Amendment in H.B. Vol. I for the units located in the areas affected by earthquake in the state of Gujarat - DGFT - 54 (RE-00)/1997-2002

Amendment in H.B. Vol. I for the units located in the areas affected by earthquake in the state of Gujarat PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 54 (RE-00)/1997-2002 Dated 07-02-2001 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 the Handbook of Procedures (Vol.1) (RE-00), 1997-2002. However EPCG licences issued under Customs notification 169/90 dated 3.5.1990 and 160/92 dated 20.4.92 shall be given export obligation extension upto 31.3.2004 by the licensing authority subject to terms and conditions mentioned in the public notice. No extension in export obligation shall be allowed in respect of the licences where misrepresentation/fraud has come to the notice of the licensing authorities. Further, in respect of licences where adjudicating orders have already been passed, no extension in export obligation period shall be admissible. The earthquake which struck Gujarat on 26th January, 2001 had devastated many units including exporting units. The following amendments shall be deemed to have been made wherever required in respect of the units located in the areas affected by earthquake in the State of Gujarat. On account of the devastation rendered by the earthquake that struck the coast of Gujarat on 26.01.2001, it is hereby decided to declare 2000-2001 as a blank year for the purpose of monitoring export obligation for EOU/ EPZ/ SEZ units located in the areas affected by the earthquake in the State of Gujarat. Under paragraph 6.11, one year general extension in export obligation both for fulfilling the year wise/block of year wise export obligation or for fulfilling the complete export obligation shall be available to units hit by earthquake under the EPCG Scheme. The monitoring of export performance in respect of EOUs in Gujarat and units in Kandla Special Economic Zone damaged by earthquake shall be deferred till 30.6.2001. Under paragraph 7.22, a further period of one year shall be given for completing the export obligation under Advance Licensing Scheme. Under paragraph 7.23 relating to validity of Advance Licence one year deemed validity shall be extended to all Advance Licence with port of registration in areas affected by earthquake which have expired in the month of January, 2001 or thereafter. Similarly, the validity of DEPB and DFRC with port of registration in areas affected by earthquake in Gujarat shall be deemed to have been extended by one year in respect of DEPB/DFRC which have expired in the month of January, 2001 or thereafter. Wherever the prescribed documents includes the submission of original documents, the units affected by the earthquake in Gujarat may submit duplicate copies of the document duly attested by the Bank/Customs authorities, as the case may be, for claiming any licence and also for discharge of export obligation. No cut, which is normally applicable when an applicant submits the duplicate documents, shall be applicable in such cases. Wherever the time limit for filing an application (except an application for claiming Special Import licence) falls in the month of January, 2001, or thereafter, the same shall be extended to 31st December, 2001 or the normal time limit applicable whichever is later. This issues in public interest. (N.L.Lakhanpal) Director General of Foreign Trade