The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, vide Trade Notice No. 05/2026-27 dated May 22, 2026, has developed and operationalised a dedicated online module for the issuance of Certificate of Origin (CoO) for Agarwood exports on the Trade Connect ePlatform (TCeP) at https://trade.gov.in. The initiative is in furtherance of Para 1.07 of the Foreign Trade Policy, which envisages facilitation of exports and imports through efficient, transparent, and accountable delivery systems.
The new module facilitates issuance of CoO for Agarwood exports to establish legal origin, validate chain of custody, and ensure compliance with applicable international requirements — including those under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The platform serves as a single-window digital interface for issuance of CoOs and provision of integrated trade facilitation services.
The online module enables exporters to submit applications electronically along with supporting documents and details relating to source or origin, stock particulars, chain of custody, and inspection records. Applications shall be digitally routed to the jurisdictional Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) for verification and inspection, and thereafter to the designated State Nodal Officer for review and approval. Upon approval, the CoO shall be issued electronically through the platform. The system has been designed to provide a transparent, paperless workflow with improved traceability and reduced physical interface between the exporters and concerned authorities.
Workflow for Exporters:
Exporters may use their existing DGFT website (https://dgft.gov.in) login credentials on the Trade Connect ePlatform — no fresh registration is required. Exporters not yet registered on the DGFT website are required to register first. Applications may be submitted by navigating to: Trade Connect ePlatform → Certificate of Origin → Apply for Certificate of Origin → Application details → Basic details → Certification details → Type of Certificate of Origin → Other → Trade Agreement/Others → Forest Produce – Agarwood. Exporters shall furnish details relating to source/origin, stock particulars, chain of custody, quantity, product description, and upload supporting documents including inspection photographs. The digitally issued CoO may be downloaded from the platform upon approval.
Onboarding of Issuing Officers (DFO/State Nodal Officers):
Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) and State Nodal Officers are required to register on the Trade Connect ePlatform by navigating to: Register → Register User As → ‘CoO Authorized Agency’ → Select agency ‘North Eastern States (For Issuance of Agarwood)’ → Select ‘State name’ (for State Nodal Officer) or ‘State – District name’ (for DFO). Issuing officers must use only their official e-mail address and must register their digital token key/Digital Signature Certificate on ‘My Dashboard’ to enable digital signing of eCoOs. Officers already onboarded on the DGFT Back Office Portal are not required to register again and may write to coo-dgft@gov.in for any assistance.
Exporters and stakeholders are advised to familiarise themselves with the new digital process and utilise the online module for submission and processing of applications with effect from 25 May 2026. User manuals for exporters and issuing officials are available on the Trade Connect ePlatform (https://trade.gov.in).
Verification Mechanism:
Authorities requiring verification of the genuineness of a CoO may visit the Trade Connect ePlatform (https://trade.gov.in) → ‘Certificate of Origin’ → ‘Verify Certificate’ and enter the CoO number to display the details of the certificate issued on the platform.
Support Channels:
Exporters and stakeholders are encouraged to reach out to the DGFT Helpdesk for any queries, suggestions, or feedback related to the eCoO module through the following channels:
- Toll-Free Assistance: DGFT Helpdesk toll-free numbers.
- Email Inquiries: coo-dgft@gov.in
The Trade Notice can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Scan-Trade-notice-05-202627.pdf
