Gist of Important FEDAI Rules
Rule 1: Hours of Business
1.1 The exchange trading hours for Inter-bank forex market in India would be from
9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. No customer transaction should be undertaken by the
Authorised Dealers after 4.30 p.m. on any working day. 1.2 Cut-off time limit of 05.00 p.m. is not applicable for cross- currency transactions.
In terms of paragraph 7.1 of Internal Control Guidelines over Foreign Exchange
Business of Reserve Bank of India (February 2011), Authorised Dealers are
permitted to undertake cross-currency transactions during extended hours, provided
the Managements lay down the extended dealing hours. 1.3 For the purpose of Foreign Exchange business, Saturday will not be treated as
a working day. 1.4 “Known holiday” is one which is known at least 4 working days before the date. A holiday that is not a “known holiday” is defined as a “suddenly declared holiday”. Rule 2: Export Transactions
2.1. Post-shipment Credit in Rupees
(c) Application of exchange rate: Foreign Currency bills will be
purchased/discounted/ negotiated at the Authorised Dealer’s current bill buying rate
or contracted rate. Interest for the normal transit period and/or usance period shall
be recovered upfront simultaneously. (d) Crystallization and Recovery:
(ii) Authorized Dealers should formulate own policy for crystallization of foreign
currency liability into rupee liability, in case of non-payment of bills on the due
date. (iii) The policy in this regard should be transparently available to the customers. (iv) For crystallization into Rupee liability, the Authorised Dealer shall apply its TT
selling rate of exchange. The amount recoverable, thereafter, shall be the
crystallized Rupee amount along with interest and charges, if any.
(v) Interest shall be recovered on the date of crystallization for the overdue period
at the appropriate rate; and thereafter till the date of recovery of the
crystallized amount. (vi) Export bills payable in countries with externalization issues shall also be
crystallized as per the policy of the authorised dealer, notwithstanding receipt
of advice of payment in local currency. (d) Realization of Bills after crystallization: After receipt of advice of realization,
the authorised dealer will apply TT buying rate or contracted rate (if any) to convert
foreign currency proceeds. (e) Dishonor of bills: In case of dishonor of a bill before crystallization, the bank
shall recover:
(ii) Rupee equivalent amount of the bill and foreign currency charges at TT selling rate. (iii) Appropriate interest and rupee denominated charges. 2.2. Application of Interest
(c) Rate of interest applicable to all export transactions shall be as per the
guidelines of Reserve Bank of India from time to time. (d) Overdue interest shall be recovered from the customer, if payment is not
received within normal transit period in case of demand bills and on/or before
notional due date/actual due date in case of usance bills, as per RBI directive. (e) Early Realization: In case of early realization, interest for the unexpired period
shall be refunded to the customer. The bank shall also pay or recover notional swap
cost as in the case of early delivery under a forward contract. 2.3. Normal Transit Period:
Concepts of normal transit period and notional due date are linked to concessional
interest rate on export bills. Normal transit period comprises the average period
normally reckoned from the date of negotiation/purchase/discount till the receipt of
bill proceeds.
It is not to be confused with the time taken for the arrival of the goods at the destination. Normal transit period for different categories of export business are laid down as below:
(c) Fixed Due Date: In the case of export usance bills, where due dates are fixed, or are reckoned from date of shipment or date of bill of exchange etc, the actual due
date is known. Therefore, in such cases, normal transit period is not applicable. (d) Bills in Foreign Currencies – 25 days
(e) Exports to Iraq under United Nations Guidelines – Max. 120 days
(g) Bills drawn in Rupees under Letters of Credit (L/C)
(i) Reimbursement provided at centre of negotiation - 3 days
(ii) Reimbursement provided in India at centre different from centre of
negotiation - 7 days
(iii) Reimbursement provided by banks outside India - 20 days
(iv) Exports to Russia under L/C where reimbursement is provided by RBI - 20 days. (h) Bills in Rupees not under Letter of Credit - 20 days
(i) TT reimbursement under Letters of Credit (L/C)
(i) Where L/C provides for reimbursement by electronic means - 5 days
(ii) Where L/C provides reimbursement claim after certain number of days
from the date of negotiation - 5 days + this additional period. 2.4. Substitution/Change in Tenor:
(o) In case of change in the usance of a bill, interest on post-shipment credit shall
be charged to the customer, as per RBI guidelines. In addition, the bank shall
charge or pay notional swap difference. Interest on outlay of funds for such
swaps shall also be recovered from the customer at rate not below base rate
of the bank concerned. (p) It is optional for banks to accept delivery of bills under a contract made for
purchase of a clean TT. In such cases, the bank shall recover/pay notional
swap difference for the relative cover. Interest at the rate not below base rate
of the bank would be charged on the outlay of funds. 2.5. Export Bills sent for collection:
(a) Application of exchange rates: The conversion of foreign currency proceeds of
export bills sent for collection or of goods sent on consignment basis shall be
done at prevailing TT buying rate or the forward contract rate, as the case
may be. The conversion to Rupee equivalent shall be made only after the
foreign currency amount is credited to the nostro account of the bank. (b) On receipt of credit advice/statement of nostro account and compliances of
guidelines, requirements of the Bank and FEMA, the Bank shall transfer funds
for the credit of exporter’s account within two working days. (c) If the above stipulated time limit is not observed, the Bank shall pay
compensation for the delayed period at the minimum interest rate charged on
export credit. Compensation for adverse movement of exchange rate, if any, shall also be paid as per the compensation policy of the bank.
