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Dated: 19.09.2026
Spices Board Shifts Cardamom Dealer Licence Applications to NSWS; Fresh and Renewal Applications Open from September 19, 2026
The Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has announced a significant procedural change for dealers of small and large cardamom. Under Circular No. 03/2026-27 dated 18 September 2026, applications for fresh issuance and renewal of the Cardamom Dealer Licence (CDL) will now be submitted online through the Government’s National Single Window System (NSWS).
The Circular has been issued in connection with the Cardamom (Licensing & Marketing) Rules, 1987, as amended from time to time, and is particularly relevant to dealers whose licences require fresh issuance or renewal.
Online Applications to Begin from September 19, 2026
- According to the Circular, online submission of applications for fresh issuance or renewal of Cardamom Dealer Licences will commence from 19 September 2026.
- The last date for submission is 18 October 2026.
- The Spices Board states that this transition to NSWS is aligned with the Government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative and is intended to facilitate the process of issuing and renewing dealer licences.
- The Circular specifically refers to Rule 5(1) of the Cardamom (Licensing & Marketing) Rules, 1987 while announcing the fresh/renewal application window.
Physical Applications Will No Longer Be Accepted
- One of the most important changes for stakeholders is the discontinuation of physical applications.
- The Spices Board has expressly directed stakeholders seeking a fresh or renewed CDL to use the NSWS portal for submitting their online applications and clarified that physical applications will no longer be accepted or entertained.
- Accordingly, cardamom dealers who previously relied upon physical filing will need to migrate to the online application process for the current licensing cycle.
Registration Through National Single Window System
- Applicants will first need to access the National Single Window System (NSWS) and complete the prescribed registration/application process.
- The Circular states that the details of registration fees for the Dealer Licence may be verified on the Spices Board portal, while payment is to be made through the NSWS Payment Gateway.
- Applicants can access the Government’s NSWS platform through National Single Window System (NSWS).
Dealers Must Update Monthly Cardamom Transaction Returns
- The move to NSWS does not eliminate the existing compliance requirements maintained through the Spices Board system.
- Before proceeding with registration, all cardamom dealers have been requested to ensure that their monthly returns relating to cardamom transactions are updated on the Spices Board Portal.
- This is therefore an important pre-application compliance step. Dealers intending to file a fresh or renewal application should first verify whether all required monthly transaction returns have been duly filed and updated.
- The dealer return facility referred to in the Circular is available through the Spices Board Dealer Return Portal.
Documents and Registration Requirements
The Circular further advises applicants to verify the documents required for fresh issuance or renewal through the Spices Board portal under the following navigation:
Marketing β Registration and Licensing β Dealer
- The Spices Board official website can therefore be used to verify the documentary requirements before an application is initiated on NSWS.
- This separation is important from a compliance perspective: while the application is to be filed through NSWS, the Spices Board portal continues to serve as a source for checking documentary requirements and updating the dealer’s transaction returns.
Key Compliance Timeline
| Requirement | Details |
| Circular | Circular No. 03/2026-27 |
| Issuing Authority | Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce & Industry |
| Date of Circular | 18 September 2026 |
| Licence | Cardamom Dealer Licence (CDL) |
| Applicable to | Small and Large Cardamom Dealers |
| Fresh/Renewal applications begin | 19 September 2026 |
| Last date for application | 18 October 2026 |
| Application platform | National Single Window System (NSWS) |
| Physical applications | No longer accepted/entertained |
| Pre-filing requirement | Update monthly cardamom transaction returns |
| Payment | Through NSWS Payment Gateway |
What Cardamom Dealers Should Do
- Dealers planning to obtain or renew a Cardamom Dealer Licence should first ensure that their monthly transaction returns are fully updated on the Spices Board Portal. They should then verify the applicable documents and registration fee, complete the required NSWS registration, submit the online fresh/renewal application between 19 September and 18 October 2026, and make the prescribed payment through the NSWS gateway.
- Applicants should also retain acknowledgement and payment records generated through the online system as part of their compliance documentation.
Significance for the Spice Trade
- The migration of Cardamom Dealer Licence applications to NSWS represents another step towards the digitalisation and centralisation of trade-related regulatory approvals.
- For businesses dealing in small and large cardamom, the most immediate operational change is that the licence application process is now online-only. At the same time, the requirement to keep transaction returns updated on the Spices Board Portal means that dealers need to coordinate compliance across both systems before completing the licensing process.
- The change is particularly relevant for dealers, traders and businesses whose existing licences are approaching renewal, as failure to complete the online process within the notified application window may affect their licensing compliance.
Key Takeaway
From 19 September 2026, fresh and renewal applications for Cardamom Dealer Licences are to be submitted through NSWS, with 18 October 2026 prescribed as the last date. Physical applications will no longer be entertained. Dealers should update all monthly cardamom transaction returns before initiating the online application and verify the required documents and fees through the Spices Board portal.
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Source: Spices Board of India
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