**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on July 13, 2026, introduces Para 2.50A into the Handbook of Procedures 2023. It establishes a formal procedure for the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to investigate whether imported goods are produced, wholly or in part, using forced labour. Following an enquiry, the DGFT is authorized to recommend import prohibitions to the Central Government.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Investigation Framework**
* **Initiation:** The DGFT may undertake an enquiry *suo motu* or upon receiving a complaint supported by credible material.
* **Scope:** The investigation aims to determine if any goods imported into India involve forced labour at any stage of production.
**Information Gathering and Consultation**
* **Information Requests:** The DGFT is empowered to demand information, documents, or clarifications from importers, exporters, manufacturers, or any other relevant authority.
* **Stakeholder Consultation:** During enquiries, the DGFT may consult with relevant Ministries, government departments, agencies, or other stakeholders.
* **Expert Input:** The DGFT may seek technical inputs or information from domestic or international organizations, expert bodies, or governmental authorities.
**Reporting and Enforcement**
* **Finding Reports:** Upon concluding an enquiry, the DGFT must prepare a report detailing findings regarding the use of forced labour.
* **Regulatory Recommendations:** The DGFT may recommend that the Central Government prohibit the import of specific goods under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, and the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.
**Impact Analysis**
**Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)**
**Impact**
The DGFT gains the mandate to monitor and investigate the ethical standards of production for imported goods.
**Action Required**
Initiate enquiries where necessary, coordinate with domestic/international bodies for evidence, and prepare formal recommendation reports for the Central Government.
**Importers, Exporters, and Manufacturers**
**Impact**
These entities are now subject to mandatory disclosure and scrutiny regarding their production processes and supply chains.
**Action Required**
Provide all requested documentation, evidence, and clarifications to the DGFT during the course of an enquiry.
**Central Government**
**Impact**
The government receives a structured mechanism to enforce trade prohibitions based on labour practices.
**Action Required**
Review reports submitted by the DGFT and exercise powers under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, to prohibit specific imports if recommended.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT): The primary regulatory authority empowered to conduct inquiries and determine whether imported goods have been produced using forced labour.
Handbook of Procedures, 2023 (HBP 2023): The regulatory document amended to include Para 2.50A, which prescribes the formal procedure for investigating imports linked to forced labour.
Foreign Trade Policy, 2023: The overarching policy framework under which the DGFT exercises powers to regulate international trade and monitor import practices.
Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992: The governing legislation that provides the legal basis for recommending the prohibition of specific imports based on DGFT findings.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-16072026-274552
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CG-DL-E-16072026-274552
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग I—खण्ड 1
PART I—Section 1
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
24, 1947
स.ं 206] िई ददल्ली, मगं लवार, िुलाई 14, 2026/आषाढ 23, 1948
No. 206] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026/ASHADHA 23, 1948 ss24, 1947
वाजणज्य और उद्योग मत्रं ालय
(वाजणज्य जवभाग)
(जवदेि व्यापार महाजिदेिालय)
अजधसचू िा
िई ददल्ली, 13 िुलाई, 2026
फा. स.ं K-31013/1/2026-DIR NAFTA-Part(4)/[E-46765].—- समय-समय पर यथा संिोजधत
