The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on April 07, 2026, issued amendments to Para 2.62 of Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
The following amendments have been stated:
The Central Government hereby makes the following amendments to Para 2.62 with immediate effect in Chapter 2 of FTP 2023:
2.62. (a) Issuance of Certificates of Origin
(i) Certificates of Origin (CoO) for exports from India can only be issued by agencies authorized Directorate by the General of Foreign Trade.
(ii) The authorized agencies shall issue CoOs in a manner as prescribed by DGFT from time to time.
(iii) All IEC holders availing CoOs shall use the same invoice numbers in both CoOs and corresponding Shipping Bills to enable automated verification.
(b) Approved Exporter Scheme for Self-Certification of Certificate of Origin
(i) Currently, Certificates of Origin under various Preferential Trade Agreements [PTA], Free Trade Agreements [FTAs], Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements [CECA] and Comprehensive Economic Partnerships Agreements [CEPA] are issued by designated agencies as per Appendix 2B of Appendices and Aayat Niryat Forms. A new optional system of self-certification is being introduced with a view being introduced with a view to reducing transaction cost.
(ii) The Manufacturers who are also Status Holders shall be eligible for Approved Exporter Scheme. Approved Exporters will be entitled to self-certify their manufactured goods as originating from India with a view to qualifying for preferential treatment under different PTAS/ FTAs/ CECAS/CEPAs which are in operation. Self-certification will be permitted only for the goods that are manufactured as per the Industrial Entrepreneurs Memorandum (IEM) / Industrial License (IL)/Letter of Intent (LOI) issued to manufacturers.
(iii) Status Holders will be recognized by DGFT as Approved Exporters for self- certification based on availability of required infrastructure, capacity and trained manpower as per the details in Para 2.94 of Handbook of Procedures read with Appendix 2F of Appendices & Aayaat Niryat Forms.
(iv) The details of the Scheme, along with the penalty provisions, are provided in Appendix 2F of Appendices and Aayaat Niryat Forms and will come into effect only when India incorporates the scheme into a specific agreement with its partner/s and the same is appropriately notified by DGFT. Further the entities to whom such self-certification will be extended bilaterally under FTA/PTA will be subject to the provisions and conditions of that FTA.
Effect of this Notification: Certificates of Origin can only be issued by agencies authorised for the purpose. Exporters are mandated to use identical invoice numbers in Certificates of Origin and Shipping Bills to enable automated utilisation verification.
[Notification No. 05/2026-27]
