The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Public Notice No. 17/2024-DGFT, dated 14.08.2024, amending Para 10.06 of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023. This amendment concerns the process of approving authorizations under the Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies (SCOMET) category. Previously, cases deferred by the Inter Ministerial Working Group (IMWG) were approved by the Chairman of IMWG upon receiving consistent comments or No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from all concerned agencies. The revised procedure now allows for the authorization to be issued not only by the Chairman of IMWG but also by any officer nominated by the Chairman or the DGFT, provided that the officer holds a rank of at least Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade or Under Secretary. These cases will still require ex-post facto approval in a subsequent IMWG meeting. This amendment aims to streamline the approval process by expanding the delegation of authority, thereby facilitating more efficient handling of SCOMET-related authorizations when there is consensus among the involved agencies.
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Vanijya Bhawan
Public Notice No.17/2024-DGFT | Dated: 14.08.2024
Subject:- Amendment in the Para 10.06 of Handbook of Procedure 2023- reg
S.O.(E) In exercise of the powers conferred under Paragraph 1.03 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 as amended from time to time, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) hereby makes the following amendment to Chapter 10 of Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023 with immediate effect:
| Existing text of Para 10.06(111) | Revised text of Para 10.06(111) |
| Inter Ministerial Working Group (IMWG)
III. Where a case has been deferred in the IMWG meeting and subsequently comments/views /NOC(s) are received from all concerned agencies with no divergence in views, authorization shall be issued with the approval of Chairman, IMWG and the case shall be brought before IMWG in its subsequent meeting for approval on ex-post facto basis. |
Inter Ministerial Working Group (IMWG)
III. Where a case has been deferred in the IMWG meeting and subsequently comments/views /NOC(s) are received from all concerned agencies with no divergence in views, authorization shall be issued with the approval of Chairman, IMWG or any officer nominated by Chairman/DGFT (not below the rank of Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade/Under Secretary) and such cases shall be brought before IMWG in its subsequent meeting for approval on ex-post facto basis. |
Effect of this Public Notice: Para 10.06(111) of HBP 2023 has been amended to notify the changes in the delegation of powers for approval of authorizations under SCOMET where comments/views/NOC(s) are received from all concerned agencies with no divergence in views.
(Santosh Kumar Sarangi)
Director General of Foreign Trade
Ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India
E-mail: [email protected]
Issued from File No. 01/77/171/025/AM23/EC(S)
