Removal of Port Restrictions and Testing Requirements for Export of Finished Leather Wet Blue Leather El Tanned Leather and Crust Leather regarding

## Report on Amendment to Foreign Trade Policy Regarding Leather Exports **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a specific amendment to India's Foreign Trade Policy, effective May 26, 2025. This amendment, documented in Notification No. 15/2025-26, focuses on easing export regulations for certain types of leather, specifically Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, and EI Tanned Leather, and also includes Crust Leather. The core purpose of the amendment is to remove port restrictions and testing/certification requirements by the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) for these leather exports. The key finding is that this amendment aims to simplify and expedite the export process for the specified leather products, potentially boosting the competitiveness of Indian leather exporters. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an informative overview of an amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy, based solely on the provided official notification (Notification No. 15/2025-26) issued on May 26, 2025. The report analyzes the key changes introduced by the amendment, its likely rationale, and potential implications for stakeholders in the leather export industry. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy:** The amendment modifies the existing Foreign Trade Policy 2023, referencing paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01. * **Core Objective(s):** Based on the provided text, the core objective of *this amendment* is to deregulate and simplify the export process for specific types of leather products. This suggests a broader objective of promoting and facilitating foreign trade in the leather sector. **4. Background and Rationale:** This amendment appears to address concerns or inefficiencies related to the existing export regulations for Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, EI Tanned Leather and Crust Leather. The removal of port restrictions suggests a prior bottleneck in the export logistics of these goods. Similarly, the elimination of mandatory testing and certification by CLRI likely aims to reduce costs and delays associated with these procedures. The amendment suggests the previous regulations were perceived as overly restrictive or burdensome, hindering the export potential of the leather industry. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This is an amendment, so the focus is on the changes introduced: * **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** The amendment rescinds Public Notice 23RE2013200914 dated August 13, 2013. This public notice likely contained the port restrictions and testing requirements now being removed. * **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment removes the following: * Port restrictions on the export of Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, and EI Tanned Leather. * The requirement for testing and certification by the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) for Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, Crust Leather, and EI Tanned Leather. * **Difference/Effect of Change:** * The removal of port restrictions allows exporters to ship these leather products from any port, providing greater flexibility and potentially reducing transportation costs and delays. * Eliminating mandatory CLRI testing and certification reduces the financial burden and administrative hurdles for exporters, potentially accelerating the export process. Exporters can now likely pursue alternative testing and certification methods if required by their customers or importing countries, but it is no longer mandated by the Indian government. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment are: * Manufacturers and exporters of Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, EI Tanned Leather, and Crust Leather. * Freight forwarders and logistics companies involved in the export of these leather products. * Potentially, the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), as the amendment removes a mandatory function. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies mentioned:** The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is responsible for implementing and overseeing the Foreign Trade Policy. The notification is issued under the authority of the Director-General of Foreign Trade. The Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) is also mentioned, but in the context of no longer being required for mandatory testing and certification. * **Timelines or procedures specified:** The amendment is effective "with immediate effect" from May 26, 2025. No specific procedures are outlined in the text, suggesting that existing export procedures will remain in place, but without the port restrictions and mandatory CLRI testing for the specified leather products. * **(Related to Changes):** Exporters no longer need to submit leather samples to CLRI for testing and certification. They are also free to choose any port for exporting Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather and EI Tanned Leather. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of this amendment are: * **Reduced export costs:** Eliminating mandatory testing and providing port flexibility directly lowers the cost of exporting these leather products. * **Faster export processing times:** Removing the mandatory CLRI testing requirement and port restrictions should expedite the export process, making Indian leather exporters more competitive in the global market. * **Increased export volume:** By reducing costs and delays, the amendment aims to stimulate increased export volumes of Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, EI Tanned Leather, and Crust Leather. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy, effective May 26, 2025, represents a significant deregulation measure for the Indian leather export industry. By removing port restrictions and mandatory CLRI testing/certification for Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, EI Tanned Leather and Crust Leather, the amendment aims to reduce costs, expedite export processes, and ultimately boost the competitiveness of Indian leather exporters. This simplified export environment is expected to benefit manufacturers, exporters, and logistics providers, contributing to increased export volumes in the leather sector. The policy's significance lies in its potential to streamline trade procedures and support the growth of a key Indian industry.

Key Entities Referenced