Chapter 8 - QUALITY COMPLAINTS AND TRADE DISPUTES - Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020 (From 5-12-2017 to 31-3-2023) Revised

CHAPTER 8 QUALITY COMPLAINTS AND TRADE DISPUTES 8.00 Objective Exporters need to project a good image of the country abroad to promote exports. Maintaining an enduring relationship with foreign buyers is of utmost importance, and complaints or trade disputes, whenever they arise, need to be settled amicably as soon as possible. Importers too may have grievances as well. In an endeavour to resolve such complaints or trade disputes and to create confidence in the business environment of the country, a mechanism is being laid down to address such complaints and disputes in an amicable way. 8.01 Quality Complaints/ Trade disputes The following type of complaints may be considered: (a) Complaints received from foreign buyers in respect of poor quality of the products supplied by exporters from India; (b) Complaints of importers against foreign suppliers in respect of quality of the products supplied; and (c) Complaints of unethical commercial dealings categorized mainly as non-supply/ partial supply of goods after confirmation of order; supplying goods other than the ones as agreed upon; non-payment; non-adherence to delivery schedules, etc. 8.02 Obligation on the part of importer/ exporter (a) Rule 11 of the Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules, 1993, requires that on the importation into, or exportation out of, any customs ports of any goods, whether liable to duty or not, the owner of such goods shall in the Bill of Entry or the Shipping Bill or any other documents prescribed under the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), state the value, quality and description of such goods to the best of his knowledge and belief and in case of exportation of goods, certify that the quality and specification of the goods as stated in those documents, are in accordance with the terms of the export contract entered into with the buyer or consignee in pursuance of which the goods are being exported and shall subscribe a declaration of the truth of such statement at the foot of such Bill of Entry or Shipping Bill or any other documents. Violation of this provision renders the exporter liable for penal action. (b) Certain export commodities have been notified for Compulsory Quality Control Pre-shipment Inspection prior to their export. Penal action can be taken under the Export (Quality Control Inspection) Act, 1963 as amended in 1984, against exporters who do not conform to these standards and/ or provisions of the Act as laid down for such products. 8.03 Provisions in FT (D R) Act FT (Regulation) Rules for necessary action against erring exporters/ importers Action against erring exporters can be taken under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, as amended and under Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules, 1993, as follows:- (a) Section 8 of the Act empowers the Director General of Foreign Trade or any other person authorized by him to suspend or cancel the Importer Exporter Code Number for the reasons as given therein. (b) Section 9 (2) of the Act empowers the Director General of Foreign Trade or an officer authorised by him to refuse to grant or renew a license, certificate, scrip or any other instrument bestowing financial or fiscal benefit granted under the Act. (c) Section 9(4) empowers the Director General of Foreign Trade or the officer authorized by him to suspend or cancel any License, certificate, scrip or any instrument bestowing financial or fiscal benefit granted under the Act. (d) Section 11(2) of the Act provides for imposition of fiscal penalty in cases where a person makes or abets or attempts to make any import or export in contravention of any provision of the Act, any Rules or Orders made there under or the Foreign Trade Policy. 8.04 Mechanism for handling of Complaints/ Disputes (a) Committee on Quality complaints and Trade Disputes (CQCTD) To deal effectively with the increasing number of complaints and disputes, a Committee on Quality Complaints and Trade Disputes (CQCTD) will be constituted in the 22 offices of the RA s of DGFT. Names of RAs, where CQCTD has been constituted and jurisdiction of CQCTD is given in Chapter 8 of the Handbook of Procedures. (b) Composition of the CQCTD The CQCTD would be constituted under the Chairpersonship of the Head of Office. The constitution of CQCTD is given in Chapter 8 of the Hand Book of Procedures. (c) Functions of CQCTD The Committee (CQCTD) will be responsible for enquiring and investigating into all Quality related complaints and other trade related complaints falling under the jurisdiction of the respective RAs. It will take prompt and effective steps to redress and resolve the grievances of the importers, exporters and overseas buyers, preferably within three months of receipt of the complaint. Wherever required, the Committee (CQCTD) may take the assistance of the Export Promotion Councils/FIEO/Commodity Boards or any other agency as considered appropriate for settlement of these disputes. 8.05 Proceedings under CQCTD CQCTD proceedings are only reconciliatory in nature and the aggrieved party, whether the foreign buyer or the Indian importer, is free to pursue any legal recourse against the other erring party. 8.06 Procedures to deal with complaints and trade disputes The procedure for making an application for such complaints or trade disputes and the procedure to deal with such quality complaints and disputes is given in the Handbook of Procedures. 8.07 Corrective Measures The Committee at RA level can authorize the Export Inspection Agency or any technical authority to assess whether there has been any technical failure of not meeting the standards, manufacturing/ design defects, etc. for which complaints have been received. 8.08 Nodal Officer Director General of Foreign Trade would appoint an officer, not below the rank of Joint Director General, in the Headquarters, to function as the Nodal Officer for coordinating with various Regional Authorities of DGFT.