| Aug 11 2025 |
1 |
Restoration of RoDTEP scheme for EOUs and SEZ |
Industry demands for Restoration of RoDTEP scheme for EOUs and SEZ |
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On constant follow-up by the EPCES, vide DGFT Notification No 26.5.2025, the Government has restored the RoDTEP scheme for SEZs and EOUs with effect from 1.6.2025 |
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| Aug 05 2025 |
2 |
Granting of Duty Exemption to "Cy-Tb Skin Test (CTH 3006 3000) for the diagnosis of TB infection" under National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) for supplies made from Special Economic Zone to Domestic Tariff Area under National Tuberculosis |
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The representation received from M/s Serum Institute of India has been taken up with the D/o Revenue and D/o Commerce. It has also been proposed that a special tariff line may be created on the pattern of supply of electrical energy from SEZ to DTA under the S No 146A, 146B, 146C in respect of CTH 27160000 vide notification no 9/2016-Customs dated 16.2.2016. |
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| Aug 05 2025 |
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Minor amendments in new SEZ Rule 11B - Only proportionate duty benefits to be returned |
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Minor Changes in Rule 11B for IT/ITES SEZs should be carried out so that only proportionate duty benefits under Rule 11B (5(ii)) are to be returned for social and commercial infrastructure and no tax benefits under Rule 11B (9) should be ensured only on O&M of proportional common infrastructure and facilities. |
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| Aug 05 2025 |
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Permitting IT/ITES developers for installation of RoofTop Solar Power plants as part of infrastructure/authorised operations for providing electricity in common areas. |
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Vide Instructions No 116, the Development Commissioners have been requested to consider such requests from Developers/Co-developers in terms of Para l(i) of the DoC Power Guidelines dated 16.02.2016. However, there is still some lack of clarity in DC offices about declaring rooftops as Non processing area. |
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| Aug 05 2025 |
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Accumulated IGST 7. Difficulty in implementation of Instruction No 117 dated 24.9.2024 regarding new FTWZ Operational FrameworkCash Balance lying on GST portal related to DTA removal |
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DoC,vide Instruction No 117 dated 24.9.2024, has issued guidelines for Operational Framework of FTWZ and Warehousing units in SEZs. It has been provided that the units should have a temper-proof ERP/SAP system and the transfer of goods from one FTWZ to another FTWZ should not be allowed except in specific and exceptional cases after consideration by the UAC. FTWZs/Units have represented about the cost implication of these guidelines and that restrictions on FTWZ to FTWZ transfer to be in violation of the SEZ Rules. EPCES has requested to have a meeting with all stakeholders to address the concerns of the FTWZ / FTWZ Units. |
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| Aug 05 2025 |
6 |
Improving EODB - Streamlining endorsement of DTA invoices by SEZ SO/AO (In progress) |
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a. Need for some sample/risk based rather than 100% invoices examination
100% examination of DTA invoices for endorsement by SOs/AOs creates heavy workload per AO/SOs leading to huge delays. Since 100% examination is there, SOs/AOs ask for physical copies of related documents for their satisfaction of such DTA supplies before they endorse the invoices. This creates another problem. There should be uniform guidelines for some risk-based sample (5-10%) examination of DTA invoices and endorsement of other invoices on self-certification basis to reduce time.
b. Online instead of physical endorsement
There should be online endorsement of DTA invoices by the AO/SOs which should be acceptable by GST authorities so that DTA suppliers are able to get the due refund. API based integration of SEZ Online with GSTN should also be completed at the earliest.
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| Aug 05 2025 |
7 |
IGCR automation in EOUs |
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EPCES has been constantly taking up with the DoC and CBIC/DG Systems the difficulties being faced by the EOUs in automation of IGCR for EOUs with effect from 25.9.2024.
Auto-credit of bond based on IGCR3A filing has been made effective from March 2025. Similarly, auto-credit of bond based on quarterly return through IGCR3 filing has also been made effective from 27.6.2025. Units have reported success in filing and getting recredit. There are some difficulties which are being resolved by ICEGATE Team on the specially created WhatsApp group “EOUs onboarding IGCR”. A webinar was also done by the DG EPCES on 4.7.2025.
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| Aug 05 2025 |
8 |
Status of amendment in SEZ Act/DESH Bill |
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During the Review meeting of the Export Promotion Council taken by Hon’ble Commerce & Indutry Minister on 30.6.2025, a presentation was made on amendment in SEZ Act for allowing DTA sale on “Duty Foregone Basis” provision for reverse job work, receipt for Services rendered by SEZ units to DTA in INR, enabling services like MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) and space related. Besides, Ease of Doing Business will also be improved through establishment of precleared zones to enable plug and play operations by units, acceptance of trust based self-declaration and having a negative list for approvals in place of specific list of authorised activities for approval. The objective of the proposed reforms was to simplify the procedures, increase economies of scales, utilise the idle capacities at SEZs to realise the objectives of the country for achieving the US $ 5 Trillion economies by 2027.
The amendment Bill has to be first approved by the Union Cabinet and thereafter, it is likely to be introduced in the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.
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| Aug 05 2025 |
9 |
Deactivation of SEZ/EOU accounts on Steel Import Monitoring System |
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Steel Ministry suddenly deactivated SIMS accounts related to 169 SEZ and EOUs with reference to 899 cases of SIMS registration through SEZ/EOU route suspecting potential misuse by them regarding import of Steel items. Ministry of Steel stated vide their letter dated 4.6.2025 to the Commerce Ministry that itwas found that importers have uploaded blank or irrelevant documents, or provided files that do not substantiate their SEZ/EOU status. It was further pointed out that in some instances, declarations appeared arbitrary and are not backed by valid proof possibly to vail the benefit of exemption from QCO granted by DGFT Notification No 71/2024 dated 21.4.2024.
EPCES immediately took up the matter with the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Steel and represented bringing out the difficulties being faced by these EOUs and SEZ units. EPCES explained to the Commerce and Steel Ministries that it was not the fault of SEZs and EOUs as no guidelines or formats were prescribed for the submission of documents to avail the exemption from QCO for imports for manufacturing export products. In a short time, EPCES assisted Commerce Ministry to collect undertakings from the affected SEZs and EOUs in the correct format and other documents. Commerce Ministry vide their letter dated 20.6.2025 forwarded the same to the Steel Ministry and then the SIMS accounts of SEZs and EOUs were activated by the Steel Ministry.
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| Aug 05 2025 |
10 |
Restoration of RoDTEP scheme for EOUs and SEZ |
Restoration of RoDTEP scheme for EOUs and SEZ |
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On constant follow-up by the EPCES, vide DGFT Notification No 26.5.2025, the Government has restored the RoDTEP scheme for SEZs and EOUs with effect from 1.6.2025 |
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