The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), on April 07, 2026, issued Notification No. 01/2026-27 permitting export of specified essential commodities to the Maldives under a bilateral trade agreement. Exercising powers under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023, the government has allowed export of items such as eggs, potatoes, onions, rice, wheat flour, sugar, dal, stone aggregate, and river sand up to prescribed quantities for FY 2026–27.
The notification provides that these exports shall remain exempt from any existing or future export restrictions or prohibitions during the specified period. However, exports of restricted or prohibited items are permitted only through designated customs ports, including Mundra, Tuticorin, Nhava Sheva, ICD Tughlakabad, Kandla, and Visakhapatnam. Additionally, export of eggs requires a valid Export Health Certificate issued by the Export Inspection Council, complying with Codex standards mandated by Maldivian authorities.
Further, exports of river sand and stone aggregate are subject to strict environmental safeguards. The CAPEXIL must ensure that suppliers obtain necessary environmental clearances and adhere to Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. Such exports also require No Objection Certificates from respective State authorities and must comply with applicable State laws and judicial directives governing mining activities
[Notification No. 01/2026-27]
