DGFT Notification No. 23/2026-27, dated 13 July 2026, inserts Paragraph 2.20B and Paragraph 11.64 into the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023. Paragraph 2.20B prohibits the import of goods produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, using forced labour and empowers the Central Government to specify, by notification, the goods whose import shall be prohibited, having regard to the findings of an enquiry or other material it considers appropriate. The procedure for enquiry by the Director General of Foreign Trade will be prescribed in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023. Paragraph 11.64 defines “Forced Labour” in accordance with the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29). The notification states that these provisions will come into effect after the expiry of 30 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Vanijya Bhawan
Notification No. 23/2026-27-DGFT | Dated: 13th July, 2026
Subject: Prohibition on Import of Goods Produced Using Forced Labour — Insertion of Para 2.20B and Para 11.64 in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 — Reg.
S.O. (E) In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby inserts a new Para 2.20B in the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 as follows with effect after the expiry of 30 days from the date of publication of this Notification in the Official Gazette.
Para 2.20B: Prohibition of import of goods produced or manufactured using forced labour:
The import of goods produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, through the use of forced labour is prohibited. The Central Government may, from time to time, specify, by notification, the goods whose import shall be prohibited under this paragraph, having regard to the findings of such enquiry or such other material as it may consider appropriate. The procedure for conducting an enquiry by the Director General of Foreign Trade into the use of forced labour in the production of such goods shall be as prescribed in the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.
2) A new para 11.64 is added under Chapter 11 (Definition) of the FTP, 2023
11.64 “Forced Labour” means all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily, as defined under the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).
Effect of the Notification: This notification inserts Paragraph 2.20B in the FTP, 2023, to empower the Central Government to prohibit, by notification, the import of goods produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, through the use of forced labour. It also inserts Paragraph 11.64 defining “Forced Labour” in accordance with the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), thereby strengthening the FTP framework for restricting imports of goods produced through forced labour. The provisions of this notification shall come into effect after the expiry of 30 days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
This is issued with the approval of the Minister of Commerce & Industry.
(Lay Agarwal)
Director General of Foreign Trade &
Addl. Secretary to the Government of India
Email: dgft@nic.in
[Issued from File No. K-31013/1/2026-DIR NAFTA-Part(4)]
