Newsletter - JUNE 2026

1. DGFT Simplifies Export Approvals with Six New Chemical SIONs

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Public Notice No. 14/2026-27 on June 01, 2026, introducing six new Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) under the "Chemical and Allied Product" group (Product Code-'A') . Covering SION numbers A-3702 through A-3707, this update establishes clear, fixed input-output ratios for key pharmaceutical products, including various Artemisinin derivatives and Doxycycline Hyclate tablets . By eliminating the requirement for case-by-case referrals to the Norms Committee, this regulatory shift enables Regional Authorities to issue Advance Authorisations directly . For trade stakeholders, this immediate operational change significantly expedites the approval process, reduces administrative bottlenecks, and ensures greater predictability and uniformity in export-oriented decision-making.

2. Ministry of Commerce Reconstitutes Board of Trade (BOT) with 40 Non-Official Members

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has issued Notification No. 18/2026-2027 on June 02, 2026, announcing a major reconstitution of the Board of Trade (BOT). In supersession of the previous 2022 notification that nominated 29 non-official members, this updated directive expands and updates the board by nominating 40 prominent non-official members from diverse industrial, corporate, financial, legal, and academic backgrounds. The revised board features top corporate leaders, investment partners, industry association chiefs, and institutional presidents. Operating under defined terms of reference, these newly appointed members are tasked with acting as critical trade facilitators. Their immediate mandates include aligning state-level export strategies with national trade frameworks, addressing regional infrastructure bottlenecks, boosting the District Export Hub initiatives, and advising the government on both short- and long-term policy measures to optimize India's foreign trade and international competitiveness.

3. DGFT Mandates Import Authorisation for Nominated Agencies and Jewellers on Specific Silver Items

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has issued Notification No. 19/2026-27 on June 02, 2026, tightening the import regulations for specific silver items under Chapter 71 of the ITC (HS), 2022 Schedule - I. Under the revised policy conditions, imports of designated silver forms (including powder, grains, and unwrought items) made through RBI-nominated banks, DGFT-notified agencies, or International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)-notified qualified jewellers via the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) are no longer freely permitted through those channels alone. Instead, all such imports will now strictly require a valid Import Authorisation issued directly by the DGFT. This policy modification introduces a mandatory secondary layer of licensing to enhance regulatory oversight, though existing provisions allowing refineries to import silver dore against a license with Actual User (AU) conditions remain unchanged.

4. Finance Ministry Extends Countervailing Duty on Malaysian Textured Tempered Glass

The Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance has issued Notification No. 02/2026-Customs (CVD) on June 02, 2026, ordering the continued imposition of a countervailing duty (CVD) on imports of "Textured Tempered Glass" (also known as solar glass or solar PV glass) originating in or exported from Malaysia. This decision supersedes the earlier Notification No. 3/2021-Customs (CVD) following a sunset review by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which concluded that the cessation of the duty would likely trigger a recurrence of subsidization and subsequent injury to the domestic Indian manufacturing sector. The refreshed duty structure applies a rate of 9.71% of the CIF value for specific named Malaysian producers and a higher rate of 10.14% for all other manufacturers and configurations. To claim the specific producer rates, importers must present a valid commercial invoice containing a signed declaration from an official of the manufacturing entity. This protective trade measure is set to remain effective for a period of five years from its publication date in the Official Gazette, unless revoked, superseded, or amended earlier.

5. DGFT Designates Authorised Agencies for India-Oman CEPA Certificates of Origin

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Public Notice No. 15/2026-27 on June 2, 2026, updating Appendix 2B of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023. This amendment formally designates the authorized government bodies permitted to issue Preferential Certificates of Origin (CoO) under the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (India-Oman CEPA). The newly listed authorities span major export councils, commodity boards, and various special economic zones. For businesses trading under this agreement, this update outlines the specific regulatory channels required to claim preferential tariff treatments, streamlining compliance and verification workflows across diversified product sectors.

6. DGFT Amends Handbook of Procedures to Include India-Oman CEPA Certificates of Origin

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has issued Public Notice No. 16/2026-27 on June 2, 2026, announcing an amendment to Para 2.88 of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023. Operating under the powers conferred by the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, the DGFT has officially inserted a new entry, serial number xvi, to the existing list of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) under Para 2.88(a), recognizing the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (India-Oman CEPA). The immediate operational impact of this directive is the formal integration of the India-Oman trade pact into the system of issuance of Certificates of Origin by authorised agencies. For trade stakeholders and exporters, this update provides a structured framework to seamlessly obtain the required preferential Certificate of Origin (CoO), streamlining export compliance and clearing the path for tariff concessions under the bilateral agreement.

