The Directorate General of Foreign Trade ( DGFT ) has revised Paragraph 10.06(III) of the Handbook of Procedures ( HBP ), 2023, concerning the delegation of powers for SCOMET ( Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies ) authorization approvals.
This amendment, announced through Public Notice No. 17/2024 dated 14th August 2024, introduces greater flexibility in the approval process.
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According to the Existing Text of Para 10.06(III), the Inter-Ministerial Working Group (IMWG) initially mandated that when a case is deferred during an IMWG meeting, and subsequent comments or No Objection Certificates (NOCs) are received from all relevant agencies with no divergence in views, the authorization could only be issued with the approval of the IMWG Chairman. The case would then be presented at the following IMWG meeting for ex-post facto approval.
However, the same has been amended to the following :
“Ill. Where a case has been deferred in the IMWG meeting and subsequently comments/views NOC(s) are received from all concerned agencies with no divergence in views, authorization shall be issued with the approval of Chairman, IMWG or any officer nominated by Chairman/DGFT (not below the rank of Deputy Director General of Foreign Trade/Under Secretary) and such cases shall be brought before IMWG in its subsequent meeting for approval on ex-post facto basis.”
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