**Summary:**
Effective October 19, 2023, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, is discontinuing the issuance of physical copies of Authorizations for Restricted Imports for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) ports. Trade Notice 31/2023-24, dated October 19, 2023, outlines that authorizations issued on or after this date for EDI ports will be issued electronically, with data transmitted directly to the Customs Port of Registration. Authorizations for non-EDI ports will continue to be issued in paper format. Amendments or revalidations of authorizations issued before October 19, 2023, will continue to be processed in the existing manner, with paper copies of amendment letters issued and endorsed on the original authorization. The authorization holder may download a soft copy of the authorization by logging onto the DGFT Website https:dgft.gov.in. For imports of Restricted Items under Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG), the authorization number and date must be endorsed in the condition sheet of the EPCG authorization, as per para 5.01(f) of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP). Difficulties in implementation should be reported to the Directorate immediately. Inquiries may be directed to Md. Moin Afaque, Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade, File No. 01/538/EAM/21/Misc/Import Cell.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT): An organization under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, responsible for implementing foreign trade policy.
New Delhi: The location of Vanijya Bhawan, where the Directorate General of Foreign Trade is located.
Restricted Imports: A category of imports that require authorization.
Export Promotion Councils: Organizations that promote exports from India.
EDI Ports: Ports that use Electronic Data Interchange for customs clearance.
HBP: Handbook of Procedures, a document related to foreign trade policy.
EPCG: Export Promotion Capital Goods scheme, a scheme to facilitate import of capital goods for export production.
Md. Moin Afaque: Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade.
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated: 19th October 2023
Trade Notice 31/2023-24
To,
1. All Importers of Restricted Items
2. All Regional Authorities of DGFT
3. All Export Promotion Councils
Subject: Discontinuation of Issuance of Physical copy of Restricted Import
Authorisation with effect from 19.10.2023-reg
To further improve ease of doing business, it is decided to discontinue the issuance
of physical copy of Authorisation for Restricted Imports with effect from 19.10.2023. In
this regard, the following points are submitted for information please –
1. All Authorisation for Restricted Imports issued on or after 19.10.2023 for EDI Ports
shall be issued electronically only. No paper copy of the said Authorisation shall be
provided. The Authorisation data shall be transmitted electronically to the Customs
Port of Registration.
2. Authorisation for Restricted Imports issued for any non-EDI port shall continue to
be issued on paper.
3. Amendment or revalidation of any Authorisation for Restricted Imports issued
before 19.10.2023 shall be processed in the existing manner wherein the paper
copy of the amendment letter shall be issued, and the amendment letter number
shall be duly endorsed on the original authorisation.
4. Reference para 5.01(f) of the HBP, in case of import of Restricted Items under
EPCG, the authorisation for Restricted Import number and date is required to duly
be endorsed in the condition sheet of the EPCG authorisation.
5. Authorisation holder may download a soft copy of the authorisation by logging onto
the DGFT Website (https://dgft.gov.in)6. Difficulties, if any, in this proposed implementation may please be brought to notice
of this Directorate immediately.
This is issued with the approval of the competent authority.
(Md. Moin Afaque)
Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade
[Issued from File No. 01/53/8/E/AM21/Misc/ImportCell]