The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued an important amendment to the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023 by bringing the India–United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (India–UK CETA) within the Certificate of Origin (CoO) framework.

The amendment is aimed at simplifying export documentation procedures and facilitating smoother implementation of preferential trade benefits available under the agreement.

What Has Changed?

DGFT has amended Para 2.88(a) of HBP 2023 to include the India–UK CETA in the list of applicable Free Trade Agreements covered under the Certificate of Origin procedures.

Further, Para 2.91(e) has been revised to allow exporters to obtain Certificates of Origin through self-declaration under both India–EFTA TEPA and India–UK CETA, in addition to the existing system of issuance through authorised agencies.

This means exporters now have an additional compliance route for claiming preferential tariff benefits while exporting to the United Kingdom.

Impact on Exporters

The introduction of the self-declaration mechanism is expected to reduce procedural dependency and improve the efficiency of export documentation processes.

Businesses exporting regularly to the UK may benefit from faster processing timelines and better operational flexibility. Exporters with strong internal compliance systems can now manage origin certification more efficiently without depending entirely on third-party issuing authorities.

The amendment also reflects the government’s continued focus on trade facilitation and ease of doing business under Free Trade Agreements.

Compliance Considerations

Although the self-declaration route offers flexibility, exporters must ensure proper compliance while issuing origin declarations.

Businesses should maintain adequate supporting documentation relating to origin qualification, product eligibility, and export records. Since preferential tariff claims may be subject to verification by importing authorities, accurate documentation remains critical.

Incorrect or unsupported declarations may lead to disputes, denial of benefits, or compliance exposure at a later stage.

Advisory for Businesses

Exporters operating under India–UK CETA should now review their internal compliance systems and Certificate of Origin procedures before adopting the self-declaration route.

Businesses should particularly evaluate whether their documentation controls, product qualification mechanisms, and origin determination processes are aligned with FTA requirements.

Companies with structured export compliance systems are likely to benefit significantly from this procedural relaxation.

How Preface Consulting Can Help

Preface Consulting supports exporters with DGFT advisory, Certificate of Origin compliance, export documentation, customs consulting, and international trade regulatory assistance.

Our team helps businesses strengthen compliance processes and efficiently manage trade-related regulatory requirements under various Free Trade Agreements.