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03 January, 2018

January 03, 2019

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) published following:
- Notification No. 47/2015-2020 dated 31 December, 2018 (Click Here) - Krishnapatnam port is being added to the list of the 10 existing ports, thereby taking the total number of ports to 11, to allow export of 'Sawn timber' made exclusively out of imported wood logs.
- Public Notice No. 65/2015-2020 dated 28 December, 2018 (Click Here) - Rates of rewards under MEIS for Onions, Fresh or Chilled, under HS Code 07031010 have been enhanced from 5% to 10% with immediate effect.
- Trade Notice No. 40/2018-19 dated 31 December, 2018 (Click Here) - Restriction on Import of Peas from 01.01.2019 to 31.03.2019.

Reserve Bank of India has issued Notification vide reference no RBI/2018-19/100DBR.No.BP.BC.18/21.04.048/2018-19 titled Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector – Restructuring of Advances dated 1 January, 2019 (Click Here). Reserve Bank of India has decided to permit one-time restructuring of existing loans to those enterprises that are in default but ‘standard’ as on 1 January, 2019, without an asset classification downgrade. To be eligible for the restructuring, the aggregate exposure, including non-fund-based facilities of banks and NBFCs, to a borrower should not exceed ₹250 million as on 1 January, 2019. The restructuring has to be implemented by 31 March, 2020.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) published following:
- Notification 86/2018-Customs published on 31 December 2018 seeks to amend notification no. 296/76 dated 02.08.1976 to exempt temporary importation of private road vehicles from IGST and compensation cess.
- Notification 85/2018- Customs published on 31-12-2018 amending notification No. 69/2011-Customs, dated 29th July, 2011 pertains to HS 8708 40 00 [gear box and parts thereof, of specified motor vehicles], w.e.f. 1st of January, 2019, when imported under the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IJCEPA).
- Notifications 84/2018- Customs published on 31 December 2018 amending notification No. 53/2011-Customs dated 01st July, 2011 pertains to specified goods imported from Malaysia under the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (IMCECA) w.e.f. 01.01.2019.
- Notifications 83/2018- Customs published on 31 December 2018 amending notification No. 152/2009-Customs dated 31.12.2009 pertains to specified goods imported from Korea RP under the India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) w.e.f. 01.01.2019.
- Notifications 82/2018- Customs published on 31 December 2018 amending notification No. 46/2011-Customs dated 01.06.2011 pertains to specified goods imported from ASEAN under the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement w.e.f. 01.01.2019.
- Notifications 103/2018-Customs (NT) published on 31 December 2018 regarding Foreign Post Offices-amendment to Notification No. 31/2017-Customs (NT) dated 31st March, 2017.
- Notifications 102/2018-Cus (NT) published on 31 December 2018 regarding fixation of tariff value of Edible Oils, Brass Scrap, Poppy Seeds, Areca Nut, Gold and Sliver- Reg.
- Notification 101/2018-Cus (NT) published on 28 December 2018 amending notification no. 62/94-Customs (N.T.) dated 21.11.1994 in respect of Dahanu Port, Maharashtra.
- Circular No. 01/2019-Customs published on 2 January 2019 regarding IGST Export Refund resolution of errors.
- Circular No. 54/2018-Customs published on 31 December 2018 regarding Electronic Sealing-Deposit in and removal of goods from Customs Bonded Warehouses-deferment of Circular 19/2018.
- Circular No. 53/2018-Customs published on 28 December 2018 regarding procedure to be followed in cases of manufacturing or other operations undertaken in bonded warehouses under section 65 of the Customs Act.
- Circular No. 87/05/2019- GST published on 1 January 2019 regarding clarification of section 140(1) of the CGST Act, 2017.
- Circular No. 86/04/2019- GST published on 1 January 2019 regarding GST on Services of Business Facilitator (BF) or a Business Correspondent (BC) to Banking Company.
