The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), through Notification No. 73/2025-26 dated March 31, 2026, has amended Paragraph 4.43 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to provide a one-time relaxation for exporters in the gems and jewellery sector. The amendment allows eligible exporters of cut and polished diamonds (0.25 carat or above) with specified turnover criteria to benefit from an extended re-import timeline at zero duty. In cases where the original re-import period of three months expires between March 1, 2026 and May 31, 2026, the deadline will automatically be extended by 30 days. This effectively increases the re-import period to four months for such shipments. The relaxation has been introduced in public interest to mitigate hardships faced by exporters due to logistical disruptions and transit delays arising from ongoing geopolitical instability in West Asia, thereby ensuring continued compliance and operational flexibility.
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Notification No. 73/2025-26 -DGFT | Dated: March 31st March, 2026
Subject: Amendment to Paragraph 4.43 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 — One-time relaxation for the Gems and Jewellery Sector.
S.O. 1856(E).— In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, as amended, read with Paragraph 1.02 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023,.as amended time to time, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment in Para 4.43 of FTP 2023, in public interest, to mitigate the hardships faced by exporters due to the ongoing geo-political crisis in West Asia:
| Existing Para 4.43 | Revised Para 4.43 |
| An exporter (with annual export turnover of Rs 5 crores for each of the last three years) or the authorized offices agencies in India of laboratories mentioned under paragraph 4.73 of Hand Book of Procedures may export cut & polished diamonds (each of 0.25 carat or above) to any of the agencies/laboratories mentioned under paragraph 4.73 of Handbook of Procedures with re-import facility at zero duty within 3 months from the date of export. Such facility of re import at zero duty will be subject to guidelines issued by Central Board of Customs & Excise, Department of Revenue. | An exporter (with annual export turnover of Rs 5 crores for each of the last three years) or the authorized offices/agencies in India |of laboratories mentioned under paragraph 4.73 of Hand Book of Procedures may export cut & polished diamonds (each of 0.25 carat or above) to any of the agencies/laboratories mentioned under paragraph 4.73 of Handbook of Procedures with re-import facility zero duty within 3 months from the date of export. Such facility of re import at zero duty will be subject to guidelines issued by Central Board of Customs & Excise, Department of Revenue.
However, as a one-time relaxation, in cases where the re-import period is expiring on or between March 01, 2026 and May 31, 2026, such re |import period shall automatically stand extended by 30 days from the date of its expiry. |
Effect of this Notification: Specified category of Exporters of cut and polished diamonds will now have a total of four months (instead of three months) to avail zero-duty re-import facility in Para 4.43 of FTP for shipments whose date of re- import falls within March 01, 2026 and May 31, 2026. This relaxation is provided to address logistical bottlenecks and transit delays arising from the current regional instability
(Lay Agarwal)
Directorate General of Foreign Trade &
Ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India
(File No. 01/94/180/116/AM26/PC-4)
