How to do Exports

• Introduction

• Commodity Boards and Other Export Promotion Organisations

• Formalities required for Export

• Arranging Finance

• Important tips for exporters

• Procuring/Manufacturing Goods for Export & their Inspection by Government Authorities

• Labeling, Packaging, Packing and Marking Goods

• RBI Regulations on Exports

• Other Documents Required

• Imports

• Documents Required for Post Parcel Customs Clearance



» Introduction
Imports and exports are the two important components of a foreign trade. Foreign trade is the exchange of goods and services between the two countries, across their international borders. 'Imports' imply the physical movement of goods into a country from another country in a legal manner. It refers to the goods that are produced abroad by foreign producers and are used in the domestic economy to cater to the needs of the domestic consumers. Similarly, 'exports' imply the physical movement of goods out of a country in a legal manner. It refers to the goods that are produced domestically in a country and are used to cater to the needs of the consumers in foreign countries. Thus, the imports and exports have made the world a local market. The country which is purchasing the goods is known as the importing country and the country which is selling the goods is known as the exporting country. The traders involved in such transactions are importers and exporters respectively.

In India, exports and imports are regulated by the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, which replaced the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1947, and gave the Government of India enormous powers to control it. The salient features of the Act are as follows:-


Besides this Act, there are some other laws which control the export and import of goods. These include:-

At the central level, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is the most important organ concerned with the promotion and regulation of the foreign trade in India. The Ministry has an elaborate organizational set up to look after the various aspects of trade. Within the Ministry, the Department of Commerce is responsible for formulating and implementing the foreign trade policy. The Department is also entrusted with responsibilities relating to multilateral and bilateral commercial relations, state trading, export promotion measures and development and regulation of certain export oriented industries and commodities. The matters relating to foreign trade are dealt with by the following divisions of the Department :-

The Department's jurisdiction extends over:-
(a) Two Attached Offices

(b) Five Subordinate Offices


» Commodity Boards and Other Export Promotion Organisations

(d) Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) :-

(e) Other Organisations :-

(f) Advisory Bodies

(g) Public Sector Undertakings :-

» Formalities required for Export
For clearance of export goods, the exporter or his agents have to undertake the following formalities :-

Processing of Shipping Bill
In case of export by sea or air, the exporter must submit the 'Shipping Bill', and in case of export by road he must submit 'Bill of Export' in the prescribed form containing the prescribed details such as the name of the exporter, consignee, invoice number, details of packing, description of goods, quantity, FOB value, etc. Along with the Shipping Bill, other documents such as copy of packing list, invoices, export contract, letter of credit, etc. are also to be submitted.

There are 5 types of shipping bills :-

The Bills of Export are :-

Let Export Order
After the receipt of the goods in the dock, the exporter may contact the Customs Officer designated for the purpose and present the checklist with the endorsement of Port Authority and other declarations along with all original documents. Customs Officer may verify the quantity of the goods actually received and thereafter mark the Electronic Shipping Bill and also hand over all original documents to the Dock Appraiser, who may assign a customs officer for the examination of the goods. If the Dock Appraiser is satisfied that the particulars entered in the system conform to the description given in the original documents, he may proceed to allow "let export" for the shipment.


Some source of information on agents are:

Specimen Copy of Agreement
An agreement made this the ....... day ....... of between .......(name and address) hereinafter called the exporters of the first part and ........ (name and address) hereinafter called the importers of the second part, wherein the exporters grant to the importers the importation and selling right in the territory of ..........(fill name of country) for .........(names and brief description of product) subject to the terms and conditions given below :


Witness.............. (Exporter)
Witness.............. (Importer)

Acquire Export License
Exports free unless regulated : The current Export Licensing Policy of the Government of India is contained in the new Import Export Policy and Procedures, 1997-2002 as amended upto 31.3.1999. The Policy and Procedures are amended from time to time and for latest position kindly refer to. However, for the sake of information of the prospective exporters, it may be stated that all goods may be exported without any restriction except to the extent such exports are regulated by the ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import items or any other provisions of this policy or any other law for the time being in force. The Director General of Foreign Trade may, however, specify through a Public Notice such terms and conditions according to which any goods, not included in the ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import items may be exported without a license. Such terms and conditions may include Minimum Export Price (MEP), registration with specified authorities, quantitative ceilings and compliance with other laws, rules, regulations.

