**Summary:**
This Policy Circular No. 1/2023-24, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, dated April 17, 2023, outlines the procedure for applying for the Amnesty Scheme, which offers a one-time settlement for defaults in export obligations under Advance Authorisation (AA) and Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) schemes.
The circular instructs applicants to file for AA/EPCG discharge/closure online via the DGFT website, selecting the "Amnesty scheme" checkbox during the application process. Applicants are required to calculate and declare duty and interest payments in the Redemption Matrix tab. Upon online application submission, the relevant Regional Authority (RA) will examine the application and confirm any shortfall via an online letter. Applicants must then remit the required duty and interest to the Jurisdictional Customs Authority and provide proof of payment online. The RA will then review the payment evidence and associated documents to consider issuing the Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC) online. RAs are directed to process applications within three working days.
Further guidance is available in the Help Manual on the DGFT website under "Learn Application Help FAQs Advance Authorisation Closure Help document" or "EPCG Help Document".
For assistance, applicants can contact the concerned RA, raise a service request ticket through the DGFT Helpdesk, email DGFT Helpdesk at dgft[at]nic.in, or call the toll-free DGFT Helpdesk numbers.
The circular is issued with the approval of the DGFT, and the issuing officer is S.B.S. Reddy, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade (email: sbsreddy[at]nic.in), F.No. 18/15/AM23/P5.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT): Agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry responsible for implementing foreign trade policy.
Amnesty scheme: A one-time settlement scheme for defaults in export obligations by Advance and EPCG authorization holders.
Export Obligation (EO): The obligation to export goods or services as a condition for certain import benefits or incentives.
Advance Authorisation (AA): An authorization issued by DGFT allowing duty-free import of inputs for export production.
EPCG (Export Promotion Capital Goods): A scheme that allows import of capital goods at zero or concessional duty, subject to an export obligation.
Regional Authorities of DGFT (RA): Regional offices of the DGFT responsible for processing applications and monitoring compliance.
Export Obligation Discharge Certificate (EODC): A certificate issued by the RA upon fulfillment of the export obligation under the Advance Authorisation or EPCG scheme.
New Delhi: Location of Vanijya Bhavan where the policy circular was issued.
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Department of Commerce
(Directorate General of Foreign Trade)
Dated: 17" April, 2023
Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi
Policy Circular No. 1 /2023-24
To,
All Regional Authorities of DGFT
FIEO/AIl Export Promotion Councils
CII/FIC//ASSOCHAM
All Exporters/Members of Trade
Subject: Procedure for applying for Amnesty scheme for one-time settlement of
default in export obligation by Advance and EPCG authorization holders -reg
Reference Public Notice No. 02/2023 dated 01.04.2023, the procedure for filing
applications for Amnesty scheme for one-time settlement of default in export obligation
by Advance and EPCG authorization holders is specified as follows -
i. Application for AA/EPCG discharge/closure shall be filed online by logging onto
the DGFT Website and navigating to Services --> Advance Authorisation/DFIA --
> Closure of Advance Authorisation. For EPCG please navigate to Services -->
EPCG --> Closure of EPCG.
ii. The applicant shall select the checkbox for ‘Amnesty scheme for one-time
settlement of default in export obligation’ and proceed to file application for
closure against the concerned EPCG or AA authorisation. as per the online
proforma.
ill. The applicant, as per their calculations, shall indicate the duty and interest values
to be paid under the ‘Redemption Matrix’ tab and submit their application online.
iv. On receipt of online application, the RA concerned shall examine and confirm the
shortfall through an online letter.
Applicant shall make the required payment of duty and interest to the
Jurisdictional Customs Authority and provide the proof of payment in response to
the said letter online.
Vi. Based on the evidence of payments and other relevant documents prescribed,
concerned RA may examine and consider granting Export Obligation Discharge
Certificate (EODC) online.
a RAs are directed to process any such applications within 3 working days.2 For further guidance, please refer to the Help Manual on DGFT Website -->
Learn --> Application Help & FAQs --> Advance Authorisation Closure Help document
or EPCG Help Document.
4. For additional assistance, you may either approach the concerned RA or utilize
any of the following Helpdesk channels:—
o Raise a service request ticket through the DGFT Helpdesk service
o Send an email to DGFT Helpdesk at dgftedi@nic.in
o Call the Toll-free DGFT Helpdesk numbers.
This issues with the approval of the DGFT.
(S.B.S. Red
Additional Director General of Foreign Trade
Email: sbsreddy@nic.in
(Issued from F.No. 18/15/AM-23/P-5)