The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on April 07, 2026, issued the Amendments to Para 2.90 of Handbook of Procedures 2023.
The following has been stated namely: -
• A change has been made under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, specifically amending Para 2.90 of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP-2023). This ensures that procedures related to Certificates of Origin (CoO) remain aligned with updated digital trade practices.
• A CoO continues to function as an official document certifying the country of origin of goods, which is crucial for determining applicable tariffs, trade benefits, and compliance with import regulations in the destination country.
• Types of CoO remain the same:
o Preferential CoO: Used to claim tariff concessions under trade agreements (like FTAs).
o Non-preferential CoO: Used for general trade purposes without tariff benefits.
• A key change is that all authorized agencies must now process CoO applications and issue certificates exclusively through DGFT’s designated electronic platform (such as trade.gov.in). This step aims to improve transparency, efficiency, traceability, and ease of doing business.
• The notification clearly prohibits manual or offline issuance of CoOs. Any agency not complying with this requirement may face revocation of its authorization, ensuring strict adherence and uniformity across all issuing bodies.
[Notification No. 01/2026-27]
