The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has announced amendments to the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023, making the electronic issuance of Certificates of Origin (CoO) mandatory.
The amendment revises Para 2.90 of the HBP-2023, which governs the issuance of Certificates of Origin — a crucial document used to certify the origin of exported goods for international trade.
While the core definition and classification of CoOs remain unchanged — categorized into preferential and non-preferential — the notification introduces key operational changes.
Firstly, a mandatory digital platform: all authorized agencies must now process CoO applications exclusively through the official DGFT digital platform (trade.gov.in or other designated systems).
Secondly, End of Manual Issuance. Manual or offline issuance of Certificates of Origin is no longer permitted.
Thirdly, strict Compliance Requirement: Any agency issuing CoOs outside the prescribed digital system risks revocation of authorization.
Lastly, updated Agency Listings: The list of authorized issuing agencies is now formally referenced under Appendices 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E.
Notification Details
Public Notice No. 01/2026
Date: 07/04/2026