Application for an Export License : An application for grant of export license in respect of items mentioned in Schedule 2 of ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import items may be made in the form given in Appendix-18A or 18B or 18C, as the case may be, to the Director General of Foreign Trade and shall be accompanied by the documents prescribed therein. The Export Licensing Committee under the Chairmanship of Export Commissioner shall consider such applications on merits for issue of export licenses special High Powered Licensing Committee under the Chairmanship of Director General of Foreign Trade shall consider applications for export of dual purpose chemicals and for special materials, equipment and technologies, as specified in Schedule 2 Appendix 5 and Schedule 2 Appendix 6 respectively of the book p 7 3 titled ITC(HS) Classifications of Export and Import items on the basis of guidelines issued in this regard from time to time.

Export of Canalised Items : An application for export of canalised items mentioned in ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import items may be made to the Director General of Foreign Trade.

Trade Fairs/Exhibitions : Any Indian wishing to organise any Trade Fair/Exhibition in India or abroad, would be required to obtain a certificate from an officer of the rank not below that of an Under Secretary to the Government of India, in the Ministry of Commerce, or an Officer of India Trade Promotion Organisation, duly authorised by its chairman in this behalf, to the effect that such exhibition, fair or as the case may be, similar show or display, has been approved or sponsored by the Government of India in the Ministry of Commerce or the India Trade Promotion Organisation and the same is being held in public interest.

Gifts/Spares/Replacement Goods : For export of gifts, indigenous/imported spares and replacement goods in excess of the prescribed ceiling/period, an application may be made to the Director General of Foreign Trade.

Export through Courier Service : Import/Exports through a registered courier service is permitted as per the Notification issued by the Department of Revenue. However, importability/exportability of such items shall be regulated in accordance with the policy.

Acquire Export Credit Insurance
Export credit insurance protects you from the consequences of the payment risks, both political and commercial. It enables you to expand your overseas business without fear of loss. Further, it creates a favorable climate for you under which you can hope to get timely and liberal credit facilities from the banks at home.

You can obtain Export Credit Insurance from the Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation of India Limited. In order to provide you Export Credit Insurance, the following covers are issued by the ECGC :

Standard policies to protect you against the risk of not p 7 3 receiving payment while trading with overseas buyers on short-term credit.

Specific policies designed to protect you against the risk of not receiving payment in respect of:

The policies are either:

Whole Turnover Policies in the form of 'Open Cover' in respect of shipments made during 24 months period. You have to obtain credit limit on each one of your buyers to enable ECGC to approve a limit on the basis of credit worthiness of the buyer. These policies are basically similar to whole turnover policies but only apply to specific contracts.

Specific Policies for exports of capital goods on medium or long-term credit, turnkey projects, civil construction works and technical services.These policies are basically similar to whole turnover policies but only apply to specific contracts.

Financial guarantees issued to banks against risk involved in providing credit or guarantee facilities to you, and

Special schemes viz. transfer guarantee issued to protect banks which add confirmation to letters of credit, Insurance cover for Buyers' Credit, Lines of Credit, Joint Ventures and Overseas Investment Insurance, and Exchange Fluctuation Risk Insurance. The other guarantees which banks can offer to youthrough ECGC schemes are :--- Bid Bonds, --- Advance Payments Guarantee,--- Bank guarantee for due performance of the contract by the exporter,---Bank guarantee for payment of retention money,--- Bank guarantee for loans in foreign currencies. Details of these schemes can be obtained from your own banker or local office of the Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.

The Shipments (Comprehensive Risks) Policy is the one ideally suited to cover risks in respect of goods exported on short-term credit. Shipments to associates or to agents and those against letter of credit can be covered for only political risks by suitable endorsements to the shipments (comprehensive risks) Policy. Premium is charged on such shipments at lower rates.

For obtaining a policy you should apply to the nearest office of the ECGC in the prescribed Form no.121 (obtainable from ECGC) along with the following documents :
After examining the proposal, ECGC would send the exporter an offer letter stating the terms of its cover and premium rates. The policy will be issued after the exporter conveys his consent to the premium rate and pays a non-refundable policy fee of Rs. 100 for policies with maximum liability limit p 7 3 upto Rs. 5 lakhs; Rs. 200 between Rs. 5 lakhs and Rs. 20 lakhs and Rs. 100 for each additional Rs. 10 lakhs or part thereof subject to a ceiling of Rs. 2500.As commercial risks are not covered in the absence of a credit limit, you are advised to apply to ECGC for approval of credit limit on buyer in the prescribed Form No:144 (obtainable from ECGC) before making shipment. Credit limit is the limit upto which claim can be paid under the policy for losses on account of commercial risks. If no application for credit limit on a buyer has been made, ECGC accepts liability for commercial risks upto a maximum of Rs. 5,00,000 for D.P./C.A.D. transactions and Rs. 2,00,000 for D.A. transactions provided that at least three shipments have been effected to the buyer during the preceding two years on similar terms, at least one of them was not less than the discretionary limit availed of by the exporter and the buyer had made payment on the due dates.