- Circular No. 85/04/2019- GST published on 1 January 2019 clarifying GST rate applicable on supply of food and beverage services by educational institution.
- Circular No. 84/03/2019-GST published on 1 January 2019 regarding clarification on issue of classification of service of printing of pictures covered under 998386.
- Circular No. 83/02/2019 GST published on 1 January 2019 regarding applicability of GST on Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Finance Corporation (IFC).
- Circular No. 82/01/2019- GST published on 1 January 2019 regarding applicability of GST on various programmes conducted by the Indian Institutes of Managements (IIMs).
- Circular No. 81/55/2018-GST published on 31 December 2018 clarification regarding GST tax rate for Sprinkler and Drip Irrigation System including laterals.
- Circular No. 80/54 /2018-GST published on 31 December 2018 clarification regarding GST rates & classification (goods).
- Circular No. 79/53/2018-GST published on 31 December 2018 regarding clarification on refund related issues.
- Circular No. 78/52/2018-GST published on 31 December 2018 regarding clarification on export of services under GST.
- Circular No. 77/51/2018-GST published on 31 December 2018 regarding denial of composition option by tax authorities and effective date thereof.
- Circular No. 76/50/2018-GST published on 31 December 2018 regarding clarification on certain issues (sale by government departments to unregistered person; leviability of penalty under section 73(11) of the CGST Act; rate of tax in case of debit notes / credit notes issued under section 142(2) of the CGST Act; applicability of notification No. 50/2018-Central Tax; valuation methodology in case of TCS under Income Tax Act and definition of owner of goods) related to GST.
- Circular No. 75/49/2018-GST published on 27 December 2018 issued guidelines for processing of applications for financial assistance under the Central Sector Scheme named ‘Seva Bhoj Yojna’ of the Ministry of Culture.
- Notification No. 31/2018-Integrated Tax (Rate) published on 31 December 2018 seeks to insert explanation in an item in notification No. 8/2017 – Central Tax (Rate) by exercising powers conferred under section 11(3) of CGST Act, 2017.
- Notification No. 30/2018- Integrated Tax (Rate) published on 31 December 2018 seeks to amend notification No. 10/2017- Integrated Tax (Rate) so as to specify services to be taxed under Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) as recommended by Goods and Services Tax Council in its 31st meeting held on 22.12.2018.
- Notification No. 29/2018- Integrated Tax (Rate) published on 31 December 2018 seeks to amend notification No. 9/2017- Integrated Tax (Rate) so as to exempt certain services as recommended by Goods and Services Tax Council in its 31st meeting held on 22.12.2018.
- Notification No. 28/2018- Integrated Tax (Rate) published on 31 December 2018 seeks to amend notification No. 8/2017- Integrated Tax (Rate) so as to notify IGST rates of various services as recommended by Goods and Services Tax Council in its 31st meeting held on 22.12.2018.
- Notification No. 27/2018- Integrated Tax (Rate) published on 31 December 2018 seeks to exempt integrated tax on supply of gold by nominated agencies to registered persons.
- Notification No. 26/2018- Integrated Tax (Rate) published on 31 December 2018 seeks to further amend notification No. 2/2017-Integrated Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 to exempt GST on goods as per recommendations of the GST Council in its 31st meeting.
- Notification No. 25/2018- Integrated Tax (Rate) published on 31 December 2018 seeks to further amend notification No. 1/2017-Integrated Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017 to change GST rates on goods as per recommendations of the GST Council in its 31st meeting.
- Notification No.04 /2018 – Integrated Tax published on 31 December 2018 seeks to amend the IGST Rules, 2017 so as to notify the rules for determination of place of supply in case of inter-State supply under sections 10(2), 12(3), 12(7), 12(11) and 13(7) of the IGST Act, 2017.

