The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued a notification permitting export of specified essential commodities from India to the Republic of Maldives for FY 2026–27 under a bilateral trade agreement. The notification allows export of items such as eggs, rice, wheat flour, sugar, onions, potatoes, dal, stone aggregate, and river sand within prescribed quantity limits, while exempting these exports from any existing or future restrictions. However, exports of restricted or prohibited items are permitted only through six designated customs ports. Additional compliance conditions have been imposed: export of eggs requires a valid Export Health Certificate conforming to Codex standards, while export of river sand and stone aggregate is subject to environmental clearances, CRZ norms, and state-level approvals. The notification ensures uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to Maldives while balancing regulatory oversight, environmental safeguards, and adherence to international quality standards.
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Vanijya Bhawan, Akbar Road, New Delhi – 110 011
Notification No. 01/2026-27-DGFT | Dated: 01 April, 2026
Subject: Supply of essential commodities to the Republic of Maldives during FY 2026-27 regarding.
S.O. 1762(E): In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3, read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, and paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023, as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby amends Section (L) of the ‘General Note to Export Policy’ as follows:
1. Export of essential commodities mentioned in Column (2) of the Table-1 below, to the Republic of Maldives, during 2026-27 up to the quantities as mentioned in Column (4) of Table-1 below, is allowed under bilateral trade agreement between Government of India and Government of Maldives: –
Table-1
| S. No. | Commodity | Unit | Quantity allowed for FY 2026-27 |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| i. | Eggs | Nos. | 448,913,750 |
| ii. | Potatoes | MT | 22,589 |
| iii. | Onions | MT | 37,537 |
| iv. | Rice | MT | 230,429 |
| v. | Wheat Flour | MT | 114,621 |
| vi. | Sugar | MT | 67,719 |
| vii. | Dal | MT | 350 |
| viii. | Stone Aggregate | MT | 1,300,000 |
| ix. | River Sand | MT | 1,300,000 |
2. Export of the commodities, mentioned in Column (2) of Table-1 above, to the Republic of Maldives shall be exempt from any existing or future restrictions/prohibitions during FY 2026-27.
3. Export of essential commodities, mentioned in Column (2) of Table-1 above, falling under the prohibited/restricted category to the Republic of Maldives during FY 2026-27 shall be permitted only through the following six Customs Stations:-
i. Mundra Sea port (INMUNI)
ii. Tuticorin Sea Port (INTUTI)
iii. Nhava Sheva Sea Port (INNSA1)
iv. ICD Tughlakabad (INTKD6)
v. Kandla Sea (INIXY1)
vi. Visakhapatnam Sea (INVTZI)
4. For export of the quantities of River Sand and Stone Aggregate, as mentioned in Column (4) of Table-1 above, CAPEXIL shall ensure that suppliers/extractors have obtained the required environmental clearances and that mining is not conducted in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, as per the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification.
5. Additionally, export of River Sand and Stone Aggregate shall be permitted only upon obtaining environmental clearances/No Objection Certificates from the designated nodal authorities of the respective State Governments from which the material is sourced. This is also subject to applicable State legislation or judicial orders relating to the mining of these commodities.
6. Export of Eggs, as mentioned at S. No. (i) of Table-1 above, shall be subject to the condition that each consignment is accompanied by a valid Export Health Certificate issued by the Export Inspection Council, conforming to the Codex Guidelines for the Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates (CXG 38-2001) as required by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority.
Effect of this notification: Export of Eggs, Potatoes, Onions, Rice, Wheat Flour, Sugar, Dal, Stone Aggregate, and River Sand to the Republic of Maldives has been permitted under the bilateral trade agreement between the Governments of India and Maldives for the FY 2026-27, as per the specified quantities. These exports shall remain exempt from any existing or future restrictions or prohibitions during this period. Export of Eggs shall additionally require an official Export Health Certificate issued by the Export Inspection Council (EIC), conforming to Codex standards as required by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority. Further, export of items classified under the prohibited or restricted category shall be allowed only through the six designated Customs ports. In the case of River Sand and Stone Aggregate, exports will also be subject to environmental clearances, CRZ norms and compliance with relevant State regulations.
(Lay Agarwal)
Director General of Foreign Trade &
Ex-Officio Addl. Secretary to the Govt of India
E-mail: dgft@nic.in
(Issued from F. No. 01/91/171/59/AM20/EC/E-20816)