» Arranging Finance
Financial assistance to the exporters are generally provided by Commercial Banks, before shipment as well as after shipment of the said goods. The assistance provided before shipment of goods is known as per-shipment finance and that provided after the shipment of goods is known as post-shipment finance. Pre-shipment finance is given for working capital for purchase of raw-material, processing, packing, transportation, ware-housing etc. of the goods meant for export. Post-shipment finance is provided for bridging the gap between the shipment of goods and realization of export proceeds. The later is done by the Banks by purchasing or negotiating the export documents or by extending advance against export bills accepted on collection basis. While doing so, the Banks adjust the pre-shipment advance, if any, already granted to the exporter.

Pre-Shipment Finance
An application for pre-shipment advance should be made by you to your banker along with the following documents:

Confirmed export order/contract or L/C etc. in original. Where it is not available, an undertaking to the effect that the same will be produced to the bank within a reasonable time for verification and endorsement should be given. An undertaking that the advance will be utilised for the specific purpose of procuring/manufacturing/shipping etc., of the goods meant for export only, as stated in the relative confirmed export order or the L/C. If you are a sub-supplier and want to supply the goods to the Export/Trading/Star Trading House or Merchant Exporter, an undertaking from the Merchant

Exporter or Export/Trading/Star Trading House stating that they have not/will p 7 3 not avail themselves of packing credit facility against the same transaction for the same purpose till the original packing credit is liquidated. Copies of Income Tax/Wealth Tax assessment Order for the last 2-3 years in the case of sole proprietary and partnership firm. Copy of Exporter's Code Number (CNX). Copy of a valid RCMC (Registration-cum-Membership Certificate) held by you and/or the Export/Trading/ StarTrading House Certificate. Appropriate policy/guarantee of the ECGC.

Any other document required by the Bank. For encouraging exports, R.B.I. has instructed the banks to grant preshipment advance at a concessional rate of interest. The present rate of interest is 10% p.a. for preshipment advance upto an initial period of 180 days. Preshipment advance for a further period of 90 days is given at the concessional rate of 13% p.a. Banks are free to determine the interest rate for advances beyond 270 days and upto 360 days.

Following special schemes are also available in respect of pre-shipment finance:

Exim Bank's scheme for grant of foreign currency pre-shipment credit to exporters for financing cost of imported inputs for manufacture of export products.
Scheme of export packing credit to sub-suppliers from export order.

Packing credit for deemed exports.

Pre-shipment Credit in Foreign Currency (PCFC). For further details refer to Nabhi's "How to Borrow from Financial and Banking Institutions".

Post Shipment Finance
Post-shipment finance is the finance provided against shipping documents. It is also provided against duty drawback claims. It is provided in the following forms:

Purchase of Export Documents drawn under Export Order: Purchase or discount facilities in respect of export bills drawn under confirmed export order are generally granted to the customers who are enjoying Bill Purchase/Discounting limits from the Bank. As in case of purchase or discounting of export documents drawn under export order, the security offered under L/C by way of substitution of credit-worthiness of the buyer by the issuing bank is not available, the bank financing is totally dependent upon the credit worthiness of the buyer, i.e. the importer, as well as that of the exporter or the beneficiary. The documents dawn on DP basis are parted with through foreign correspondent only when payment is received while in case of DA bills documents (including that of title to the goods) are passed on to the overseas importer against the acceptance of the draft to make payment on maturity. DA bills are thus unsecured. The bank financing against export bills is open to the risk of non-payment. Banks, in order to enhance security, generally opt for ECGC policies and guarantees which are issued in favor of the exporter/banks to protect their interest on percentage basis in case of non-payment or delayed payment which is not on account of mischief, mistake or negligence on the part of exporter. Within the total limit of policy issued to the customer, drawee-wise limits are generally fixed for individual customers. At the time of purchasing the bill bank has to ascertain that this drawee limit is not exceeded so as to make the bank ineligible for claim in case of non-payment.

