The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued Public Notice No. 32/2025-26 on 20th November, 2025, amending Paragraph 2.08 of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023. The amendment merges ANF-1A with the revised ANF-2A, making ANF-1A obsolete. Under the revised procedure, details submitted in the Importer Exporter Code (IEC) application will be electronically verified through integration with records maintained by relevant Ministries, Departments, Organisations, and Banks, wherever feasible. Applicants must continue to submit scanned documents online unless exempted by the system. Additionally, the guidelines for post-verification of online IECs, previously conducted by Regional Authorities (RAs), will now be issued by DGFT Headquarters. The changes aim to streamline the IEC application process, facilitate electronic validation of applicant details, and clarify document submission requirements, ensuring better compliance and reducing manual intervention. Other provisions of Para 2.08(c)(i) and (ii) remain unchanged.
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Public Notice No. 32/2025-26-DGFT | Dated: 20th November, 2025
Subject: Amendment to Para 2.08 of the Handbook of Procedures-reg.
F.No. 01/93/180/20/AM-13/PC-II (B)/ [E-5200].- In exercise of powers conferred under Paragraphs 1.03 and 2.04 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, as amended from time to time, the Director General of Foreign Trade hereby makes the following amendments in Para 2.08 of the Handbook of the Procedures 2023 with immediate effect.
1. The details earlier required to be filed in ANF-1A have now been incorporated in the ANF-2A. Accordingly, ANF-1A stands deleted and ANF-2A is revised with immediate effect. The revised ANF-2A is attached as Annexure – I
2. Para 2.08 (c) of the HBP 2023 is amended as follows:
| Para No. | Existing Provision | Revised Provision |
| 2.08 | The applicant is required to submit online | The details submitted in the IEC application |
| (c) | application with the following details/documents (scanned copies to be uploaded) along with the IEC application; | shall be validated through online integration with records maintained by relevant Ministries/Departments/Organisations/Banks, wherever feasible. Further, the applicant is required to submit the following details/documents (scanned copies to be uploaded), unless specifically exempted by the system during the online application process: |
| 2.08 | RAs would conduct post-verification of | The guidelines for the conduct of post- |
| (a) | online IECs as per the guidelines. | verification of Online IECs will be issued by DGFT Headquarters from time to time. |
Para 2.08(c) (i) and 2.08(c) (ii) of the HBP 2023 remain unchanged.
Effect of the Public Notice: ANF-1A has been merged with the revised ANF-2A, and Para 2.08 (c) and Para 2.08(d) of the Handbook of Procedures 2023 is amended to enable electronic verification of details submitted in the IEC application, post verification of Online IECs, and to update the corresponding document submissions requirements.
(Ajay Bhadoo)
Director General of Foreign Trade &
Ex-officio Addl. Secretary to the Government of India
E-mail: dgft@nic.in
[File No.01/93/180/20/AM-13/PC-II (B)/ [E-5200]
