New Delhi, May 15 -- Days after sharply raising import duty on gold, the government has tightened rules governing imports of the precious metal for export-linked manufacturing after value addition, including capping imports under advance authorization at 100 kilograms. The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on Thursday introduced five new requirements for gold imports under the standard input output norms (SIONs) with immediate effect, per an official notification. SION refers to a thumb rule that determines the exact quantity of raw material required to manufacture export products. Under the advance authorization (AA) scheme, exporters are allowed to import raw materials duty-free for manufacturing goods meant for exports. Under the revised rules, advance authorisations for gold imports will now be subject to a maximum permissible quantity of 100 kilograms. The notification also mandates physical inspection of manufacturing facilities for first-time applicants seeking advance authorisation for gold imports. Regional authorities will verify the existence, production capacity and operational status of the units before granting approvals. For subsequent authorisations, exporters will be required to fulfil at least 50% of the export obligation under previous advance authorisations before obtaining fresh approvals. The new framework also requires AA holders to submit fortnightly performance reports, certified by an independent chartered accountant, to the concerned regional authority. In addition, regional authorities will have to submit monthly reports to DGFT headquarters detailing the issuance of advance authorisations and corresponding gold import and export transactions to facilitate "centralised monitoring and policy oversight", per the notification. An official familiar with the matter said the tighter norms were aimed....