied on or after the date of notification of current Foreign Trade Policy against such export of goods or services rendered, the application shall be made to Jurisdictional RA in the form with documents as prescribed in the HBP v I 2009-2014.

(b) Upto 30th June 2015, applicants in respect of exports on which FPS/MLFPS/FMS/VKGUY/SFIS are claimed, shall have a choice to file applications in the manner prescribed in the previous policy(ies) or in the manner given in paragraph 3.01 or paragraph 3.04, as applicable, of HBP 2015-20. From 1st July 2015, all such applications shall be submitted in the manner given in paragraph 3.01 or paragraph 3.04, as applicable, of HBP 2015-20 only.

(c) Applicants shall continue to file application in respect of SHIS, IEIS and Agri Infrastructure incentive scheme scrip in the application form and manner prescribed in the previous policy (ies).

3.06 Jurisdictional RA / RA Concerned

Applicant shall have option to choose Jurisdictional RA on the basis of Corporate Office/ Registered Office/Head Office / Branch Office address endorsed on IEC for submitting application/applications under MEIS and SEIS. This option need to be exercised at the beginning of financial year. Once an option is exercised, no change would be allowed for claims relating to that year. To illustrate, if an exporter has chosen RA Chennai for claiming rewards for exports made in 2015-16,then all claims for exports made in 2015-16, irrespective of the date of application shall be made to RA Chennai only.

3.07 Applicability of Provisions contained in Chapter 2 and 9 of this HBP

Provisions contained in Chapter 2 and 9 of this HBP shall apply to MEIS and SEIS.

3.08 Port of Registration of Scrips

(a) Port of Registration under MEIS would be as follows:

(i) Duty Credit Scrip (including splits) under MEIS shall be issued with a single port of registration which shall be the port of export.

(ii) Duty credit scrip needs to be registered at the port of exports.

This is to be done prior to allowing usage of duty credit. Once registered at EDI port, scrip can be automatically used at any EDI port for import and at any manual port under Telegraphic Release Advise (TRA) procedure.

(iii) In case port of registration is a manual port, TRA shall be required for imports at any other port.

(b) In case of scrip applied under Service Exports from India Scheme, the applicant can choose any port as port of registration and mention it in the application at the appropriate column. RA will issue the scrip with such port of registration. Such Duty credit scrip needs to be registered at the port of registration of duty credit. Once registered at EDI port, scrip can be automatically be used at any EDI port for import and at any manual port under Telegraphic Release Advise (TRA) procedure. In case port of registration is a manual port, TRA shall be required for imports at any other port.

3.09 Facility for Split Scrips

(a) On request, split certificates of Duty Credit Scrip subject to a minimum of Rs. 5 Lakh each and multiples thereof may also be issued, at the time of application.

(b) Once Duty Credit Scrip has been issued, request for splits can be permitted with same port of registration as appearing on the original Scrip. The above procedure shall be applicable only in respect of EDI enabled ports.

(c) In case of export through non-EDI ports, the facility of splits shall not be allowed after issue of Scrip.

3.10 Procedure to upload documents by Chartered Accountant / Company Secretary / Cost Accountant

(a) In order to move towards paperless processing of reward schemes, an electronic procedure is being developed to upload digitally signed documents by Chartered Accountant / Company Secretary / Cost Accountant. Such documents like annexure attached to ANF 3 B, ANF 3C and ANF 3D, which are at present signed by these signatories, can be facilitated by this procedure.

(b) Till such time it is made mandatory to upload these annexure digitally, such annexures attached to ANF 3B, ANF3C, ANF3D would continue to be submitted in physical from to RA.

(c) Exporter shall link digitally uploaded annexure with his online applications after creation of such facility.

3.11 Import from private / public Bonded warehouses

Entitlement can be used for import from private / public bonded warehouses subject to fulfilment of paragraph 2.36 of FTP and terms and conditions of DoR notification.

3.12 Re-export of defective / unfit goods

Goods imported which are found defective or unfit for use, may be re- exported, as per DoR guidelines. Where Duty Credit Scrip has been used for imports, Customs shall issue a certificate containing particulars of Scrip used, date of import of re-exported goods and amount debited while importing such goods. Based on this certificate, upon application, a fresh Scrip shall be issued by concerned RA to extent of 98% of debited amount, with same port of registration and valid for a period equivalent to balance period available on date of import of the defective / unfit goods.