7. DGFT Aligns SEZ Quality Control Exemptions with Statutory Framework

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has issued Notification No. 20/2026-27 on June 02, 2026, amending Para 2.03(A)(iii) of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023. This regulatory modification broadens and clarifies exemptions from mandatory Quality Control Orders (QCOs) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) requirements for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Units and Developers. Moving beyond the previous restrictive framework that exempted only inputs strictly intended for physical export production, the revised policy expands the exemption to cover all permissible goods including raw materials, components, consumables, spares, and capital goods required for authorized operations inside the zone. This adjustment directly aligns FTP provisions with the SEZ Act, 2005, and Rule 27 of the SEZ Rules, 2006. For trade stakeholders, the immediate implication is dual: while intra-zone operations gain massive procedural easing, any subsequent removal, transfer, or clearance of these goods into the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) will strictly trigger mandatory compliance with all active QCO and BIS frameworks in force at the time of clearance, backed by a mandatory undertaking submitted to the SEZ Development Commissioner.

8. DGFT Seeks Industry Comments on Export Policy Realignment with Finance Act, 2026

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has issued Trade Notice No. 07/2026-27 on June 03, 2026, initiating a public consultation process to realign Schedule-II (Export Policy) of the ITC (HS), 2022. This realignment is necessitated by extensive amendments introduced via the Finance Act, 2026, which modified various HS Codes, product descriptions, and explicit Chapter Notes within the First Schedule of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. In accordance with the transparent policymaking provisions of Para 1.07 A of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, the DGFT has enclosed the proposed structural adjustments and is actively inviting views, suggestions, and technical comments from exporters, industry associations, commodity boards, and trade experts. For commercial stakeholders, this notice presents an immediate, time-sensitive window of 7 days from the date of issuance to submit formal inputs, ensuring that practical field realities and industry interests are adequately factored into the final statutory export framework.

9. DGFT Enlists Porbandar District Chamber of Commerce for Non-Preferential CoO Issuance

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), functioning under the Department of Commerce, has issued Public Notice No. 17/2026-27 on June 04, 2026, announcing the immediate enlistment of a new authorized agency under Appendix 2E of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023. Exercising powers granted under paragraph 2.04 of the FTP, the regulator has officially authorized the Porbandar District Chamber of Commerce & Industries (PDCCI), located in Porbandar, Gujarat, to issue Certificates of Origin (Non-Preferential). This agency's details have been formally appended under Serial No. 18 within the Rajkot zone of the master list. For regional trade stakeholders and exporters, this operational expansion provides a decentralized, localized institutional node to secure mandatory non-preferential trade origin documentation, effectively lowering compliance lead times and enhancing ease of doing business for the local mercantile community.

10. CBIC Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority for ViewSonic Technologies Show Cause Notices

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), under the Department of Revenue within the Ministry of Finance, has issued Notification No. 51/2026-Customs (N.T.) on June 05, 2026, targeting streamlined legal proceedings for import clearances. Exercising its statutory powers under Section 4 and Section 5 of the Customs Act, 1962, the Board has centralized the adjudication process for multiple Show Cause Notices issued to M/s ViewSonic Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. Rather than allowing separate proceedings to move forward independently under the initial jurisdictional officers in New Delhi and Chennai, the CBIC has formally appointed the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs, Import Commissionerate, Chennai, as the Common Adjudicating Authority. This immediate administrative realignment consolidates tax and tariff disputes across multi-location jurisdictions, optimizing corporate legal workflows and ensuring a uniform, single-window ruling for the electronics importer.

11. CBIC Appoints Common Adjudicating Authority for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise India Show Cause Notices

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), under the Department of Revenue within the Ministry of Finance, has issued Notification No. 50/2026-Customs (N.T.) on June 05, 2026, aimed at streamlining complex, multi-jurisdictional customs disputes. Exercising its statutory powers under Section 4 and Section 5 of the Customs Act, 1962, the Board has centralized the adjudication process for a series of distinct Show Cause Notices issued to M/s Hewlett-Packard Enterprise India Private Limited. Rather than allowing independent proceedings to continue under different jurisdictional customs officers across Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, the CBIC has formally appointed the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner of Customs (Import), Air Cargo Complex, Sahar, Mumbai, as the Common Adjudicating Authority. This regulatory realignment effectively consolidates the tax and valuation disputes under a single judicial node, mitigating administrative redundancy, preventing conflicting legal outcomes, and ensuring a uniform, single-window determination for the technology corporation.

