The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, vide Public Notice No. 11/2026-27 dated May 14, 2026, has notified the insertion of five new Notes under the Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) M-1 to M-8 pertaining to the Gems and Jewellery Product Group. The said Notes have been inserted in exercise of the powers conferred under paragraph 1.03 and 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, as amended from time to time, and shall come into force with immediate effect.
- Note 1 — Quantity Cap on Gold Imports: Advance Authorisation (AA) for import of gold shall be issued subject to a maximum permissible quantity limit of 100 kilograms, thereby placing an upper ceiling on the volume of duty-free gold that may be imported under a single authorisation.
- Note 2 — Mandatory Physical Inspection for First-Time Applicants: In case of an application for Advance Authorisation by a first-time applicant, a mandatory physical inspection of the applicant’s manufacturing facility shall be undertaken by the concerned Regional Authority to verify the existence, capacity and operational status of the manufacturing facility before the authorisation is issued.
- Note 3 — 50% Export Obligation Threshold for Subsequent Authorisations: Any subsequent Advance Authorisation for import of gold shall be considered for issuance only upon fulfilment of at least 50% of the export obligation prescribed under the preceding Advance Authorisations for gold, thereby ensuring progressive compliance and monitoring.
- Note 4 — Fortnightly Performance Reporting by AA Holders: The Advance Authorisation holder shall submit a fortnightly performance report to the concerned Regional Authority (RA), duly certified by an independent Chartered Accountant certifying the gold imports and exports undertaken under the authorisation, so as to facilitate effective oversight and compliance monitoring.
- Note 5 — Monthly Consolidated Report by Regional Authorities to DGFT HQ: The concerned Regional Authority shall submit a monthly consolidated report to DGFT Headquarters containing details regarding the issuance of Advance Authorisations and corresponding import/export transactions of gold, to enable centralised monitoring and policy oversight.
Effect of this Public Notice:
Five (05) Notes have been inserted under SIONs M-1 to M-8 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023, prescribing conditions for the issuance and monitoring of Advance Authorisations for import of gold. The amendments collectively introduce a structured framework comprising a quantitative cap, pre-issuance due diligence for new applicants, performance-linked eligibility for subsequent authorisations, and a two-tier reporting mechanism between AA holders, Regional Authorities and DGFT Headquarters.
The Public Notice can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Public-Notice-11-dated-14.05.2026.pdf
