The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a public notice, effective immediately, to suspend the Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) for a list of specific food products. This action, taken under the authority of the Foreign Trade Policy, affects items ranging from various confectionery and biscuits to rice, refined mustard oil, and several starches and food ingredients. Entities that export these products can no longer use the suspended SIONs to determine the quantity of duty-free inputs they can import for export production. Instead, exporters can apply for benefits under the Advance Authorisation scheme by utilizing alternative methods to fix their input-output norms. These include either submitting a self-declaration based on specific consumption or getting a fixed norm from the relevant Norms Committee. This public notice aims to change how exporters of these particular food items manage their import-export operations under the Advance Authorisation scheme. The list of suspended SIONs is attached in Annexure “A” of the notice.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Department of Commerce, Government of India
Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi
Public Notice No. 20/2025-26-DGFT | Dated: 26.08.2025
Subject: Suspension of SIONs pertaining to food products-reg.
F.No. 01/85/00137/AM-26/DES.VI.- 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, the Director General of Foreign Trade hereby suspends Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) mentioned at Annexure “A” to this Public Notice with immediate effect.
2. The entities engaged in export of products under SIONs in Annexure to this Public Notice may apply for benefits under the Advance Authorisation in terms of provisions in Para 4.03(b) (ii) or 4.03 (b) (iii) or Para 4.03(b)(iv) as applicable.
Effect of this Public Notice: The Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) at Annexure “A” are suspended with immediate effect.
(Ajay Bhadoo)
Director General of Foreign Trade &
Ex-officio Addl. Secretary to Government of India
Email: dgft@nic.in
(Issued from F.No. 01/85/00137/AM-26/DES.VI)
Annexure “A”
| SION No. | Export Item |
| CI | Assorted Confectionery |
| E-4 | Baking Powder filled in Tin container made out of tin sheet |
| E-5 | Biscuits (with or without dry fruits) |
| E-7 | Casein (Edible Grade)/ Caseinates |
| E-38 | Rice/ Wheat/ Chicken Biryani/ Vegetable Biryani/ Vegetable Pulao/ Zeera Rice/ Jawar/ Bajra |
| E-46 | Tea Bags containing Tea, Filter Paper, Mylar String and Polycoated Tag |
| E-75 | Maize Starch Powder |
| E-76 | Liquid Glucose |
| E-77 | Dextrose Monohydratc |
| E-100 | Modified Starch |
| E-101 | Corn Gluten |
| E-102 | Sorbitol |
| E-127 | Refined Mustard Oil (Edible Grade) |
| E-132 | Namkeens/ Mixtures/ Savories |
| E-133 | Malted Milk Food |
