POLICY & CUSTOMS

• India - Issues notification regarding para 2.60 of handbook of procedure 2015-20 to update latest customs notification governing imports under tariff rate quota scheme

• India - No haulage charges for movement of empty containers and empty flat wagons from 17.12.2020 to 31.12.2020. Post which, 25% discount on extant haulage rate per TEU applicable from 01.01.2021 to 30.04.2021
  

• India - Issued instructions for time bound processing of duty drawback claims
  

• Iraq - Import License from Ministry of Trade Baghdad Iraq is mandatory for all consignments to the country, except government procurement w.e.f. 17th December 2020
  

• India - Notified 11 Border Haats and river routes on Bangladesh border and rail route connecting Jayanagar in India and Kurtha in Nepal
  

• India - Extends due dates for compliances and actions in respect of anti-profiteering measures under GST till 31.03.2021.
  

• Malaysia - Publishes Customs Duties (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2020. Duty rates hiked for certain products which fall under Chemical & Electronics

TRADE REMEDIES

• India - Imposes anti-dumping duty on imports of Dimethylacetamide originated in or exported from China PR and Turkey
  

• India - Extends time for response on anti-dumping Investigation concerning Imports of "Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) Blends" exported from China
  

• EU - Imposes anti-dumping duty on imports of ammonium nitrate from Russia
  

• India - Publishes final finding in countervailing duty/anti-subsidy investigation concerning imports of textured tempered glass whether coated or uncoated from Malaysia.

UNITED KINGDOM - TARIFF REGULATIONS 

• Customs (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
  

• Customs (Origin of Chargeable Goods: Trade Preference Scheme) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
  

• Customs Tariff (Suspension of Import Duty Rates) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
  

• Customs (Tariff Quotas) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
  

• Customs Tariff (Preferential Trade Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020
  

• Customs (Reliefs from a Liability to Import Duty and Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

PLANTS & PLANT PRODUCTS

• Australia - Export of Full Container Load (FCL) consignments of seeds, grains and dried plant products of India must be accompanied with a phytosanitary certificate
  

• Canada - Publishes maximum residue limit for ethaboxam in or on sugar beet roots and ethalfluralin in or on gold of pleasure seeds
  

• Chile - Establishes phytosanitary requirements for the importation of grains and other products
  

• India - Publishes order on provision for making online request by FBO in FoSCoS for reinstating the rejected applications for FSSAI Licenses and Registrations
  

• Japan - Proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for Fenbuconazole, Tioxazafen and Ethaboxam

FOOD & FEED

• China - Proposes maximum residue limits for 75 pesticides in food
  

• EU - Publishes maximum levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in certain foodstuffs
  

• GCC - Proposes technical regulation on prepackaged food used for special dietary uses
  

• Hong Kong - Proposes amendments to the harmful substances in food regulations
  

• India - Issued Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020.
  

• Indonesia - Publishes maximum limit of microbial contamination criteria for various processed food
  

• Israel - Publishes food additive amendments for sulphur dioxide, carrageenan, mono and diglycerides of fatty acids

CHEMICAL & TEXTILE

• Colombia - Establishes import provisions for pharmaceutical products, sterile water, cosmetics, disinfectants, ectoparasiticids and various products for veterinary use
  

• India - Publishes draft Insecticides (Third Amendment) Rules, 2020 to make the further amendments in Insecticides Rules, 1971
  

• Japan - List of new drugs approved during April 2020 to October 2020 published
  

• Peru - Publishes technical regulation for the labeling of apparel
  

• Taiwan - The inspection requirements for textile goods amended
  

• India - Extends operation of residuary provisions of Garments and knitwear export entitlement (quota) policies and of yarn, fabrics and madeups export entitlement (quota) policies with effect from 1st January, 2021
  

• Sri Lanka - Announced special import licenses requirement for Batik Garments

ENGINEERING & ELECTRONICS

• India - Publishes Toys (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2020 to further amend the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020
  

• India - Amends energy consumption standards for star labeled room air conditioners
  

• Saudi Arabia - Publishes minimum energy performance, labelling and testing requirements for air conditioners low-capacity window type and single-split

• Uganda - Publishes standard for toilet brush, shaving brushes, hair brushes, nail brushes, eyelash brushes etc;
  

• USA - Publishes amendment to brake system safety standards and codification of waivers

REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIA

• India - Publishes Metalliferous Mines (Amendment) Regulations, 2020
  

• India - Issued a press release for the recognition of the Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies
  

• India - Issued the Coal Mines (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 to further amend the Coal Mines Regulations, 2017
  

• India - Handicraft and GI toys exempted from quality control order
  

• India - Issued the Andhra Pradesh Aquaculture Seed (Quality Control) Rules, 2020

Click here for more details on Weekly Trade Alerts from 11 - 17 December 2020 from the India Trade Portal.

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