National Trade

Export Promotion of Horticulture Products from North Eastern Region

No.27/17/2002-States Cell
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
States Cell

Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi, the 4th April, 2003

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub : Export Promotion of Horticulture Products from North EasternRegion - Support under Export Development Fund.

The undersigned is directed to enclose a copy of the amended "Guidelines for Inland Transport Assistance of Horticulture Products from the North Eastern Region".

The scheme has been extended for the 10th Five Year Plan upto 31st March, 2007 and will be operated by APEDA. The amended scheme will be applicable with effect from 1st April, 2003.

APEDA is requested to give wide publicity to this decision of the Government.

(Swadesh Kumar)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Tele. 23014510

Shri S Dave
Director
APEDA
New Delhi.

GUIDELINES FOR INLAND TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE

Subject: Procedure for Grant of Inland Transport Assistance of Horticulture Products from the North East Region including Sikkim for the period of 10th Five Year Plan i.e from 15.07.2002 to 31.03.2007.

For promoting exports of agricultural products and processed food from NE Region it is proposed to grant Inland Transport Assistance for export of identified products as contained in Annexure I (A). The benefit will be available for ultimate export made with effect from 15.07.2002 to 31.03.2007. Assistance will be released through APEDA. The procedure and terms and conditions for claiming Transport Assistance will be as under and valid for exports shipment effected from 15th July, 2002 upto 31st March, 2007.

1. The application for Transport Assistance may be made in the prescribed form enclosed as Annexure II.

2. The applications received shall be considered on first come first served basis and subject to availability of funds.

3. Applications for Transport Assistance should be addressed to APEDA offices as per the details given here under:

4. The date of submission of claim in any APEDA office shall be the date of claim for consideration. Exporters should claim transport assistance on per shipment basis. However, application for shipments would be made on fortnightly basis, i.e. 1st to 15th and 16th to end of the calendar month.

5. Each claim should be accompanied by all the required documents mentioned in para (8) below along with a detailed statement furnishing shipment details (in the format given in Annexure III). All claims for shipment made within a fortnight should be bunched together and submitted as a single application with a summary statement on the top as per the format given in the application form at Annexure (IV).
   The date of flight/mentioned on the shipping bill/ date of Ship movement mentioned on ‘Bill of Lading’ will be deemed to be the date of shipment.

6. The information not provided in full for all shipments covered under the application, in the prescribed format, will be summarily rejected.

7. Consignment of eligible and non-eligible items should be sent separately. This means that documents to be submitted along with application i.e. shipping bills, roadways bill, Airways bill/ ‘bill of lading’ and Invoices should show only eligible items clearly specifying number of boxes, items, weight etc.

8. Applications should be accompanied with the following documents duly stamped and signed by the respective authorities :

1. Custom Certified exports promotion copy of the shipping bill (Air/ Sea) in original.

2. Self-certified photocopy of the original transport bill (or ‘Bilti’ issued by the transporter) for domestic road/ rail transport.

3. Self-certified photocopy of the original Roadways/ Airway Bill, for Domestic (if any) and Airway bill/ ‘Bill of Lading’ for International transport.

4. Custom certified short shipment Certificate in original, if any.

5. Photocopy of APEDA Registration Certificate.

6. Custom/ Bank certified copy of the commercial Invoice in original.

7. Certificate of realization of foreign exchange by Bank in original in Form No. 1 of Appendix 22 of Handbook of Procedures of Ministry of Commerce.

9. Alterations in the documents, if any, should be authenticated by Airlines / Custom Authorities /Other Authorities as the case may be. The documents with alterations in amount, quantity or any material facts alterations, not authenticated by acceptable authority, shall be rejected by APEDA.

10. Transport Assistance shall be paid only to the exporter effecting shipments for export only and not to any other party

11. The items exported along with their respective quantities should be individually mentioned on the invoice and the shipping bills along with HS Code.

12. The shipping bill as well as the invoice must clearly indicate the description of items, number of their packages / cartons along with the gross weight of each item separately. The Transport Assistance shall be paid on gross weight actually shipped and paid for. In case item wise details are not mentioned in the shipping bill or the invoice, exporters may produce any other material documentary proof in support of the items exported along with a sworn in affidavit.

13. The flight number as well as its date must be mentioned on the export promotion copy of the shipping bills as well as the airway bills.

14. Applications will be received by APEDA by following PRESCRIBED DATES :

1. Applications for the period from 15th July, 2002 to 31st March, 2007 (fortnight wise) to be submitted on or before the end of 7 fortnights from the expiry date of concerned fortnight. (See annexure VII)

15. In case of delay in submission of applications beyond the above prescribed date, the following penalties shall be imposed :

16. Wherever the details are incomplete and a letter has been issued by APEDA for resubmission of application with details and such details are not resubmitted by the exporter within the stipulated time, such applications shall also be rejected after 180 days of the "prescribed date".

17. In case of any doubts / disputes the matter will be referred to Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, whose decision shall be final and binding.

18. While submitting claim for Transport Assistance, the exporter shall also send a statement showing the Transport Assistance already received from APEDA (fortnight wise), or claims pending in APEDA.

19. If the information furnished by the applicant is found to be incorrect at any stage, the applicant shall be liable to return the whole amount of Transport Assistance received by him. APEDA shall also retain the right to impose any other penalty as it considers fit.

20. The Transport Assistance shall be released only after verification of the documents as contained in this letter and after verification of details and relevant documents/as may be required by APEDA. Exporters are advised to refer to the check list at Annexure VI while submitting the documents.

21. The rate of Transport Assistance for the eligible products shall be as under :

1. Re. 1 per kg if transported by road from North Eastern states to Guwahati for export by air from Guwahati international airport.

2. Rs. 2 per kg if transported from North Eastern States to Kolkata by rail through ICD, Guwahati.

3. Inland Transport Assistance on transportation by rail through ICD Guwahati @ Rs. 2 per kg for the products which can be taken by rail from North Eastern Region to any place in West Bengal for processing and export.

4. 90% of the air freight charged by airlines from an airport in the north eastern states and Bagdogra airport to Guwahati or Kolkata for exports.

5. APEDA to ensure appropriate verification of the goods that have been procured from North Eastern Region for exports.

6. The above rates are applicable to all fresh and processed fruits as mentioned in the ‘State-wise Table’ enclosed as Annexure I (A).

22. Items transported from NE Region for processing and exports outside the Nort Eastern States and Sikkim except West Bengal will not be eligible for assistance.

23. Transport Assistance shall be paid to the exporters only when a certificate of realization of foreign exchange on eligible products has been furnished in Form no. 1 (as given in Appendix 22 of the Handbook of Procedures issued by Ministry of Commerce) from the Bank. FOB realization of the products shall be maintained in US $ terms. (Please refer Annexure-V)

24. Transport Assistance shall be payable on GROSS WEIGHT basis only.

25. All claimants must ensure before sending the documents to APEDA or any regional office of APEDA that applications has been filed only for eligible items and for applicable destinations within the prescribed time along with the requisite documents certified by the concerned authorities.

26. H S Code [Annexure I (B)] is required in respect of all products in the Invoice and Shipping Bills.

27. In case the quantity shipped as per Air Way Bill is more than as per shipping bill, exporter’s claim should be restricted to the quantity as per the Shipping Bill.

28. Before filing application, the applicant shall ensure that the application is complete in all respects as per the above guidelines and the Check List in Annexure VI.

ANNEXURE NO. I(A).

1. All fresh & processed items (under APEDA Schedule) covered by approved AEZs.

2. All certified Organic products under the APEDA schedule.

3. The other select list of items on which transport assistance are as follows :

ANNEXURE – I(B)

IN LAND TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE

Annexure II

APPLICATION FOR INLAND TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE

For the Fortnight ending …… to ……..

1) a)   Name : ……………………………………
         Address : ……………………………………
                        ……………………………………
                        ……………………………………

         City: ……………………………………
         Pincode: ……………………………………

b) APEDA Registration No…………………………
    Registration Date…………………………………

2) a) Total amount of transport assistance claimed .…………..

    b) Transport assistance already received ……………

    c) Claims pending a) Fortnights ……………
                               b) Date of submission ……………
                               c) Office where submitted ……….

Declaration

1. The full text of the scheme under which this request for assistance is made available to me / us and I/we have read and understood the same. I am/ we are familiar with the procedures and terms and conditions of grant as set out in the scheme and understand and accept that these are binding on me / us.

2. I / we declare that the particulars stated above and in the annexure are correct and nothing has been withheld or concealed.

3. In case any portion of the goods is re-imported, the same would be brought to the notice of APEDA and the amount of transport assistance received in respect to such items would be immediately refunded.

Authorised Signatory

Place: Name (Block Letters)
Date: (Designation with seal of company)

ANNEXURE-III

DETAILS OF THE SHIPMENT

ANNEXURE -IV

SUMMARY OF SHIPMENT AND CLAIM FOR INLAND TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE

(Signature of the applicant)

Note: Each shipping claim should be enclosed in sequence, page numbering should be done and page number of documents of the start of each shipping bill and end of the shipping bill may be indicated for facilitating processing.

ANNEXURE -V

APPENDIX-22
BANK CERTIFICATE OF EXPORT AND REALISATION

FORM NO.1

To _________________________________________ (Name and address of Licensing Authority) We ___________________________ (Name and address of the Exporters) hereby declare that we have forwarded a documentary export Bill to _________________________ (Name and address of the bank i.e., Branch and City ) for collection/negotiation/purchase as per particulars given hereunder.

We further declare that the aforesaid particulars are correct. (Copies of invoices relevant to these exports and Customs attested EP. Copy of relevant Shipping Bill is attached for verification by the bank).

Signature of the exporter : …………………………
Name in block Letters: …………………………..

Place : ………………………………

Designation : ………………………………
Full official Address : ………………………………
Full Residential address: ………………………………

Official Seal/stamp

 
BANK’s CERTIFICATE

Authorised Foreign Exchange Dealer
Code No. allotted to the Bank by

RBI _____________________________
Ref No. ________________________________
Dated __________________________________
Place ___________________________________

1. This is to certify that we have verified the relevant Export Invoices, Customs attested E.P. Copy of Shipping Bill and other relevant documents of M/s. ______________________________. We further certify that the particulars given in Co. 1 to 17 have been verified the F.O.B. value mentioned in Col 14 above with reference to following documents : -

1. Bill of Lading/PP receipt /Airways Bill

2. Insurance policy/Cover/Insurance Receipt

2. We have also verified that the date of the connected mate receipt as indicated in the relevant Shipping Bill is ___________________________ (date to be given).

3. We have also verified that the date of Export is ___________________
   (Applicable only in respect of Exports by Air)

4. This is to certify that we have certified the amount of the Commission paid/.payable, as declared above, by the export i.e. ___________________________________________________________ (in figures and words) with G.R. Forms and found to be corrected

_____________________________________________

(Signature of the Bankers)
Full address of the Bankers

_______________________________________________

Branch and City _________________________________

Official Stamp.

Note :

1. Bank can issue a consolidated certificate (consignmentwise) for more than one consignment)

2. FOB actually realised and date of realisation of export proceeds are to be given in all cases except where consignment has been sent against conformed irrevocable letter of credit

3. This shall be required wherever specifically prescribed in the Policy/procedure.

Annexure-VI

INLAND TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR THE PERIOD

FROM 15th JULY 2002 TO 31st MARCH 2007 CHECKLIST FOR PROCESSING OF INLAND TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE CLAIMS

(The objective of the Check List is to facilitate the beneficiary in filling and filing their claims with APEDA. It does not necessarily means that the beneficiary will be eligible for the Financial Assistance on compliance of following check points)

1. Whether the beneficiary is registered with APEDA ?

2. Whether the copy of PAN No. allotted by Income Tax Deptt. Is mentioned in the application or alternatively the copy of acknowledgement received from Income Tax Deptt. Is given alongwith the application ?

3. Whether the claim is sent to the respective designated office of APEDA as per Notification ?

4. Whether the photocopy of APEDA Registration Certificate has been enclosed.

5. Whether the registration valid for the period during which the export was made.

6. Whether Annexure II i.e. Application for the subsidy is duly filled in the prescribed format and signed by the exporter.

7. Whether the fortnight is eligible period of respective Financial Year, within the AFS Scheme?

8. Whether the claim has been submitted within the prescribed time ? (otherwise it is subject to deduction of penalty/Total Rejection)

9. Whether the country to which export has been made is covered under the scheme ?

10. Whether all the claims submitted in a file, pertain to a single fortnight ? (There should be separate claim for each fortnight)

11. Whether the items are eligible as per Annexure I of APEDA Notification ?

12. Whether Annexure IV i.e. Summary of Shipping Bill wise claim has been submitted and that is duly signed by the beneficiary and there is no correction or alteration ?

13. Whether Annexure V - Bank Certificate for realization of foreign currency, giving Shipping Bill wise realization, has been submitted in prescribed format ?
    In case of certificate of realization of foreign exchange by Bank, Check :

1. Whether it is in the standard format (Form I) ?

2. Whether it is on the Bank Stationary ?.

3. Whether the name and address of the banker is clear on the certificate and it is properly signed and stamped ?

4. If there is any alteration, whether they are authenticated by the bank with signature and rubber stamp?

14. Whether Annexure III i.e. claim for airfreight assistance has been submitted separately for each shipment ?

15. Whether Annexure III has been signed by the beneficiary?

16. Whether a declaration to the effect that items are not airfreighted by Special/Chartered flights has been given on Annexure III ?

17. Whether the beneficiary has made separate Shipping Bills for eligible and non eligible items ?

18. Whether H.S. Codes of the items exported have been correctly mentioned on the shipping bill ?

19. Whether the declaration on shipping bill (on the reverse side) has been verified by the Custom authorities ?

20. Whether No. of packets and gross weight as mentioned on shipping bill reconcile with the same mentioned on other documents ?

21. Whether the shipment has been effected within the period of the fortnight, for which claim has been submitted ? (For this purpose flight date given on declaration on shipping bill is considered to be the actual date of shipment).

22. If there is any alteration on shipping bill, declaration on shipping bill, or on short shipment notice whether that is authenticated by the custom authorities with stamp and signature of the custom authorities?

23. If there is any alteration on Airway Bill whether that is authenticated by the cargo agent with his rubber stamp and initials?

24. Whether the weight, on which assistance has been claimed, has been actually exported?

25. Whether CIF Values, Airfreights and FOB Values as given in Annexure III are the same as given in the Certificate of realization of foreign currency?

26. In case of Papaya and Onion, whether the variety of papaya has been mentioned on shipping bill as well as on Invoice ?

27. Whether the beneficiary has submitted the complete set of documents alongwith each annexure III.viz.

1. Copy of the commercial invoice (in case of floriculture copy of Performa invoice) signed by the beneficiary in original and certified by the Custom Authorities or Bank ?

2. Self Attested photocopy of Airway Bill ?

3. Custom certified Export promotion copy of the Shipping Bill in original ?

4. A copy of short shipment notice, if any, certified by the Custom Authorities in original ?

5. All alterations, cuttings, overwriting are authenticated ?

28. Whether

1. Correct English names and relevant HS codes have been mentioned in all documents ?

2. The application has been completely filled up and the declaration has been signed ?

(Signature with Name and Seal of the company)

Place…………………..
Date……………………

Annexure VII

PRESCRIBED DATES FOR SUBMISSION OF CLAIMS

STATEMENT TO BE FORWARDED BY REGIONAL OFFICES ON FORTNIGHTLY BASIS FOR APPROVAL

The Regional Office shall forward the following information on E-Mail to APEDA Delhi for taking prior approval before disbursement of amount.

Abstract I
(Each Exporter’s File wise in horizontal format)

1. File No.

2. Name of Exporter

3. Fortnight ending

4. Date of Receipt

5. Shipping Bill details

6. Port of shipment

7. Destination Port

8. Description of Products

9. Quantity Claimed (Kgs.)

10. Gross Eligibility (Kgs.)

11. CIF Value (Rs.)

12. FOB Value (Rs.)

13. 25 % of IATA Rate (Rs.)

14. 1/3rd of or 50 % of FOB value (as the case may be) (Rs.)

15. Eligible ceiling of per Kg. Assistance (e.g. Rs. 10/- or Rs. 25/-)

16. Calimed Amount (as per application) (Rs.)

17. Entitlement of Exporter (least of Col. 13 to 15 above) (Rs.)

18. Penalty Amount (%)

19. Recommended Amount (Rs.)

Abstract II

1. Certificate of Chartered Accountant recommending the amount of assistance.

Abstract III
(Consolidated statement of disbursement for which approval sought for)

1. File No.

2. Name of Exporter

3. Amount Recommended as assistance (Product wise)