Advances against Export Bills Sent on Collection: It may sometimes be possible to avail advance against export bills sent on collection. In such cases the export bills are sent by the bank on collection basis as against their purchase/discounting by the bank. Advance against such bills is granted by way of a 'separate loan' usually termed as 'post-shipment loan'. This facility is, in fact, another form of post- shipment advance and is sanctioned by the bank on the same terms and conditions as applicable to the facility of Negotiation/Purchase/Discount of export bills. A margin of 10 to 25% is, however, stipulated in such cases. The rates of interest etc., chargeable on this facility are also governed by the same rules. This type of facility is, however, not very popular and most of the advances against export bills are made by the bank by way of negotiation/purchase/discount.

Advance against Goods Sent on Consignment Basis: When the goods are exported on consignment basis at the risk of the exporter for sale and eventual remittance of sale proceeds to him by the agent/consignee, bank may finance against such transaction subject to the customer enjoying specific limit to that effect. However, the bank should ensure while forwarding shipping documents to its overseas branch/correspondent to instruct the latter to deliver the document only against Trust Receipt/Undertaking to deliver the sale proceeds by specified date, which should be within the prescribed date even if according to the practice in certain trades a bill for part of the estimated value is drawn in advance against the exports.

Advance against Undrawn Balance: In certain lines of export it is the trade practice that bills are not to be drawn for the full invoice value of the goods but to leave small part undrawn for payment after adjustment due to difference in rates, weight, quality etc. to be ascertained after approval and inspection of the goods. Banks do finance against the undrawn balance if undrawn balance is in conformity with the normal level of balance left undrawn in the particular line of export subject to a maximum of 10% of the value of export and an undertaking is obtained from the exporter that he will, within 6 months from due date of payment or the date of shipment of the goods, whichever is earlier surrender balance proceeds of the shipment. Against the specific prior approval from Reserve Bank of India the percentage of undrawn balance can be enhanced by the exporter and the finance can be made available accordingly at higher rate. Since the actual amount to be realised out of the undrawn balance, may be less than the undrawn balance, it is necessary to keep a margin on such advance.

Advance against Retention Money: Banks also grant advances against retention money, which is payable within one year from the date of shipment, at a concessional rate of interest up to 90 days. If such advances extend beyond one year, they are treated as deferred payment advances which are also eligible for concessional rate of interest.

Advances against Claims of Duty Drawback: Duty Drawback is permitted against exports of different categories of goods under the 'Customs and Central Excise Duty Drawback Rules, 1995'. Drawback in relation to goods manufactured in India and exported means a rebate of duties chargeable on any imported materials or excisable materials used in manufacture of such goods in India or rebate on excise duty chargeable under Central Excises Act, 1944 on certain specified goods. The Duty Drawback Scheme is administered by Directorate of Duty Drawback in the Ministry of Finance. The claims of duty drawback are settled by Custom House at the rates determined and notified by the Directorate. As per the present procedure, no separate claim of duty drawback is to be filed by the exporter. A copy of the shipping bill presented by the exporter at the time of making shipment of goods serves the purpose of claim of duty drawback as well. This claim is provisionally accepted by the customs at the time of shipment and the shipping bill is duly verified. The claim is settled by customs office later. As a further incentive to exporters, Customs Houses at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Chandigarh, Hyderabad have evolved a simplified procedure under which claims of duty drawback are settled immediately after shipment and no funds of exporter are blocked.

However, where settlement is not possible under the simplified procedure exporters may obtain advances against claims of duty drawback as provisionally certified by customs.

Negotiation of Export documents Drawn under L/C: This aspect has been discussed in the chapter on Special Care for negotiation of Export Documents under Letter of Credit.

Rates-of-Interest
The rate of interest depends on the nature of the Bills, i.e., whether it is a demand bill or usance bill. Like pre-shipment, post-shipment finance is also available at concessional rate of interest. Present Rates of interest are as under:

Demand Bills for transit period not exceeding ( as specified by FEDAI) 10% p.a.

Usance Bills (for total period comprising usance period of ex-port bills, transit period as specified by FEDAI and grace period, wherever applicable:

Against duty drawback etc., receive- Not exce-vable from Government covered by adding 10%ECGC guarantees (upto 90 days) p.a. 4. Against undrawn balance (upto 90 days) -- do -- 5.Against retention money (for suppl- -- do -- ies portion only) payable within one year from the date of shipment (upto90 days)

Normal Transit Period : Foreign Exchange Dealers Association of India (FEDAI) has fixed transit period for export bills drawn on different countries in the world. The concept of this transit period is that an export bill should normally be realised within that period. The transit period so fixed by FEDAI is known as 'Normal Transit Period' and mainly depends on geographical location of a particular country.

