The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), on August 31, 2026, issued a Trade Notice introducing automated issuance of Free Sale and Commerce Certificates (FSC) through the DGFT portal. The mechanism is introduced in accordance with Paragraphs 2.34 and 1.04(d) of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP), 2023, with the objective of reducing processing time and compliance burden.
Under the new system, eligible FSC applications will be considered for automatic issuance based on the prevailing framework. Applications requiring verification or not meeting the automated processing parameters may continue to be routed to the concerned Regional Authority (RA) for manual processing. Certain auto-approved applications may also subsequently be flagged to the RA for review under the system's risk-management parameters.
The mechanism transitions FSC processing from manual verification towards a rule-based, system-driven and risk-based workflow, enabling paperless processing and faster turnaround for exporters and trade and industry. The Trade Notice applies to FSCs issued for items not covered under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940.
[Trade Notice No. 24/2026-2027]
