Merchandise Exports from India Scheme is also known as MEIS scheme comes under Foreign Trade Policy of India (FTP 2015-20). Under Foreign Trade Policy of India (FTP 2015-20) two scheme has introduced one is Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and another one is Service Exports from India Scheme (SEIS).
- The rewards are given by way of duty credit scrips to exporters.
- The MEIS is notified by the DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) and implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The Government of India has launched Merchandise Exports Incentive Scheme (MEIS) by replacing five other similar incentive schemes which are mentioned below:
- Focus Product Scheme (FPS)
- Focus Market Scheme (FMS)
- Market Linked Focus Product Scheme (MLFPS)
- Agri. Infrastructure incentive scheme
- Vishesh Krishi Gramin Upaj Yojna (VKGUY)
According to the current Foreign Trade Policy, the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme not only aim to replace these 5 schemes but also target to rationalize the incentives & dilate their scopes by removing different restrictions.
Having targeted to make India’s products more competitive in the global markets, the scheme provides incentive in the form of duty credit scrip to the exporter to compensate for his/her loss on payment of duties.
What is the Objective of MEIS?
The main objective of MEIS Scheme is to offset infrastructural inefficiencies and associated prices involved in the export of goods or products, which are produced or manufactured in our country, employment potential and to increase India’s export competitiveness in the global market.
What are the Ineligible Exports Categories under MEIS?
The following exports categories are not eligible for Duty Credit Scrip entitlement under MEIS as per the Foreign Trade Policy.
- Export Oriented Units (EOUs) or Electronics Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) Scheme or BTPs or STPs who are availing direct tax benefits or exemption
- Supplies made from Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) units to Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units
- Exports through trans-shipment – Exports that are originating in the third country but transshipped via India
- SEZ/EHTP/EOU/BPT/FTWZ products exported through the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) units
Service Export
- Export products/goods which are subject to Minimum export price or export duty
- Red sanders and beach sand
- Diamond, Gold, Silver, Platinum or any other precious metal in any form including plain and studded jewelry and other precious and semi-precious stones.
- Crude or Petroleum (primary and base) products of all type and all formulation
- Cereals of all types
- Ores and concentrate of all types and in all formations
- Sugar of all type and all form
- Export of Meat and Meat Products
- Export of milk and milk products
- Those Products where diamond or precious stones are used
- Exports made by units in Free Trade and Warehousing Zones (FTWZ).
- Export of imported goods covered under Foreign Trade Policy (refer the document attached below)
What are the Documents Required for MEIS Application?
For MEIS application, the exporter needs to submit following documents:
- A self-attested copy of the import bill of entry filed by the importer in the specified market
- The delivery order issued by port authorities
- Arrival notice issued by goods carrier
- Tracking report from the goods carrier (shipping lines or airlines or his accredited agent in India)
- Evidence of arrival of export cargo to destination Market
- Proof of any other documents that products/goods have landed in or reached the notified market.
What is the Procedure for filing Application under MEIS Scheme?
- Application for claiming incentives under the MEIS Scheme will be online filled in prescribed format which is ANF-3A using Digital Signature.
- The application for export of goods will be filed with the concerned Regional Authority of DGFT on DGFT Website.
- For each port of export Separate application shall be filed
- An application can be filed with upto a maximum number of 50 shipping bills.
- Relevant EDI shipping bill & e-BRC to be linked with the online application.
- In case if the exports done through non EDI-port, the hard copy of the export promotion copy of non-EDI shipping bills & proof of landing in the prescribed manner is needed to be submitted. Scanned copies of any other required documents for claiming scrip are needed to be submitted.
- The documents which are not required to be submitted (in original), are required to be retained by the applicant for a period of 3 years from the date of issuance of scrip.
- In case if you are fail to submit the original documents when demanded by the licensing authority, the rewards granted are needed to be refunded along with interest.
- No manual feeding is allowed for EDI Shipments to the applicants in the online system.
- The abovementioned process is to be followed for claiming incentives under the MEIS Scheme in all cases except export of goods via e-commerce.