Attention is invited to the Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) Scheme, which came into operation w.e.f. 1.5.2006. Representations have been received from trade and industry that in the beginning of the operation of the Scheme, exporters were unable to file their shipping bills under the Scheme for want of availability of software package with the field formations of Customs.

2. To facilitate free movement of export cargo, Customs Authorities at various ports allowed the shipment under Duty Free Replenishment Certificate (DFRC) Scheme even beyond 30.4.06. Subsequently, Customs Authorities converted these shipping bills filed under DFRC shipping bills into DFIA Scheme shipping bills.

3. Representations have also been received from trade and industry that such converted shipping bills are not being accepted by the Regional Offices of DGFT for grant of DFIA.

4. In view of the above consideration and in exercise of powers conferred under Paragraph 2.4 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-2009, the Director General of Foreign Trade hereby notifies the following procedure for processing of such shipping bills by the Regional Authorities:

The Regional Authorities shall allow the benefit of DFIA Scheme in following cases of:

a) Where the applicant firm has presented Shipping Bills duly converted by the customs authorities to DFIA shipping bills; and

b) Where the file number could not be endorsed on the DFIA shipping bills, in such cases the Regional Authority shall make a specific endorsement in EODC or the transferability letter so that the customs authorities at the Port of Registration can verify the details of the shipping bills from their records before allowing imports against such DFIAs.

This issues in Public interest.

(R.S. Gujral)
Director General of Foreign Trade
And Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to the Govt. of India

(Issued from F.No.01/94/180/781/AM07/PC-I).

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