Direct and Indirect Bill : If the currency of the bill is the same as the currency of the country on which it is drawn, it is termed as direct bill, e.g. an export bill in US $ drawn on a place in U.S.A. However, if the currency of the bill in which it is drawn is different than the currency of the country on which it is drawn, it is termed as indirect bill, e.g. an export bill in US $ drawn on a place in Japan. The normal transit period fixed for indirect bill is on higher side as compared to transit period fixed for direct bills.

Notional Due Date : To determine the due date of an export bill we have to consider the following 3 components: (1) Normal transit period as fixed by FEDAI (2) Usance period of the bill (3) Grace period if applicable in the country on which the bill is drawn. Grace period is applicable only in the case of usance bills. The notional due date of an export bill may thus be calculated after adding all the above 3 components The concessional rate of interest is chargeable upto the notional due date subject to a maximum of 90 days.

FORFAITING FINANCE BY AUTHORISED DEALERS : Reserve Bank has now permitted the authorised dealers (Banks) to arrange forfeiting of medium term export receivables p 7 3 on the same lines as per the scheme of EXIM Bank and many International forfeiting agencies have now become active in Indian market. Forfeiting may be usefully employed as an additional window of export finance particularly for exports to those countries for which normal exports credit is not intended by the commercial banks. It must be noted that charges of forfaiting are eventually to be passed on to the ultimate buyer and should, therefore, be so declared on relative export declaration forms.

EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL BORROWINGS: Proposals for raising foreign currency loans/credits viz., Buyer's Credits, Supplier's Credits or Lines of Credits by firms/companies/lending institutions, banks, etc. for financing cost of import of goods, technology or for any other purposes, other than short-term loans/credits maturing within one year should first be submitted to government of India, Ministry of Finance (Department Economic Affairs), ECB Division, New Delhi for necessary clearance. The proposals are considered by the government on merits of each case and in the light of prevailing Government policy. For details refer to (1) NABHI'S FOREIGN EXCHANGE MANUAL & (2) NABHI'S MANUAL OF SEBI GUIDELINES ON CAPITAL ISSUES, EURO ISSUES, MERCHANT BANKNG & MUTUAL FUNDS.

EXIM BANK FINANCE: Besides commercial banks, export finance is also made available by the EXIM bank. The EXIM bank provides financial assistance to promote Indian exports through direct financial assistance , overseas investment finance, term finance for export production and export development, pre-shipment credit, lines of credit, re-lending facility, export bills re-discounting, refinance to commercial banks, finance for computer software exports, finance for export marketing and bulk import finance to commercial banks. The EXIM Bank also extends non-funded facility to Indian exports in the form of guarantees. The diversified lending programme of the EXIM Bank now covers various stages of exports, i.e. from the development export markets to expansion of production capacity for exports, production for export and post shipment financing. The EXIM Bank's focus is on export of manufactured goods, project exports, exports of technology, services and export of computer software.

Forfaiting Finance from EXIM Bank: A new financing option for the Indian exporters is available under the forfaiting finance Scheme recently introduced by the EXIM Bank. Forfaiting is a form of trade finance involving discounting of medium-term export receivables with or without recourse to the exporter. The arrangement envisages discounting by Indian exporters of bill of exchange/promissory notes relating to export transactions which are "avalised" or guaranteed by the buyer's bankers with overseas forfaiting agencies on "without recourse" basis.Briefly, the procedure involved in the scheme of for p 7 3 faiting finance by the Exim Bank is as follows:

Exporter initiates negotiations with the prospective overseas buyer with regard to the basic contract price, period of credit, rate of interest, etc., After successful negotiations, he furnishes the relevant particulars such as name and country of overseas buyer, contract value, nature of goods, tenure of credit, name and country of guaranteeing bankers to the Exim Bank and requests for an indicative discounting quote. Exim Bank obtains the indicative quote of forfaiting discount together with commitment fee and other charges, if any, to be paid by the exporter, from an overseas forfaiting agency.

On receipt of the indicative quote from the Exim Bank, the exporter finalises the terms of the contract, loading the discount and other charges in the value and approaches Exim Bank for obtaining a firm quote. Exim Bank arranges to get the same from an appropriate overseas forfaiting agency and furnishes the same to the exporter. At this stage, exporter would be required to confirm acceptance of the arrangement to Exim Bank within a specific period as stipulated by that Bank.
The export contract clearly indicates that the overseas buyer shall prepare a series of avalised Promissory Notes in favour of the exporter and hand them over against the shipping documents to his banker. The Prommissory Notes will be endorsed with the words without recourse by the exporter and handed over to his banker in India for onward transmission to the Exim Bank.