The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published following dated 31 December, 2018:
- Gazette Notification no. F.No. REG/11/27/BEVO-Labelling/FSSAI-2018 (Click Here) on Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) First Amendment Regulations, 2018 related to labelling of blended edible vegetable oils.
- Direction under Section 16 (5) of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 regarding Compliance of Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Residues and Toxins) Second Amendment Regulations, 2018 (Click Here) published in the Official Gazette of India on dated 20 July, 2018 vide Notfication No. 1-100/SP (PAR)-Notification/Enf/FSSAI/2014.
- Implementation of Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Uses, Food for Special Medical Purposes, Functional Foods and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016 (Click Here).

Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, India published following:
- Notification dated 24 December, 2018 (Click Here) related to new star rating labelling plan for storage type electric water heater. The Star Rating Plan validity is from 1 January, 2019 to 31 December, 2020.
- Notification dated 21 December, 2018 (Click Here) of new star labelling calculation for refrigerator (DC and frost free).

Ministry of Steel, India informs dated 28 December, 2018 that all the grades available in Indian Standards IS 4454 (Part I & II), IS 4824, IS 11169 & IS 6603 shall remain outside the purview of the Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2018 till 17 February, 2019 (Click Here).

Pakistan Ministry of Commerce and Textile published S.R.O 1528-1-2018 dated 24 December, 2018 (Click Here) to amend Import Policy Order, 2016 which pertains to certification of some telecom equipment by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) has recently announced 4 enhancements to Mandatory Energy Labelling (MELS) and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) (Click Here). The 4 enhancements, which will take effect from 1 November, 2019 are Raising of MEPS for incandescent bulbs, Introduction of MEPS for fluorescent lamp ballasts, Introduction of MELS for other lamps types and Mandatory display of Energy Label in all print and digital materials.

Indonesia Head of the Drug Regulatory Agency published Regulation No. 34 of 2018 dated 31 December, 2018 (Click Here) pertaining to the Guidelines for Making Good Medicines, needs to be adjusted to the development science and technology in the field of manufacture drugs and medicinal ingredients.

The Thailand Broadcasting Committee published following announcement to the television business and national telecommunications dated 2 January, 2019 :
- Criteria for the use of spectrum for radio equipment Ultra-wide frequency band type (Ultra-wideband) Frequency band 1.6 - 10.9 Gigahertz (Click Here).
- Technical standards of telecommunication equipment for superconducting radio frequency types (Ultra-wideband) Frequency band 1.6 - 10.9 Gigahertz (Click Here).
- Technical standards of telecommunications equipment and equipment for communication in the business moving over land, VHF frequency band / UHF for speech-type communication (Click Here).
- Technical standards of telecommunications equipment and equipment for communication in the business moving over land, VHF frequency band / UHF for speech and / or data type communication.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan published standards for use for food additives on 21 December, 2018 (Click Here).

South Korea - Korean Food & Drug Administartion published following dated 31 December, 2018:
- Prime Ministerial Decree No. 1517 (Click Here) regarding enforcement regulations of the act on Health functional foods.
- Prime Ministerial Decree No. 1511 (Click Here) regarding enforcement rule of livestock sanitation management act.
- Prime Ministerial Decree No. 1512 (Click Here) regarding amending Medical Device technique implementation rules.
- Prime Ministerial Decree No. 1512 (Click Here) regarding enforcement rule of the food sanitation act.

Belarus Government published following:
- Decision no 490 published on 22 December, 2018 (Click Here) regarding customs regulation determined specific features of the customs regulation concerning the customs clearance of goods being moved through the customs border. The regulation entered into force from 1 January, 2019.
- Decision no 11 published on 10 October, 2018 (Click Here) regarding Approved list of standards under technical regulation on telecommunication equipment (TR 2018/024/BY) is effective from 1 January, 2019.

Hong Kong published followings:
- The Waste Disposal Ordinance amended on 31 December, 2018 (Click Here).
- The Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance amended on 31 December, 2018 (Click Here).

Ministry of Agriculture, Estonia published Animal and Animal Products Trade and Import and Export Act on 28 December, 2018 (Click Here).

Statutory Instrument 2018 No. 1398 (Click Here), United Kingdom published the Textile Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 on 21 December, 2018.

Environmental Protection Authority, New Zealand published Order no 2018/255 on 28 December, 2018 (Click Here) amending Ozone layer protection amendment regulations 2018 on 28 December, 2018.

Denmark - Ministry of Health and the Elderly Ministry published following:
- BEK no 1786 published on 21 December, 2018 regarding order on import of cannabis products and production of cannabis intermediates.
- BEK no 1784 published on 27 December, 2018 (Click Here) regarding order on fees for pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical companies, etc.

Russian Federation – published following:
- President Decree no 1633 published on 22 December, 2018 (Click Here) changes to the annex to the list of radio electronic means and high frequency devices subject to state registration.
- President Decree no 746 published on 25 December, 2018 (Click Here) changes to the regulations on the procedure for issuing licenses for the movement of military products.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) published Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Schedule 20 - Maximum residue limits Variation Instrument No. APVMA 9, 2018 dated 24 December, 2018 (Click Here). This code provides to vary Schedule 20 of the Food Standards Code to include or change MRLs pertaining to agricultural products.