India Trade & Customs Updates: Key Changes Issued Between 13 to 19 September 2026
India issued several important trade, customs and central excise updates during the week of 13 to 19 September 2026. These developments cover low-value exports, Rules of Origin, Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificates, raw sugar imports, customs tariff values, anti-dumping duty and duties on petroleum exports.
Exporters, importers, customs brokers and compliance teams should review these changes and update their processes wherever applicable.
RCMC exemption introduced for low-value exports
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has exempted certain low-value export consignments from the requirement to obtain a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate or Certificate of Registration.
Under Notification No. 36/2026-27, an export consignment with a Free-on-Board value not exceeding ₹3 lakh will not require an RCMC or Certificate of Registration.
The exemption is intended to promote small-value exports, particularly consignments moving through:
Postal channels
Courier networks
Other emerging export channels
Export consignments with an FOB value exceeding ₹3 lakh will continue to require a valid RCMC or Certificate of Registration wherever applicable under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
What exporters should do
Exporters should review their consignment-level FOB values and update their documentation checks accordingly. Shipments qualifying for the exemption should be clearly identified, while consignments exceeding the threshold must continue to follow the existing registration requirements.
The amendment came into effect immediately.
DGFT proposes comprehensive Non-Preferential Rules of Origin
Through Trade Notice No. 27/2026-27, DGFT has invited comments and suggestions on a proposed amendment to Paragraph 2.93 of the Handbook of Procedures 2023.
The proposed amendment seeks to prescribe comprehensive Non-Preferential Rules of Origin for both exports and imports.
This is currently a draft proposal and has not yet become a final procedural requirement.
Proposed rules for exports
Under the draft provisions, exported goods would qualify as Indian-origin goods when they are manufactured by the exporting entity in accordance with the definition of “Manufacture” under the Foreign Trade Policy.
Where imported inputs are used, the final export product would need to undergo processing beyond specified minimal operations.
Activities that would not independently confer Indian origin include:
Sorting, washing or simple cutting
Changes in packaging
Repacking or bottling
Affixing labels or marks
Simple mixing
Simple assembly or disassembly
Operations performed only to preserve goods during transportation or storage
Dilution that does not materially change the product
The proposal also covers the process for obtaining a Non-Preferential Certificate of Origin.
Exporters requiring a Non-Preferential CoO would need to apply online through the Trade Connect platform and upload a copy of the invoice and packing list. A fee of ₹200 would apply for each Certificate of Origin, including the attestation of additional documents.
The draft further proposes:
Online correction through an in-lieu CoO application
Self-certification by eligible manufacturer exporters holding Status Holder recognition
Back-to-back Certificates of Origin for re-export, trans-shipment and merchanting trade
Verification of Indian origin by authorised issuing agencies
Proposed rules for imports
For imported goods falling under Chapters 01 to 14 of the ITC (HS), the country of origin would generally be the country where the goods are wholly obtained or produced, subject to a 1% de minimis tolerance.
For products outside these chapters, origin would be determined where either:
All non-originating materials undergo a change in tariff heading at the four-digit HS level; or
The goods achieve at least 35% value addition.
The draft also proposes allowing import clearance based on the importer’s self-declaration of origin. A separate Certificate of Origin would not ordinarily be required unless it is specifically mandated under applicable law or a notified country-specific requirement.
Customs authorities may subsequently verify the declared origin on a risk-based basis where reasonable grounds for doubt exist. Routine or repeated verification of identical goods, origin and circumstances should be avoided.
Stakeholder consultation
Importers, exporters, Export Promotion Councils, trade bodies and other interested parties may submit their comments within 15 days from the date of publication of the Trade Notice.
Businesses should assess how the proposed framework may affect:
Product-origin determination
Supplier declarations
Bills of Entry
Certificate of Origin procedures
Supporting-document requirements
Import compliance controls
PSIC issuance timeline revised to two days
DGFT has revised the timeline for issuing Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificates through Trade Notice No. 28/2026-27.
A PSIC must now be generated and issued within two days from the date of inspection. The system will permit certificate generation and issuance only within this prescribed timeline.
The PSIC must also be uploaded from the same geographical location or country where the inspection was conducted.
One-time relaxation for pending PSICs
Recognised Pre-Shipment Inspection Agencies have been provided a one-time relaxation of seven days from the date of the Trade Notice to clear pending certificates relating to inspections conducted before 25 August 2026.
The relaxation applies to certificates that could not be issued because of system restrictions introduced under the revised PSIA and PSIC process.
What businesses should do
Inspection agencies and importers dealing with goods subject to PSIC requirements should coordinate certificate generation immediately after an inspection. Delays beyond the two-day window may prevent the certificate from being generated through the system.
Deadline extended for surrendering unused raw sugar TRQ
DGFT has extended the timeline for surrendering unutilised quantities allocated under the Tariff Rate Quota for the import of 10 lakh metric tonnes of raw sugar.
TRQ holders may surrender their unused allocation up to 30 September 2026.
The surrender remains subject to payment of an amount equivalent to 0.5% of the CIF value of the quantity surrendered. All other conditions prescribed under the original allocation notice remain unchanged.
Businesses holding raw sugar TRQ allocations should review their expected import requirements and surrender any quantity they do not intend to utilise before the revised deadline.
Customs tariff values revised for notified commodities
CBIC has revised the customs tariff values applicable to selected commodities through Notification No. 75/2026-Customs (N.T.). The revised tariff values came into effect on 16 September 2026.
Commodity | Revised tariff value |
Crude palm oil | USD 1,219 per metric tonne |
RBD palm oil | USD 1,231 per metric tonne |
Other palm oil | USD 1,225 per metric tonne |
Crude palmolein | USD 1,239 per metric tonne |
RBD palmolein | USD 1,242 per metric tonne |
Other palmolein | USD 1,241 per metric tonne |
Crude soybean oil | USD 1,268 per metric tonne |
Brass scrap, all grades | USD 8,218 per metric tonne |
Specified gold | USD 1,373 per 10 grams |
Specified silver | USD 2,028 per kilogram |
Areca nuts | USD 11,574 per metric tonne |
Tariff values are used for customs-duty assessment on notified goods. Importers and customs brokers should ensure that their declarations, duty calculations and landed-cost estimates reflect the revised values.
Anti-dumping duty on calcined gypsum powder extended
The government has extended the anti-dumping duty imposed under Notification No. 73/2021-Customs (ADD).
The measure covers specified imports of calcined gypsum powder originating in or exported from:
Iran
Oman
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
The existing anti-dumping duty will remain in force up to and including 16 March 2027, unless it is revoked, superseded or amended earlier.
The extension does not introduce a new product scope or duty structure. Importers should continue to verify the exact product description, tariff classification, country of origin, country of export, producer and applicable reference value under the original notification.
Anti-dumping duty applicability should not be determined only from the tariff heading. A complete product-and-origin assessment remains necessary.
Duties on petroleum exports revised
The Ministry of Finance has revised certain central excise duties applicable to exported petroleum products through Notification Nos. 49, 50 and 51/2026-Central Excise.
The revised rates took effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
The changes include:
Special Additional Excise Duty on exported petrol revised to ₹0.50 per litre
Special Additional Excise Duty on exported high-speed diesel revised to ₹20 per litre
Special Additional Excise Duty on exported Aviation Turbine Fuel revised to ₹15 per litre
Road and Infrastructure Cess on exported high-speed diesel reduced to nil
Petroleum exporters should update their duty calculations, pricing and clearance documentation to reflect the revised rates.
Key compliance actions for businesses
The updates issued during the week affect multiple stages of cross-border trade, from exporter registration and origin declaration to inspection certification, customs valuation and duty calculation.
Businesses should consider the following actions:
Identify low-value export consignments eligible for the RCMC exemption.
Review the proposed Non-Preferential Rules of Origin.
Submit comments on the draft Rules of Origin within the prescribed period, where relevant.
Ensure PSICs are generated within two days of inspection.
Review unused raw sugar TRQ allocations before 30 September 2026.
Update customs-valuation systems with the revised tariff values.
Continue accounting for anti-dumping duty on covered calcined gypsum powder imports.
Update export-duty calculations for petroleum products.
Communicate the changes to customs, documentation, finance and compliance teams.
Conclusion
The regulatory updates issued between 13 and 19 September 2026 reflect continued efforts to simplify low-value exports, strengthen origin-related compliance and introduce clearer timelines across trade procedures.
While measures such as the RCMC exemption may reduce the compliance burden for small exporters, other developments require closer operational control. These include the two-day PSIC issuance timeline, revised tariff values and the proposed framework for determining the origin of imported and exported goods.
Importers, exporters and customs professionals should carefully assess the applicability of each update and align their documentation, filing and compliance processes accordingly.
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