Rule 3: Import Transactions
3.1 Application of exchange rate:
(a) Retirement of import bills - Exchange rate as per forward sale contract, if
forward contract is in place. Prevailing Bills selling rate, in case there is no
forward contract. (b) Crystallization of Import - same as above bill (vide para 3.3 below)
(c) For determination of stamp - As per exchange rate provided by the duty on
import bills authority concerned. 3.2. Application of Interest:
(a) Bills negotiated under import letters of credit shall carry commercial rate of
interest as applicable to banks’ domestic advances from time to time. (b) Interest remittable on interest bearing bills shall be subject to the directive of
Reserve Bank of India in this regard. 3.3. Crystallization of Import Bill under Letters of Credit. Unpaid foreign currency import bills drawn under letters of credit shall be
crystallized as per the stated policy of the bank in this respect. Rule 4 Clean Instruments:
4.1. Outward Remittance: Outward remittance shall be effected at TT selling rate of
the bank ruling on that date or at the forward contract rate. 4.2. Encashment of foreign currency notes and instruments, Foreign currency
travelers’ cheques, currency notes, foreign currency in prepaid card, debit/credit
card will be encashed at Authorised Dealer’s option at the appropriate buying rate
ruling on the date of encashment. 4. 3. Payment of foreign inward remittance, Foreign currency remittance up to an
equivalent of USD 10,000/- shall be immediately converted into Indian Rupees. Remittance in excess of equivalent of USD 10,000 shall be executed in foreign
currency. The beneficiary has the option of presenting the related instrument for
payment to the executing bank within the period prescribed under FEMA. 4.4. The applicable exchange rate for conversion of the foreign currency inward
remittance shall be TT buying rate or the contracted rate as the case may be. 4.5. Compensation for delayed payment: Authorised Dealers shall pay or send
intimation, as the case may be, to the beneficiary in two working days from the date
of receipt of credit advice / nostro statement. In case of delay, the bank shall pay
the beneficiary interest @ 2 % over its savings bank interest rate. The bank shall
also pay compensation for adverse movement of exchange rate, if any, as per its
compensation policy
Rule 5 Foreign Exchange Contracts:
5.1. Contract amounts: Exchange contracts shall be for definite amounts and
periods. When a bill contract mentions more than one rate for bills of different
deliveries, the contract must state the amount and delivery against each such rate. 5.2. Option period of delivery: Unless the date of delivery is fixed and indicated in
the contract, the option period may be specified at the discretion of the customer
subject to the condition that such option period of delivery shall not extend beyond
one month. If the fixed date of delivery or the last date of delivery option is a known
holiday, the last date for delivery shall be the preceding working day. In case of
suddenly declared holidays, the contract shall be deliverable on the next working
day. Contracts permitting option of delivery must state the first and last dates of
delivery. For Example: 18th January to 17th February, 31st January to 29th Feb. 2012. “Ready” or “Cash” merchant contract shall be deliverable on the same day. “Value next day” contract shall be deliverable on the working day immediately
succeeding the contract date. A spot contract shall be deliverable on second
succeeding working day following the contract date. A forward contract is a contract
deliverable at a future date, duration of the contract being computed from spot value
date at the time of transaction”. 5. 3. Place of delivery: All contracts shall be understood to read “to be delivered or
paid for at the Bank” and “at the named place”. 5.4. Date of delivery: Date of delivery under forward contracts shall be:
(i) In case of bills/documents negotiated, purchased or discounted - the date of
negotiation/purchase/ discount and payment of Rupees to the customer. However, in case the documents are submitted earlier than, or later than the
original delivery date, or for a different usance, the bank may treat it as proper
delivery, provided there is no change in the expected date of realization of
foreign currency calculated at the time of booking of the contract. No early
realization or late delivery charges shall be recovered in such cases. (ii) In case of export bills/documents sent for collection - Date of payment of
Rupees to the customer on realization of the bills. (iii) In case of retirement/crystallization of import bills/documents - the date of
retirement/ crystallization of liability, whichever is earlier?
