The DGFT vide Public Notice No. 48/2015-2020 dated January 05, 2023 has issued amendments to para 2.56 of Handbook of Procedure and addition of agencies to Appendix 2G.
In exercise of powers conferred under the paragraph 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20, the Director General of Foreign Trade hereby amends para 2.56 (d) & (e) of Handbook of Procedure 2015-20 and appendix 2H (format of Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate) of ‘Appendices and Aayat Niryat Forms’ and also includes the below agencies in Appendix 2G of ‘Appendices and Aayat Niryat Forms’ of Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20 in terms of Para 2.55 (d) of HBP 2015-20 with immediate effect.
Following is added at the end of para 2.56 (d):
(v) One Photo of Inspector shall be captured with empty container in the background having only one door closed (door with container number) and container number shall be clearly readable in that photo. Another photo of Inspector shall be captured with sealed container with same container number on the door clearly readable.
(vi) Photo of Instrument used for inspection (as indicated at serial no (h) of PSIC) shall be captured along with container seal, having container seal number and instrument serial number, visible in the same photo.
Para 2.56 (e) is amended to read as:
(e) The photographs and/or video clippings [as per 2.56 (d) above] shall be uploaded on DGFT website (https://www.dgft.gov.in/CP/) by PSIA at the time of issue of PSIC.
Following declaration is added at serial no 4 of Declaration in Appendix 2 H:
“This PSIC has been issued by the Inspector from country of inspection. Same is verifiable from the IP address used to issue the PSIC.”
Following Agencies are added in Appendix 2G:
(i) Application for recognition as PSIA
(ii) The following 1 existing Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency has been allowed to add additional instruments to their existing instruments as per the Annexure of this Public Notice
(iii) Further, additional areas of operation in case of the following agencies are notified
The above agencies at S. No. 1 to 15 above are recognized for Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificates as per provisions of Para 2.55(e) of HBP, 2015-20 from the date of issue of this Public Notice. Hence the PSIAs approved shall have validity period of 03 years or till such time to be notified by DGFT, whichever is earlier. Details of approved spectrometers and survey meters for issuance of PSIC by these agencies are annexed.
The notified PSIA must ensure to update their membership certificate of MRAI/ISRI/IFIA and their office address and contact details within 30 days.
As per para 2.55 (f) of HBP 2015-20, “a PSIA can also carry out inspections in countries, where it does not have a full time equipped branch office but which falls within its area of operation, by deputing its Inspectors. However, for such inspections in other countries, the PSIA will be required to give prior intimation to DGFT by sending an email (at psia-traveldgft@gov.in) and furnishing details of visit / inspection done by the Inspector in PSIC”.
Effects of this public notice:
I. Para 2.56 has been amended to highlight mandatory physical presence of inspectors at place of inspection.
II. Format of PSIC has been amended to underline that PSIC shall be issued by inspector from country of inspection only.
III. 15 Agencies are notified as PSIA, additional instruments have been added for 1 existing PSIA and additional areas of operation have been added for 07 existing PSIAs.
The Complete Public Notice can be accessed at: https://content.dgft.gov.in/Website/dgftprod/d3da6033-74a1-420e-9d85-a2570572116a/DGFT%20PN%20no.%2048%20dated%2005.01.2023.pdf