In order to enhance the ease of doing business for exporters, DGFT vide Circular No. 07/2019 dated 21st February 2019 has decided to discontinue the issuance of Advance/EPCG Authorisations on security paper as was the practice so far. This shall come into effect for authorisations issued from 01.03.2019 onwards for cases where the port of registration is an EDI port. Advance/EPCG Authorisations shall continue to be transmitted electronically by DGFT to the Customs server. The details of the said authorisations would be visible in ICES to all officers involved in import/export cycle. The process of registration of authorisations and taking bond/bank guarantee remains unchanged except that no physical copy of the authorisation shall be presented by the authorisation holder.