5.5. Option of delivery: In all forward merchant contracts, the merchant, whether a
buyer or a seller will have the option of delivery. 5.6. Option of usance: The merchant purchase contract should state the tenor of
the bills/documents. Acceptance of delivery of bills/documents drawn for a different
tenor will be at the discretion of the bank
5.7. Merchant quotations: The exchange rate shall be quoted in direct terms i.e. so many Rupees and Paise for 1 unit or 100 units of foreign currency. 5.8. Rounding off: Rupee equivalent of the foreign currency Settlement of all
merchant transactions shall be effected on the principle of rounding off the Rupee
amounts to the nearest whole Rupee i.e. without paise. RULE 6 Early Delivery, Extension and Cancellation of Foreign Exchange
Contracts
6.1. General
(i) At the request of a customer, unless stated to the contrary in the provisions of
FEMA, 1999, it is optional for a bank to: (a). Accept or give early delivery; or
(b). Extend the contract. (ii) It is the responsibility of a customer to effect delivery or request the bank for
extension / cancellation as the case may be, on or before the maturity date of
the contract. 6.2. Early delivery: If a bank accepts or gives early delivery, the bank shall
recover/pay swap difference, if any. 6.3. Extension: Foreign exchange contracts where extension is sought by the
customers shall be cancelled (at an appropriate selling or buying rate as on the date
of cancellation) and rebooked simultaneously only at the current rate of exchange. The difference between the contracted rate, and the rate at which the contract is
cancelled, shall be recovered from/paid to the customer at the time of extension. Such request for extension shall be made on or before the maturity date of the
contract. 6.4. Cancellation
(i) In case of cancellation of a contract at the request of a customer, (the request
shall be made on or before the maturity date) the Authorised Dealer shall
recover/ pay, as the case may be, the difference between the contracted rate
and the rate at which the cancellation is effected. The recovery/payment of
exchange difference on cancellation of forward contracts before the maturity
date may be either upfront or back-ended at the discretion of banks. (ii) Rate at which cancellation is to be effected:
(a) Purchase contracts shall be cancelled at T.T. selling rate of the
contracting Authorised Dealer
(b) Sale contracts shall be cancelled at T.T. buying rate of the contracting
Authorised Dealer
(c) Where the contract is cancelled before maturity, the appropriate forward
T.T. rate shall be applied. (bi) Notwithstanding the fact that the exchange contract between the customer
and the bank becomes impossible of performance, for whatever reason,
including Government prohibitory orders, the exchange contract shall not be
deemed to have become void and the customer shall forthwith apply to the
Authorised Dealer for cancellation, as per the provisions of paragraph 6.4.(i)
and (ii) above. (iv)
(d) In the absence of any instructions from the customer, vide para 6.1(ii), a
contract which has matured shall be cancelled by the bank on the 7th working
day after the maturity date. (e) Swap cost, if any, shall be recovered from the customer under advice to him. © When a contract is cancelled after the maturity date, the customer shall not be entitled
to the exchange difference, if any, in his favour, since the contract is cancelled on
account of his default. He shall, however, be liable to pay the exchange difference
against him. 6.5. Swap cost/gain:
(ii) In all cases of early delivery of a contract, swap cost shall be recovered from
the customer, irrespective of whether an actual swap is made or not. Such
recoveries should be made either back-ended or upfront at discretion of the
bank. (iii) Payment of swap gain to a customer shall be made at the end of the swap period. 6.6. Outlay and Inflow of funds:
Authorised Dealer shall recover interest on outlay of funds for the purpose of
arranging the swap, in addition to the swap cost in case of early delivery of a
contract.
If such a swap leads to inflow of funds, interest shall be paid to the customer. Funds
outlay / inflow shall be arrived at by taking the difference between the original
contract rate and the rate at which the swap could be arranged. The rate of interest
to be recovered / paid should be determined by banks as per their policy in this
regard.