DFIAs Issued During 2006-07 and 2007-08 Revalidates for a Period of Six Months

[DGFT Public Notice No. 13 dated 22^nd September 2009]

Subject: Revalidation of DFIAs

In exercise of powers conferred under Para 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-14, the Director General of Foreign Trade hereby makes the following amendments in the Handbook of Procedures (Vol.1), 2009-14:-

1. Attention is invited to Public Notice No. 44 dated 4.7.08 and Public Notice No. 158 dated 2.3.09 issued during the policy period 2004-09 on the issue of revalidation of Duty Free Import Authorisations (DFIAs) which were issued during 2006-07, for a total period of 12 months (6 months in each Public Notice) even after endorsement of transferability. Trade and Industry have represented that due to varying interpretation of the provisions of DFIA scheme, as per FTP and the corresponding Customs Notification No. 40/2006 dated 1.5.06, DFIAs, in particular, the DFIAs endorsed with transferability, could not be utilized in time for import clearances. The Department of Revenue could issue the Customs circular no. 11/2009 and the Notification No. 17 only on 25.2.2009 and 19.2.09 respectively clarifying the provisions and utilization of DFIAs thereby leaving no time / little time to use these DFIAs for import clearance. Accordingly, it has been represented that DFIAs issued during the period 2006-07 and 2007-08 may be revalidated for a further period of 6 months from the date of endorsement.

2. The matter has been examined in detail based on the representations and facts and figures on DFIAs issued during 2006-07 and 2007-08. It has now been decided to revalidate the DFIAs (even if endorsed with transferability) issued during 1.5.06 till 31.3.08 for a period of 6 months from the date of endorsement subject to the following conditions:

(i) Request for revalidation may be submitted to the concerned Regional Authority (who have issued the DFIA) within a maximum period of 60 days from the date of the issuance of this Public Notice. DFIA shall be revalidated for a period of six months from the date of endorsement of revalidation. RAs shall endorse revalidation within a period of maximum 7 working days from the date of receipt of the request.

(ii) No application fee is required for this revalidation.

(iii) This facility shall not be available where misrepresentation / fraud has come to the notice of any authority.

This issues in public interest.