12. CBIC Maintains Customs Tariff Values for Edible Oils, Precious Metals, and Areca Nuts

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has released Notification No. 54/2026-CUSTOMS (N.T.) on 11th June, 2026, updating the baseline tariff values used to assess customs duties on essential imported commodities. Effective from 12th June, 2026, this amendment signals market valuation stability by retaining existing tariff rates for key edible oils (including crude palm oil, RBD palm oil, palmolein variants, and crude soya bean oil), brass scrap, and areca nuts. Concurrently, the notification reiterates precise valuation benchmarks for specific imports of gold and silver—including qualifying gold bars, coins, silver bullion, and medallions—ensuring streamlined custom clearance under predefined concession frameworks. For trade stakeholders and importers, these steady valuations minimize unexpected financial friction, offering predictable cost projections for incoming shipments and helping maintain balanced inventory pricing amidst shifting global market dynamics.

13. Customs Relief for Nuclear Power Sector: Indian Government Waives Retrospective Duties on Nuclear Goods

The Government of India's Ministry of Finance has issued Notification No. 53/2026 - Customs (N.T.) on 11th June, 2026, granting major retrospective relief to the domestic nuclear energy sector. In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 28A of the Customs Act, 1962, the Central Government has officially directed that the whole of the customs duty leviable on imports of goods meant for the generation of nuclear power, falling under tariff item 8401 30 00, shall not be required to be paid for the period from 1st April, 2019 to 31st January, 2026. This directive addresses and formalizes a widespread, generally prevalent industry practice where customs duties were historically not levied on these specialized items before explicit exemptions were enacted. By legalizing this non-levy period retroactively, the mandate provides critical financial and operational certainty to nuclear energy stakeholders and infrastructure developers, effectively neutralizing unexpected tax liabilities and reinforcing long-term policy predictability in India's strategic energy sector.

14. Anti-Dumping Duty Extended: Indian Government Prolongs Levies on Specified Imports to Safeguard Domestic Industry

The Central Government of India, through the Ministry of Finance's Department of Revenue, has issued Notification No. 10/2026-Customs (ADD) on 10th June, 2026, to extend the application of protective trade measures. Exercising its powers under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, the government has amended the principal notification (No. 51/2021-Customs (ADD), dated 16th September, 2021) to explicitly prolong the anti-dumping duty framework. Under the freshly inserted directive, the anti-dumping duty imposed on the specified subject goods will now remain in force up to and inclusive of 15th December, 2026, unless it is revoked, superseded, or amended prior to that date. This targeted legal extension prevents the premature expiration of vital defensive tariffs, ensuring that domestic manufacturers remain insulated from unfair trade practices and market distortions caused by underpriced foreign imports while broader regulatory reviews are finalized.

15. Countervailing Duty Extended: India Prolongs Anti-Subsidy Tariffs to Protect Domestic Market

The Government of India's Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, has issued Notification No. 3/2026-Customs (CVD) on 10th June, 2026, extending the enforcement period for protective trade tariffs. Exercising its powers under Section 9 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975, and corresponding administrative rules, the Central Government has amended the principal notification No. 4/2021-Customs (CVD) dated 24th September, 2021. Under this new amendment, the countervailing duty framework originally imposed under the principal order will now remain in force up to and inclusive of 23rd March, 2027, unless it is revoked, superseded, or amended earlier. This targeted legal extension maintains the existing anti-subsidy framework for subsidized articles, ensuring continuous market stability for domestic enterprises while offering trade stakeholders critical policy predictability for their upcoming procurement and import strategies.

16. Tariff Relief for Manganese Ore Imports: Government slashes Customs Duty to Zero Percent

The Central Government of India, through the Ministry of Finance's Department of Revenue, has issued Notification No. 21/2026-Customs on 9th June, 2026, granting a critical fiscal exemption in the public interest. Exercising its powers under Section 25(1) of the Customs Act, 1962, the government has further amended the principal notification No. 62/2022-Customs to expand its duty-free schedules. The new directive inserts a new entry, Serial Number 825A, into Table I of the primary order, effectively reducing the basic customs duty to 0.0% for all goods classified under tariff item 2602 00 10, which encompasses manganese ores and concentrates with a manganese content of 20% or more. For primary industrial manufacturers, steel producers, and metallurgical stakeholders reliant on imported manganese blends, this policy intervention dramatically lowers production costs, boosts domestic refinery competitiveness, and secures an unhindered raw material pipeline amidst changing global trade conditions.