New Delhi, April 7 The commerce ministry said on Tuesday that certificates of product origin, a key document to obtain duty concessions under a free trade agreement (FTA), can only be issued by authorized agencies.
These certificates are essential for claiming duty concessions under free trade agreements (FTAs). They are needed to prove the origin of the goods.
An exporter has to submit the certificate at the port of the importing country.
"Certificates of Origin can only be issued by agencies authorized for this purpose. Exporters are required to use identical invoice numbers in certificates of origin and shipping bills to enable automated verification," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
It also said that authorized agencies for issuing these certificates should accept and issue only from the designated electronic platform as specified by the DGFT.
India has signed FTAs with several countries, including the UAE, Australia, Singapore, and the UK.
Under these agreements, two countries significantly reduce and eliminate import duties on a large number of goods traded between them.