Checking the Status of the Products for Export Import

The next step of an entrepreneur should be to quickly view the Foreign Trade Policy of India and check the status of his product.

A. OGL: OGL stands for Open General License: In case your product is listed in this category, you are free to export following the guidelines detailed in chapter 2. FTP indicates “Exports and Imports shall be ‘Free’, except when regulated. Such regulation would be as per FTP and/or ITC (HS’). Prefer to choose the product under this category to avoid any hassle.

B. Restricted: These are the products Permitted to export subject to licensing. These goods may be exported or imported only in accordance with a license issued in this behalf.However, there are separate sets of items which may be exported without a license but subject to terms and conditions specified in the Handbook of Procedures List of such products is listed in Annexure II.

C. Canalized items: These are the products exports of which are permitted ONLY through Canalizing Agencies specified in the negative lists. The agencies include MMTC for gold, NAFED and STC for agro products including onion, rice, wheat etc. DGFT may, however, grant the license to any other person to import or export any canalized goods.

D. Prohibited Goods: The term “Prohibited Goods” has been defined in sub-section 33 of Section 2 of the Customs Act thereby meaning “any goods the import or export of which is subject to any prohibition under the Customs Act or any other law for the time being in force”. Import and export of some specified goods may be restricted/ prohibited under other laws such as Foreign Trade (Development& Regulation) Act, Foreign Trade Policy, Environment Protection Act, Wild Life Act,The Foreign Exchange Management Act, The Trade Marks Act, Arms Act, Drugs OGL Restricted Canalised Prohibited 14 & Cosmetics Act, etc. Prohibitions under those Acts will also be treated as Prohibitions under the penal provisions of the Customs Act, rendering such goods liable to confiscation under section 111(d) of the Customs Act (for import) and 113 (d) of the Customs Act (for export).