जवदेि व्यापार िीजत 2023 के 2.04 के साथ पठित पैरा 1.03 द्वारा प्रदत्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, महाजिदिे क जवदेि
व्यापार एतद्द्वारा बलपववक श्रम का उपयोग करके उत्पाददत वस्ट्तुओं के आयात के जिधारव ण हते ु प्रदिया जिधावठरत करि े के
जलए प्रदिया पस्ट्ु तक, 2023 म ेंपैरा 2.50क जिम्नािुसार िाजमल करते ह:ैं
परै ा 2.50क: आयाजतत वस्ट्तओंु के उत्पादि म ेंबलपवू कव श्रम के उपयोग के जिधारव ण की प्रदिया
1. महाजिदेिक जवदेि व्यापार (डीिीएफटी), स्ट्वतः संज्ञाि स े या जवश्वसिीय स्रोत द्वारा समर्थवत दकसी भी सूचिा
या जिकायत की प्राजि पर, यह पता लगाि े के जलए िांच कर सकते ह ैं दक क्या भारत म ें आयाजतत कोई भी वस्ट्त,ु पणू व या
आंजिक रूप स,े बलपूववक श्रम का उपयोग करके उत्पाददत की गई ह।ै
2. इस तरह की िांच के प्रयोििों के जलए, डीिीएफटी आयातक (कों), जियावतक (कों), जिमातव ा (ओं) या दकसी अन्य व्यजि
या प्राजधकरण स े ऐसी िािकारी, दस्ट्तावेि या स्ट्पष्टीकरण मांग सकता ह,ै िो आवश्यक समझा िाए।
3. िांच के दौराि, डीिीएफटी, संबंजधत मंत्रालयों, जवभागों या एिेंजसयों, या अन्य जहतधारकों स े परामि व कर सकता ह,ै
िैसा दक आवश्यक समझा िाए।
5369 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART I—SEC.1]
4. डीिीएफटी, िाचं के प्रयोििों के जलए िहां भी आवश्यक समझा िाए, दकसी भी घरेलू या अंतरराष्ट्रीय संगिि, सरकारी
प्राजधकरण या जविेषज्ञ जिकाय स े िािकारी या तकिीकी इिपटु प्राि कर सकता ह।ै
5. िांच परू ी होि े पर, डीिीएफटी िांच के तहत वस्ट्तओंु के उत्पादि म ें बलपूववक श्रम के उपयोग के संबंध म ें अपि े
जिष्कषों को िाजमल करत े हुए एक ठरपोटव तैयार करेगा और जवदेि व्यापार (जवकास और जवजियमि) अजधजियम, 1992,
जवदेि व्यापार िीजत, 2023 के तहत ऐसी वस्ट्तओंु के आयात को जिजषद्ध करि े की जसफाठरिों सजहत केंद्र सरकार को उजचत
जसफाठरिें कर सकता ह।ै
2. इस साविव जिक सचू िा का प्रभाव: प्रदिया पुस्ट्तक के परै ा 2.50क के तहत बलपूववक श्रम का उपयोग करके
उत्पाददत वस्ट्तुओं के आयात के जिधावरण की प्रदिया अजधसूजचत की िाती ह।ै
लव अग्रवाल,महाजिदेिक जवदिे व्यापार एव ं पदेि अपर सजचव
Ministry of Commerce And Industry
(Department of Commerce)
(DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF FOREIGN TRADE)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 13th July 2026
F. No. K-31013/1/2026-DIR NAFTA-Part(4)/[E-46765].—In exercise of powers conferred
under paragraph 1.03 read with 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, as amended from time to time,
the Directorate General of Foreign Trade hereby inserts Para 2.50A in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023
to prescribe the procedure for the determination of imports of goods produced using forced labour, as
follows:
“PARA 2.50A: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINATION OF USE OF FORCED LABOUR IN THE
PRODUCTION OF IMPORTED GOODS
1. The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) may, suo motu or upon receipt of any
information or complaint supported by credible material, undertake an enquiry to ascertain
whether any goods imported into India have been produced, wholly or in part, using forced
labour.
2. For the purposes of such enquiry, the DGFT may seek such information, documents or
clarifications from the importer(s), exporter(s), manufacturer(s) or any other person or authority,
as may be considered necessary.
3. During the course of the enquiry, the DGFT may consult the relevant Ministries, Departments or
agencies, or other stakeholders, as may be considered necessary.
4. The DGFT may also obtain information or technical inputs from any domestic or international
organisation, governmental authority or expert body, wherever considered necessary for the
purposes of the enquiry.
5. Upon completion of the enquiry, the DGFT shall prepare a report containing its findings regarding
the use of forced labour in the production of the goods under enquiry and may make appropriate
recommendations to the Central Government, including recommendations for prohibition of the
import of such goods under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, the
Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.”
2. Effect of this Public Notice:
The Procedure for the determination of imports of goods produced using forced labour is notified under
Para 2.50A of HBP 2023.
LAV AGARWAL, Director General of Foreign Trade & Addl. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.