Application types under Advance Authorisation Scheme/Type of Norms

APPLICATION TYPES UNDER ADVANCE AUTHORISATION SCHEME / TYPE OF NORMS

Advance Authorisation Scheme (AAS) or Advance License Scheme is a type of duty exemption scheme introduced by the Government of India under the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020. Under this scheme, exemption from the payment of import duties is given to raw materials/inputs required for the manufacture of export products i.e., you can import raw materials/inputs at zero customs duty for the production of export products. The purpose of this scheme is to make India’s products competitive in the global market. When duties paid on raw materials are saved, it automatically brings down the cost of the final export product.

Exporters who are new to the Advance authorization scheme or even well-established exporters face this challenge as to which type of norm to select while opting for AA scheme, also many other questions like What are Standard input output norms (SION)? Is my export product falling under SION list? Will I get AA if my product is not under SION? If yes, How & what will be the procedure?

Please understand the main objective of the AA scheme is to allow duty free import of raw materials for production of export items only and at the same time the government has to ensure that no extra quantities of raw material are imported duty free and dumped into India. Because if such things happen then the domestic industry will be at loss and the economy will be disrupted.

First Type – SION Norms

As mentioned earlier the Government has to ensure and keep a check on duty free allowed quantity of raw materials against one unit of export item.

Therefore, for a few thousand common export items, the government has fixed the standard input output norms. In simple terms it means, Govt has fixed what all raw materials can be imported duty free against an export item and also fixed corresponding quantities for each raw material. Here input means raw materials or components and output means export item.

The image shows few of the products under SION List. It can be seen that the inputs that can be imported duty free and their corresponding quantities against one unit of export item are pre-notified by the DGFT and are fixed.

So before applying for new AA, Please always check whether the export item falls under the SION list or not.

Now what if your export item is not covered under SION list? Or even if it is covered in SION, you need more input or more input quantities? In all such cases also AA can be applied under the next type i.e. No Norms/Self Declaration basis.

Second Type – No Norms/Self-declaration basis

For example, your export item is Solar Modules, for which the major raw material is solar cells.

Solar Modules are currently not covered under SION, but you can still get an advance license for duty free import of solar cells under No norms/self-declaration basis.

Here self-declaration means that you declare to the Govt. how many solar cells you would need for making 1 no. of solar module. The DGFT will issue an AA on self-declaration basis.

However, the entire application will then go to the Norms Committee in DGFT Delhi for Ratification of Norms/Fixation of Norms. Here the Norms committee will decide whether the wastage proportion that you asked for is genuine or not? If not, they may reduce the duty free quantities and ratify the norms accordingly. For example, if, you have asked for 2% wastage in solar cells due to process loss, then the NC may allow entire 2% or can reduce it to 0.5 or 1% and fix the ad-hoc norms accordingly.

Third Type – No Norms/Self Ratification basis

If your export item is Solar modules, for which the SION norms are not fixed. But you are an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certification holder, then you can apply for AA on Self ratification basis.

It means that the DGFT will issue the Advance Authorization on the basis of the wastage proportion that you have asked for, and the application will also not go to the norms committee for ratification.

In a way it means that if you are an AEO holder the Govt. trusts you and issues license as per your requirement.

However, license issued under self-ratification are subject to post audit at any given point of time by respective authorities.

Fourth Type – No Norms/Repeat basis

For ease of doing business, if the norms for a particular export product is fixed by the Norms Committee, then the exporter need not approach the NC again for fixation of Norms.

The same norms can be used on a repeat basis for a period of 3 years from the meeting date or entire policy period, whichever is later.

Here an important thing is that one exporter can use the norms of other exporter as well.

For example, If the competitor has fixed norms for Solar module, then we can use the same norms and apply for AA under No Norms/repeat basis.

Fifth Type – Prior Fixation of norms

For some of the export items, Govt does not allow AA under any of the above categories. In such cases application for AA has to be made as per para 4.06 of HBP i.e. Prior fixation of Norms.

It means that AA will be issued only after the Norms are fixed for the product by the Norms Committee.

Sixth Type – Component Net to net basis

If you are planning to import components for your export items, which will just be assembled and no wastage will take place, in such cases application has to be made under Net to net basis.

For Example, your export item is Computer, then it is fixed that for one computer you will need one mouse, one keyboard, one CPU, one Monitor. So in this case all the inputs are components and there is no scope of wastage.

For all such products where there is no wastage of inputs, exporter can apply under Net to net basis and no fixation of Norms required by NC in such cases.

How can we help you?

We at Afleo Group, are a team of DGFT & Customs Experts having a rich experience of 10+ Years in Exim Consultancy & International Logistics [Freight Forwarding]. With our vast knowledge and experience in this field we can represent your case for all the activities pertaining to the Advance Authorisation scheme and get it cleared in a hassle free manner.

So do get in touch with us for any of your requirements and our team will be happy to help you.

Let us know if you have any doubts in the below section.

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Thank You.