The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has implemented an automated system for issuing Free Sale and Commerce Certificates (FSC) through its portal, eliminating the previously mandatory manual review for eligible exporters. This new process aims to streamline export documentation by reducing delays traditionally associated with manual scrutiny.
FSCs are vital for exporters in India, particularly for products not governed by the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. Previously, each application had to undergo a time-consuming manual analysis by the DGFT’s Regional Authority before issuance. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry recognized this lengthy process as a significant barrier to efficient trade.
The new automated system, outlined in DGFT’s Trade Notice No. 24/2026-2027, allows qualifying applications to be processed without manual review, though applications requiring verification will still be assessed manually. To ensure oversight, the system incorporates risk-based checks, enabling automatic approvals to be flagged for review based on established risk management parameters.
This reform is part of DGFT’s broader digitization efforts aimed at easing the compliance burden on exporters, particularly those managing high volumes of low-risk shipments. By accelerating FSC issuance, the initiative supports India’s push for a more efficient business environment and simplifies the complexities faced by exporters in the logistics chain.