Alternatively, the export contract may provide for exporter to draw a series of Bills of exchange on the overseas buyer which will be sent with the shipping documents through latter's banker for acceptance by the overseas buyer. Overseas buyer's banker will handover the documents against acceptance of Bills of Exchange by the buyer and signature of 'aval' or the guaranteeing bank. Avalised and accepted bills of exchange will be returned to the exporter through his banker. Exporter will endorse avalised Bills of Exchange with the words 'without recourse' and return them to his banker for onward transmission to the Exim Bank.

Exim Bank will forward the Bills of Exchange/Promissory Notes after verification to the forfaiting agency for discounting by the latter.

Exim Bank will arrange to collect the discounted proceeds of Promissory Notes/Bills of Exchange from the overseas forfaiting agency and effect payment to the nostro account of the exporter's bank as per the latter's instruction.

» Important Tips for Exporters

Understand Foreign Exchange Rates & Protect Against their Adverse Movement

Forward - Contracts
Elimination of exchange risk due to movement in the exchange rat can be avoided by the following options :

First alternative is possible only when the buyer agrees to it. He may have his own reasons for not agreeing to invoice in Indian rupees. The second alternative is commonly resorted to. This alternative involves booking of forward exchange contract with your bank.

This means that pending submission of documents to the bank for purchase/negotiation, you have made firm commitment with the bank under which you agree to sell to the bank foreign exchange at a future date/period and the bank agrees to purchase at the firm rate the foreign exchange to be tendered by you on that date / during the agreed period.

Thus you are in a position to know in advance the exchange rate you are going to get on submission of your export documents. Thus, though you have to pay some charge for booking a forward contract, you are certain about the rupee amount of the bill on conversion of foreign currency at a future date. For booking a forward contract, you should approach your bank with whom you are enjoying a credit limit.

The bank will book a forward contract only against a firm export order showing description and quantity of the goods to be supplied, aggregate price and approximate date of shipment. The bank can accept telex, cable order/fax in this regard, provided you give an undertaking to produce the original one. Where shipment has already been completed, forward contract will be booked on the basis of export bill tendered by you. It can also be booked against an irrevocable Letter of Credit provided L/C is complete in all respects and you give a declaration to the bank that you have not booked any forward contract against the underlying sale contract covering shipments under the L/C. You must ensure delivery of the related documents within the agreed period of the contract. In case you fail to deliver the documents within the specified period, the forward contract needs to be cancelled and fresh contract booked for which your bank will levy cancellation charges as per the FEDAI Rules.

In case the documents are delivered before the stipulated period, it will involve early delivery and bank will levy charges for the early delivery, as per FEDAI Rules. Where the documents are not delivered at all, contract has to be cancelled either at your request or by the bank itself under certain circumstances, and this will entail cancellation charges as per the FEDAI Rules.

It, therefore becomes extremely important that the period of delivery of the export documents is carefully chosen and strictly adhered to, so as to avoid unnecessary charges on account of early delivery or cancellation of forward contracts. However, facility for substitution of export order is permitted by RBI on specific request if the unfulfilled export order and the substituted order is for the same commodity.

» Procuring/Manufacturing Goods for Export & their Inspection by Government Authorities


» Labeling, Packaging, Packing and Marking Goods
An important stage after manufacturing of goods or their procurement is their preparation for shipment. This involves labeling, packaging, packing and marking of export consignments. Labeling requirements differ from country to country and the same should be ascertained well in advance from the buyer. The label should indicate quality, quantity, method of use etc. Special international care labels have been specified for the textile items by GINITEX, and the same should be scrupulously adhered to. Packaging fulfills a vital role in helping to get your export products to the market in top condition, as well as in presenting your goods to the overseas buyer in an attractive way. While packaging, quality should not be compromised merely to cut down costs, packaging should also be in conformity with the instructions issued by the importer. Packing refers to the external containers used for transportation . The shape of packing cases play a very important role in packing the cargo, and the nature of packing material to be used will depend upon the items exported As regard specification for the size, weight and strength care must be taken to ensure that the weight of standard case does not exceed 50 Kg. for easy handling of the cargo. Before packing and sealing the goods, it should be ensured that all the contents are properly placed in the case and the list of contents of packing notes should be prepared so that the buyer, the Customs authorities and the Insurance authorities can easily check the contents of each and every case.

