Overview

• DGFT reclassified select silver and precious-metal jewellery imports from free to restricted with immediate effect until March 31, 2026.
• Importers must secure licences for articles and parts of silver jewellery, including unstudded and other jewellery that were previously freely importable.
• Officials point to a sharp rise in shipments from Thailand under AITIGA, with volumes reportedly jumping from about 4 tonnes to roughly 40 tonnes in recent months.
• Thailand’s share of these imports is said to have climbed from around 78% to 98%, prompting concerns over duty circumvention and harm to domestic manufacturers and jobs.
• In parallel notices, DGFT mandated APEDA contract registration for non-basmati rice exports and permitted exports of certified low‑GHG second‑generation ethanol for fuel and non-fuel uses.