Foreign Trade Policy 2023 - Traders Reforms

Ease of Doing Business

Automatic approval of various permissions under FTP without physical interface. Reduction in processing time as below:

Permission type	Current processing time	Automatic route
Advance authorization issuance	3-7 days	1 day
EPCG issuance	3-7 days	1 day
Revalidation of authorization	3-7 days	1 day
Extension of export obligation period	3-7 days	1 day

Reduction in user charges for MSMEs under Advance Authorization and EPCG Schemes

Revamp of the e-Certificate of Origin platform proposed- to provide for self-certification of CoOs as well as automatic approval of CoOs, where feasible.
Initiatives for electronic exchange of CoO data with partner countries envisaged.
Paperless filing of Export Obligation Discharge Applications: This is in addition to the application process for issuance being already paperless. With this, the entire lifecycle of the authorization shall become paperless.

Export performance threshold for Recognition of Exporters as Status Holders rationalized

Status house category	Existing export Performance threshold	Revised export performance threshold
One Star	3	3
Two Stars	25	15
Three Stars	100	50
Four Stars	500	2OO
Five Stars	2000	800

Export performance threshold for Recognition of Exporters as Status Holders rationalized. Benefits under the TEE scheme:

Recognition, credibility, and global stage
Financial Assistance under Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme and visiting trade exhibitions/fairs.
Common Service Provider Facility

Merchanting trade allowed i.e., shipment of goods from one foreign country to another foreign country without touching Indian ports, involving an Indian intermediary.

Special One-time Amnesty Scheme for Default in Export Obligations by Advance Authorization and EPCG authorization holders, available up to 30.09.2023.

Aims at boosting India's foreign trade by decentralizing export promotion.
Creating awareness and commitment regarding exports at the district level.
Identification of products/services in all the districts
Preparation of District Export Action Plans (DEAPs) to promote identified products and services
Capacity building to create new exporters and identification of new markets
Infrastructure and Logistics Development Intervention, convergence of ongoing schemes

FTP benefits to be extended to e-Commerce exports.
Guidelines being formulated in consultation with other ministries to facilitate further exports under e-Commerce.
Special outreach and training activities for small e-commerce exporters
The limit for courier exports increased to Rs.10,00,000 per consignment

Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras to be operationalized to work in a hub-and-spoke model with Foreign Post Offices (FPOs) to facilitate cross-border e-Commerce

Designated hubs with warehousing facilities to be notified, for easy stocking, customs clearance and returns processing.
Processing facility for last mile activities like labelling, testing, repackaging, etc.

Dairy sector – exempted from maintaining Average Export Obligation
Reduced Export Obligation requirement under EPCG Scheme for specified green technology products
Apparel sector added to Special Advance Authorization Scheme
Self-Ratification Scheme to 2-star and above-status holders and Authorized Economic Operators

Emphasis on Streamlining Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET) Licensing Procedure
Recent policy changes introduced such as general authorizations for export of certain SCOMET items to streamline licensing of these items to make export of SCOMET items globally competitive.
Focus on simplifying policies to facilitate export of dual-use high-end goods/technology such as UAV/Drones, Cryogenic Tanks, Certain chemicals, etc