The consolidated statement of contents for a number of case is called the Packing List, which should be prepared in the prescribed standardised format.

Marking means to mark the address, number of packages etc. on the packets. It is essential for identification purpose and should provide information on exporters' mark, port of destination, place of destination, order number and date, gross, net and tare weight and handling instructions. It should also be ensured that while putting marks, the law of buyer's country is duly compiled with.

All shipping cases should be marked a number with special symbols selected by the exporters or the importers, so that the competitors cannot find out the details of the customers and the country of destination or supplier's country of despatch. Care should also be taken to ensure that the marking conforms to those written in the invoice, insurance certificate, bill of lading and other documents. The International Cargo Handling Co-ordination, Association has set out for the use of exporters a number of recommendations for the marking of goods carried by ocean-going vessels. They are equally useful for sending goods by other modes of transportation.

Suggestions
The marks should appear in certain order. Essential data should be placed in oblong frames with lines 1.5 centimeters thick, and subsidiary information should be placed in another type of frame.

Declaration on large packages should be placed on two continuous sides, and for consignments bound together on a pallet, also on the top.

Handling instructions should be placed on all four sides. Similar packages, such as goods in sacks, should be marked on two opposite sides.

Lettering should be at least 7.5 centimeters high for essential data, and at least 3.5 centimeters for subsidiary data. If the package is too small for such letter, other sizes may be used, but in the same ratio. The sizes of the symbols should also be in proportion to the size of the package and of the other markings.

Only fast dyes should be used for lettering. Essential data should be in black and subsidiary data in a less conspicuous colour; red and orange lettering should be reversed for dangerous goods only. For food packed in sacks, only harmless dyes should be employed, and the dye should not come through the packing in such a way as to affect the goods.

Stick-on labels should only be used on individual package or parcel and all old labels should be removed. Marking should be made by stencil or by branding or by pencil or brush without a stencil. If stencils are used, care should be taken that the letters and figures are perfectly legible to prevent confusion. This is especially true of the letters and figures --- B.R.P, O, G-G-D-C, H.N; 3-8 : 6-9 and 1-7.

The surface to be marked should be smooth and clean. If packages are to be bonded, they can be marked before this is done; the hoops should not however, cover the markings.

The figure should indicate the total number of packages making up the consignment and the consecutive number of the individual package. For example :1520/15/1 identifies the first package of a total number of 15 packets and 1520/15/15 the last one.

The name of the ship and the bill of lading number should be shown when this is possible. Handling instructions must appear in the language of the exporter and importer, and also, if possible, in the language of the countries where goods are to be handled en route or trans shipped.

New Excise Procedure
All excisable goods exported out of India are exempt from payment of Central Excise Duties, for which two different procedures have been approved :

Rebate of Duty on Goods Export Procedure
Under the first procedure, known as 'Rebate of duty on Goods Export. The manufacturer has first to pay the excise duty on goods meant for export and then claim refund of the same after exportation of such goods to countries except Nepal and Bhutan. This is done under Rule 12 of Central Excise Rules. Under this rule, rebate of duty is granted for the finished stage as well as input stage. Rebate of duty in respect of the excisable materials used in the manufacture of the exported goods shall not be allowed if the exporter avails of the drawback allowed under the Customs and Central Excise Duties Drawback Rules, 1995 or Modvat. The following procedure should be followed while exporting under the rebate of duty. Removal of goods under claim of rebate from a factory or warehouse without examination by the Central Excise Officers. The exporters are allowed to remove the goods for export on their own without getting the goods examined by the Central Excise Officers. Form AR4 in such cases should be prepared in sixtuplicate, giving all particulars and declarations. The exporter shall deliver triplicate, and quadruplicate, quintuplicateand sixtuplicate copies of AR4 to the Superintendent of Central Excise having jurisdiction over the factory or the warehouse, within 24 hours of the removal of the consignment and would retain the original and duplicate copies for presenting along with the consignment to the Customs Officer at the point of export. The jurisdictional superintendent of Central Excise examines the information contained in AR4 and verifies the facts of payment of duty and other certificates/declarations made by the exporter. After he is satisfied that the information contained in the AR4 is true, he signs at appropriate places in the four copies of AR4 submitted to him and plus his stamp with his name and designation below his signature. He would then dispose of the triplicate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate and sixtuplicate copies of AR4 as under:-


