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Norms Fixation under Advance License

Exporters and applicants must verify that imported goods and materials are utilized in the final products they’re shipping out of the country to adhere to Standard Input-Output Norms (SION). However, suppose the exporter wants to increase the amount of waste claimed or the number of inputs used in the production process.

In that case, the exporter might request a deviation from the requirements for the currently in place SION. Alternatively, the exporter can receive the standards set under para 4.07 of HBP even if the export product is not on the SION List. Any exporting manufacturer or exporting merchant can apply.

Thus, the DGFT may mandate that the exporter establish the norms for the number of inputs required per unit of the exported good. Norms Fixation, also known as the Fixation of Norms under Advance Authorization, is a process at the DGFT, Headquarters in New Delhi.

Standard Input-Output Norms (SION) are provided by the DGFT and detail the minimum number of inputs needed to create a given quantity of exportable output. Industries as diverse as chemicals and their byproducts, electronics, engineering, food, handicrafts, leather, plastics, sportswear, textiles, fish, and other marine goods are all covered by SION.

Periodically, the DGFT will post a notice on their website indicating when the next opportunity to correct and add SION will be. Here, we outline the steps to establish and maintain the Advance Authorizations system’s norms.

Categories of Norms

The two types of norms are as follows:

  • The standard input-output norms (SION)
  • Fixed Ad-hoc norms

The SION (Standard Input-Output Norms)

The amount of inputs needed to produce one unit of exportable output is defined by the Standard Input-Output Norms (SION) list. More than ten thousand products from a wide variety of categories are included. Manufacturer exporters and merchant-exporters who wish to change their current SION must apply to the DGFT’s main office first.

Fixed Ad-hoc norms

Suppose no Standard norms have been established for a given export item. In that case, the exporter must apply to the Norms Committee at DGFT New Delhi for either a Prior fixing of Norms or a Fixation of Norms following the issuance of an Advance License. All norms established in this way are collectively referred to as “Fixed Ad-hoc Norms.”

How Can an Exporter Look Up Norms?

Follow the steps below to search for preexisting SION guidelines:

  • Refer to [https://www.dgft.gov.in/CP/] for more information from the DGFT.
  • Check out the New Regulations
  • The exporter can view a list of chapter-specific notes by selecting the SION button.
  • The exporter can see the current SION of a chapter’s notes by clicking on the chapter’s name.
  • You can find a list of chapter-by-chapter notes below.

Chapter wise notes

  • Chemical and allied products
  • Electronics products
  • Engineering products
  • Fish and marine products
  • Food products
  • Handicrafts
  • Leather products
  • Plastics parts
  • Sports goods
  • Textile and readymade garments, hosiery, and knitwears
  • Miscellaneous products

As an additional resource, exporters can view the following information regarding SION’s Ad-hoc Norms, No Norms, and Self-Declaration Norms:

  • Check out the DGFT’s online resources.
  • To view the most recent regulations, please visit the Regulatory Updates page.
  • Select the Application Master Data tab.
  • Then select Ad hoc IO Norms, SION Chapter Wise Notes, or SION Standard IO Norms.
  • The Exporter can view the Export Product Group, ITS(HS Code), and description of each Norm Type and ITS(HS Code) here.

What is the role of the Norms committee?

According to the Indian Trade Classification (Harmonized System) – ITC (HS) of exported goods, there are seven norms committees (Annexure A). There is a separate Norms Committee for each type of product. Details of the Norms Committees, the product categories each committee is responsible for, and the relevant HS Chapters for norms fixation are provided below.

The Functions of the Norms Committee

  • The applicant submits project reports alongside the Ad-hoc form.
  • After reviewing the implementation of the ad hoc regulations, the Norms Committee, with the assistance of various technical consultants, establishes the appropriate wastage proportion for which the exporter is eligible.
  • If exporters disagree with the NC’s ad hoc norm fixing determinations, they have four months from the date of the ruling to appeal.
  • SION List is governed and regulated by the NC.
  • Within six months and positively within 12 months from the ratification of ad hoc norms, the norms committee will undertake the effort to transform them into Standard Input Output Norms (SION).

Mandatory Norm-Fixation Documentation

The following materials must be submitted for Norms Fixation under an Advance License:

  • DGFT DSC(Digital signature certificate)
  • IEC copy.
  • Fill out the ANF-4B application.
  • A Valid RCMC Copy
  • Documentation proving compliance with GST requirements.
  • Certification as a Chartered Engineer; Appendix 4E.
  • 4K Appendix
  • Acceptance of Application Fees.
  • Prior three-year financial period output and consumption figures.
  • Take a copy of your advance license.
  • Information regarding any prior licenses secured for the result during the preceding two years.
  • Copies of SSI/IEM/MSME.
  • Notes on the technical details of the production procedure (together with a corresponding manufacturing flowchart) are required to back up any claims of waste generated at any point in the process.

How does Norms Fixation works?

Fixing norms can be done in two ways:

  • Prior Norm Fixation
  • Norms fixation following Advance Authorization.

Prior Norm Fixation

Prior Fixation of Norms refers to the process through which an applicant can get the ad hoc norms set before applying for Advance Authorization if the norms have not been published. The applicant must personally deliver the ANF 4B and any other required documentation to the appropriate NC at DGFT headquarters.

The application process can also be completed online. When this occurs, the relevant NC for fixing SION/Ad-hoc standards will be chosen manually based on the products in question. You must ensure that the ANF 4B and other required paperwork are completed accurately. Complete the application by entering all requested information.

Based on the application, the norms committee will work to either update the existing norms or create new ones. The Norms Committees’ rulings will be published on the DGFT’s website.

Any ad hoc standard established through this approach only applies to the specific authorization request and may not be renewed. However, the Standards Committee has the authority to prolong the validity period of such ad hoc norms by two years from the date of fixation.

The applicant intends to submit a request for a Heads of Agreement in Advance to establish new, ad hoc requirements. These ad hoc guidelines will give the import permit. The applicant then moves forward with fulfilling the import/export requirement.

Norms fixation following Advance Authorization

Conventional wisdom has it that establishing norms ahead of time is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. Therefore, the DGFT has taken the initiative, per Para 4.07 of the HBP, to process both the Advance Authorization and Norms Fixation applications concurrently.

A request for an advance license will be submitted to the DGFT alongside the materials above, with a copy sent to the relevant Norms Committee. A Chartered Engineer not affiliated with the application must attest to its validity.

The relevant norms committee will review the application and give its final approval. The relevant norms committee is responsible for creating and posting the Minutes on the DGFT website.

Until then, the import might be finished by the applicant. Rest all the method remains the same as the exporter will complete the export responsibilities in the provided period.

DGFT Guru aid you in Norms Fixation

DGFT Guru assists you in:

  • Getting the paperwork to submit to DGFT Headquarters for the Norms Fixation process.
  • Communicate with the Norms Committee, other technical officers, and members to ensure a unified case presentation. 
  • Fixing ad hoc standards. 
  • Getting the Norms Committee to settle on a set of standards.
  • Instructions on the steps the client must take to comply with the norms after they have been issued. 
  • Implementing Rejection of Norms and Obtaining Amendments.

DGFT Guru helps with Ad Hoc Norms When an export has been completed, but redemption has not yet taken place, the Advance Authorization must be fixed before the corresponding Norms can be set.

In addition, we have individuals on the team who are industry experts, which is essential for the fixation of SION, given the necessity for an in-depth investigation of the spectrum of products being produced.

30+ Years of Experience, dedicated team of DGFT Experts

FAQ

The DGFT’s Handbook of Procedures, Vol. II includes a list of standard inputs and outputs known as the Standard Input Output Norms (SION).

Ad hoc norms fixation is Input-Output norms developed on the fly for an export product where no SION exists (Standard Input Output Norms). When an applicant makes such a self-declaration, the DGFT grants the licenses in question. Following this, the Norms Committee has accepted these norms (NC). It’s called “ad-hoc norms fixing.”

In situations where the norms have not been published or when the applicant wishes to have the ad hoc norms set before applying for Advance Authorization, the term “fixation of norms” is used.

For norms fixation, the Norms Committee can be contacted at DGFT (Head Quarters), New Delhi, with requests for establishing Norms.

To implement this technique of norm fixing, the exporter must contact the Standards Committee to get the norms established or ratified. Then, and only then, can the DGFT award an Advance License under the established criteria.

The applicant’s or exporter’s responsibility is to verify that imported goods are used in the final products being exported. Norms Fixation is needed for the current SION if the exporter plans to use additional inputs in the production process and a greater wastage claim.