India will restrict unscheduled cargo charter flights by overseas carriers to six of the country’s airports, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said in a Nov. 3 report. The restriction will apply to “ad hoc and non-scheduled freighter charter service flights” and is aimed at maximizing the “air cargo handling opportunities” for domestic operators, the report said. Overseas operators can apply for special clearance to fly from other airports, but there is “no guarantee” their applications will be accepted. The six airports are Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai. The report said that “many traders freighting perishable/time‑sensitive goods from areas not in easy reach of one of the designated facilities” have complained about the arrangement.

China will allow imports of dried chili peppers from Uzbekistan, a notice from China’s General Administration of Customs said Nov. 3, according to an unofficial translation. The notice outlines inspection and quarantine requirements for the imported peppers. Dried chili peppers produced starting Nov. 3 will be allowed.

Singapore Customs issued an Oct. 30 guidance on the Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s Customs Transit System (ACTS), which it said will improve land transportation of goods when it takes effect Nov. 2. The system, which Singapore said will be implemented among some ASEAN member states, will allow traders to “submit a single ACTS electronic declaration to cover the entire transit journey,” Singapore said. The guidance contains details on how traders can register for the system and other conditions.

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced sanctions and trade restrictions on two people for illegally importing protected wildlife, the agency said Oct. 30. Japan said Shigeyuki Koyama and Mamoru Miyata imported 15 live Australian lungfish from Indonesia without the required licenses, according to an unofficial translation of the notice. The fish are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Japan said the two people are now subject to import bans.

India increased restrictions on exports of “onion seeds,” the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in an Oct. 29 notice. The notice changed India's export policy on onion seeds from “restricted” to “prohibited,” effective immediately.

China recently said it will not classify materials that meet the standards of recycling materials for brass, copper and aluminum alloys as solid wastes and will therefore allow those imports, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Oct. 30. Those materials that meet China’s national standards can be “imported freely,” China said, while others may be imported if already covered by a 2020 import license for solid wastes that can be used under certain restrictions for scrap metal.

India revised its procedures and criteria for approving export applications for certain disposable gloves, the country’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in an Oct. 27 notice. The notice outlines a quota for October and November 2020 for exports of “Nitrile/NBR gloves,” and details how traders can submit their applications and what conditions they must meet. India said the export licenses will be valid for three months. The country recently lifted some export restrictions on the gloves (see 2010220009).

Singapore Customs’ TradeNet will undergo system maintenance Nov. 8, 4 a.m. to noon local time, an Oct. 23 notice said. The agency advised users to avoid submitting applications during this time. This is in addition to the usual 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday maintenance.

China will impose antidumping duties on imports of certain synthetic rubber from the U.S., South Korea and the European Union, China’s Commerce Ministry said in an Oct. 23 notice, according to an unofficial translation. The duties, ranging from 12.5% to 222%, will apply to imports of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber and take effect Oct. 28.

India lifted some export restrictions on certain medical and disposable gloves, its Directorate General of Foreign Trade said Oct. 22. The notice changes India’s export policy for the sale of “nitrile/NBR gloves” from “prohibited” to “restricted.”