3.13 Validity period and Revalidation

Duty Credit Scrip shall be valid for a period of 18 months from the date of issue and must be valid on the date on which actual debit of duty is made. Revalidation of Duty Credit Scrip shall not be permitted unless covered under paragraph 2.20(c) of HBP.

3.14 Declaration of Intent on shipping bills for claiming rewards under MEIS including export of goods through courier or foreign post offices using e-Commerce.

(a) Export shipments filed under all categories of the Shipping Bills would need the following declaration on the Shipping Bills in order to be eligible for claiming rewards under MEIS: “ We intend to claim rewards under Merchandise Exports From India Scheme (MEIS)”. Such declaration shall be required even for export shipments under any of the schemes of Chapter 4 (including drawback), Chapter 5 or Chapter 6 of FTP. In the case of shipping bills (other than free shipping bills), such declaration of intent shall be mandatory with effect from 1st June 2015.

(b) Whenever there is a decision during the financial year to include any new product/goods or new markets then to avail such rewards:

(i) For exports of such products/goods, to such markets, a grace period of one month from the date of notification/public notice will be allowed for making this declaration of intent.

(ii) After the grace period of one month, all exports (of such products/goods or to such markets) would have to include the declaration of intent on all categories of shipping bills.

(iii) For exports made prior to date of notification/public notice of products/markets, such a declaration would not be required since such exports would have already taken place.

3.15 Last date of filing of application for Duty Credit Scrips

(a) Application for obtaining Duty Credit Scrip under MEIS shall be filed within a period of :

(i) Twelve months from the Let Export (LEO) date or

(ii) Three months from the date of :

(1) Uploading of EDI shipping bills onto the DGFT server by Customs.

(2) Printing/ release of shipping bills for Non EDI shipping bills. whichever is later, in respect of shipments for which claim is being filed.

(b) For SEIS, the last date for filing application shall be 12 months from the end of relevant financial year of claim period.

3.16 Application for Shipments from EDI Ports and Non-EDI Ports under MEIS

(a) Shipments from EDI Ports and Non-EDI Ports cannot be clubbed in one application.

(b) Port of registration for EDI enabled ports shall be the port of export.

Accordingly separate application shall be filed for each EDI port.

(c) In case of exports through non-EDI port, the port of registration shall be the relevant non EDI port of exports. Accordingly separate application shall be filed for each non EDI port.

(d) Multiple applications can be filed and supplementary cut shall not be applicable. However, an application can be filed with upto a maximum of 50 shipping bills.

3.17 Risk Management System

The policy relating to Risk Management System is given in Paragraph 3.19 of FTP. The Risk Management System shall be in operation as under:-

(a) Computer System in DGFT HQ, on random basis, will select 10% of cases for each RA which has issued scrips in the preceding month by 10th of the month.

(b) The list of such selected cases will be sent to concerned RA by NIC by 15th of the month.

(c) Concerned RA, will in turn, ask for the original documents by 30th of the month for examination in detail.

(d) The applicant shall be under obligation to submit the document asked for in the next 15 days.

(e) Concerned RA in turn will examine such documents in next 15 days.

In cases, there is any deficiency the applicant shall rectify it in next one month from the date of communication by RA. In case of excess availment of rewards, the applicant shall refund the excess claim with interest as prescribed in paragraph 3.19 of FTP.

(f) In case the applicant fails to submit the original documents/ rectify the deficiencies / refund the excess claim as stipulated above, RA will initiate action as per FTDR Act and Rules.

3.18 Status Certificate

Policy for Status Holders is given in Chapter 3 of FTP.

3.20 Validity of status certificate

(a) Status Certificates issued under this FTP shall be valid for a period of 5 years from the date on which application for recognition was filed.

(b) Status Certificates valid beyond 31.3.2020 shall continue to remain in force, in case provisions of subsequent Foreign Trade Policy continue to recognize the status.

3.21 Maintenance of Accounts

Status Holders shall maintain true and proper accounts of its exports and imports based on which such recognition has been granted. Records shall be maintained for a period of two years from the date of grant of status certificate. These accounts shall be made available for inspection to RA concerned or any Authority nominated by DGFT.