Amendments to TRQ Allocation Procedure for Gold under India-UAE CEPA

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has issued Public Notice No. 31/2025-26 dated October 29, 2025, introducing significant amendments to the procedure for the allocation of Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for gold under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). These changes aim to enhance transparency and streamline the import process for gold under tariff head 7108.

Key Highlights of the Amendments:

Revised Conditions for TRQ Eligibility:
- The eligible applicants must now meet two additional requirements:
  - BIS Hallmarking Registration: Applicants must be registered with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for hallmarking.
  - GST Registration: Applicants must be registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework.
- Import of Gold Dore under TRQ remains excluded from consideration.
Competitive Bidding Process for TRQ Allocation:
- To ensure greater transparency and effective management, the allocation of TRQ for gold under the India-UAE CEPA will now be conducted through a competitive online bidding/tender process.
Online Application Process:
- Eligible applicants can file their TRQ applications online during the permissible period via the DGFT website. The process involves navigating to the Import Management System and selecting the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) section.
Notification of Submission Period:
- The permissible time period for submitting TRQ applications and the detailed modalities for participating in the competitive bidding process will be announced annually through a Trade Notice.

Effect of the Public Notice:

The amendments to Condition (d) under Annexure-IV of Appendix-2A introduce mandatory BIS Hallmarking and GST registration for applicants seeking TRQ allocations for gold under HS Code 7108. Additionally, the shift to a competitive online bidding/tender process ensures a more transparent and efficient allocation mechanism.

How This Impacts Stakeholders:

These changes are expected to benefit stakeholders by:

Promoting compliance with hallmarking standards, ensuring the quality and authenticity of imported gold.
Enhancing transparency in the TRQ allocation process through competitive bidding.
Streamlining the application process via an online platform, making it more accessible and efficient.

Next Steps for Eligible Applicants:

Applicants interested in availing TRQ under the India-UAE CEPA for FY 2025-26 should:

Ensure they are registered with BIS for hallmarking and GST.
Regularly check the DGFT website for updates on the submission period and bidding process.
Submit their applications online during the notified period.

This amendment marks a significant step towards improving the management of TRQ allocations and fostering transparency in gold imports under the India-UAE CEPA framework. Stay tuned for more updates and ensure compliance with the revised guidelines to benefit from the TRQ allocations.

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Source: DGFT

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