Validity of the existing Hand Book of Procedures, 2015 20 is extended upto 30th September, 2022.

## Report on Amendment to Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a public notice issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on March 31, 2022. This notice constitutes an amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020 and its Handbook of Procedures (HBP). The core purpose of this amendment is to extend the validity of specific deadlines within the FTP and HBP. Key findings reveal that the amendment extends the applicability of several clauses until September 30, 2022, or June 30, 2022, depending on the specific paragraph being amended. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide an informative analysis of the public notice issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on March 31, 2022, regarding amendments to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notice. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment:** This notice amends the existing Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020 and its Handbook of Procedures (HBP). * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective of this amendment, as inferred from the text, is to extend the validity and applicability of certain provisions within the existing FTP 2015-2020 and HBP beyond their original expiration date of March 31, 2022. **4. Background and Rationale:** The amendment extends certain deadlines within the FTP and HBP, suggesting a need to prolong the applicability of existing trade regulations and procedures. This extension likely addresses a situation where the original policy's objectives were not fully achieved by the initial deadline, or that a new policy was not ready for implementation at that time. The extension allows businesses to continue operating under the existing framework for an additional period. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This public notice introduces the following changes to the Handbook of Procedures, 2015-20: * **Amendment 1:** Para 1.01 of the HBP is amended. The original phrase "shall remain in force until 31st March, 2022" is replaced with "shall remain in force until 30.09.2022." This change extends the overall validity of the procedures outlined in para 1.01 of the HBP by six months, from March 31, 2022, to September 30, 2022. * **Amendment 2:** Para 3.20 a of the HBP is amended. The phrase "or 31.03.2022, whichever is later" is replaced with "or 30.06.2022, whichever is later." This shifts the deadline related to the condition in para 3.20a from March 31, 2022, to June 30, 2022. * **Amendment 3:** Para 4.12vi of the HBP is amended. The date "31.03.2022" is replaced with "30.09.2022." This extends the deadline mentioned in the first sentence of para 4.12vi by six months, from March 31, 2022, to September 30, 2022. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the target audience and stakeholders directly affected by these changes include: * Exporters and Importers: This is because the FTP governs foreign trade activities, and changes to it directly impact these businesses. * Individuals/entities utilizing the Handbook of Procedures 2015-20: Any individual or entity that relies on the Handbook of Procedures to be compliant will be affected. * Customs officials and other regulatory bodies involved in foreign trade: These entities need to be aware of the extended deadlines to ensure correct implementation of the policy. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency:** The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is responsible for implementing these amendments. * **Timelines:** The amendments are effective immediately, as stated in the notice. The key timeline element is the extension of the applicability of the mentioned paragraphs until September 30, 2022, or June 30, 2022, depending on the specific amendment. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome of these amendments is to provide continuity and stability in foreign trade operations by extending the validity of existing procedures. This allows businesses more time to comply with regulations and potentially adjusts to any upcoming changes. It prevents disruption caused by the expiration of the original deadlines. **9. Conclusion:** The public notice issued on March 31, 2022, represents an amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020 and its Handbook of Procedures (HBP). The amendments primarily extend the validity of specific deadlines within the HBP, providing continuity for businesses engaged in foreign trade. The DGFT implemented these changes to maintain stability within the trade sector, and the changes are effective immediately. These changes are significant for exporters, importers, and related stakeholders, as they directly affect the timelines for compliance and the applicability of established trade procedures.

Key Entities Referenced