Procedure for exports under Central Excise Seal Where the exporter desires the sealing of the goods by the Central Excise Officers so that the export goods may not be examined by the Customs Officers at the Port/Airport of shipment, he should present an AR4 application in sixtuplicate to the Superintendent of Central Excise having jurisdiction over the factory/warehouse at least 24 hours before the intended removal of the export goods from the factory/warehouse. The Superintendent of Central Excise may depute an Inspector of Central Excise or may himself go for sealing and examination of the export consignment. Where the AR4 indicates that the export is in discharge of an export obligation under a Quantity-based advance License or a Value-based Advance License issued under the Duty Exemption Scheme, in such cases the consignment is invariably examined and sealed by the Superintendent of Central Excise himself. The Central Excise Officer examining the consignment would draw samples wherever necessary in triplicate. He would hand over two sets of samples, duly sealed, to the exporter or his authorized agent, for delivering to the Customs Officers at the point of export. He would retain the third set for his records. The export consignment is carefully examined vis-`-vis the description of goods, their value and other particulars/declarations on the AR4. The Central Excise Officer verifies the facts of payment of duty and other certificates/declarations made by the exporter. After he is satisfied that the information contained in the AR4 is true he would allow the clearances and also sign all the six copies of the AR4 at appropriate places and put his stamp with his name and designation below his signature. The copies of AR4 are disposed of as under:


Export under Bond Procedure
Under the second procedure known as "Exports Under Bond" goods can be exported out of India except to Nepal or Bhutan without prior payment of duty subject to the execution of the Bond with security / security for a sum equivalent to the duty chargeable on the goods to be exported. This is done under Rule 13 of Central Excise Rules which deals with export of goods in Bond as well as utilisation of raw materials etc. without payment of duty for manufacture and export of excisable goods. The following procedure has been prescribed in this regard.

» RBI Regulations on Exports
Exports

Status Holder redefined

One Star Export House	- Rs.15 crore
Two Star Export House	- Rs.100 crore
Three Star Export House	- Rs. 500 crore
Four Star Export House	- Rs. 1500 crore
Five Star Export House	- Rs. 5000 crore

Facilities for Star Export Houses

International Credit Card

Software exports

RBI permission required

General Permission

Authorised Dealers' obligations

Follow up of overdue bills

Reduction in invoice value

Self write off

Extension of time

» Imports

Role of Authorised Dealers

Advance Remittance

Evidence of Import-AD's obligation

Import Evidence-Follow up

Risk Management

Limit for forward contracts

Export Credit

Interest rate on export credit

Exchange rate stability to help exporters

CERTIFICATE OF EXPORT

BCX
[Paragraph 9A.2(iii) and 9A.12]

Telephone:	Name and address of ...............................................
Telex :	Authorised Dealer ....................................................
Fax :	Uniform Code No. of Branch .....................................
Serial No.	Date ...........

We hereby certify that the position regarding export bills negotiated or sent for collection by us on account of
M/s......................................................................................... ...................
(Name & address of the exporter) (Importer/Exporter Code No.)
in respect of the first/second half year of the year ending June/December .................. is shown hereunder :

Destination of Exports Country/ies	Total amount of export bills realised	Value of export bills outstanding beyond the due date or six months from the date of shipment, whichever is earlier, as on date of issue of certificate	Remarks
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
1.
2.
3.
Total :

We certify that out of the total amount shown under column (3), extension of time has been obtained from the Reserve Bank in respect of bills of the value Rs..................................

Signature ..............................................	Signature .............................….......
Name …..............................................	Name .............................……........
Designation ..........................................	Designation ...................................
First Authorised Signatory	Second Authorised Signatory

Stamp

» Other Documents Required

Certain documentation takes place while exporting from India. Special documents may be required depending on the type of product or destination. Certain export products may require a quality control inspection certificate from the Export Inspection Agency. Some food and pharmaceutical product may require a health or sanitary certificate for export.

Shipping Bill/ Bill of Export is the main document required by the Customs Authority for allowing shipment. Usually the Shipping Bill is of four types and the major distinction lies with regard to the goods being subject to certain conditions which are mentioned below:

The following are the documents required for the processing of the Shipping Bill:

The formats presented for the Shipping Bill are as given below:

Note :- For the goods which are cleared by Land Customs, Bill of Export (also of 4 types - white, green, yellow & pink) is required instead of Shipping Bill.

» Documents Required for Post Parcel Customs Clearance

In case of Post Parcel, no Shipping Bill is required. The relevant documents are mentioned below: