The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has taken a significant step to ease the process for leather exporters by removing several procedural barriers. This move aims to simplify compliance and enhance the ease of doing business, particularly benefiting small and medium enterprises in the leather sector.
In a recent notification issued on May 26, 2025, DGFT has lifted restrictions that previously limited the export of finished leather, wet blue leather, and EI tanned leather to certain designated ports. Now, exporters can ship these products from any port or Inland Container Depot (ICD), providing greater flexibility and reducing logistical challenges.
Additionally, the mandatory testing and certification requirement by the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) for these leather categories has been eliminated. This change comes after careful review and consultation with key industry stakeholders, including the Council for Leather Exports and CLRI itself. The original controls were put in place to ensure the proper classification and quality of value-added leather exports as distinct from raw hides. However, since export duties on these products have been removed and the physical differences between processed and raw leather are clear, the earlier checks were deemed unnecessary.
This reform is expected to lower transaction costs and administrative hurdles, especially helping MSMEs who often face greater difficulties in meeting complex regulatory demands. It also aligns with India’s broader strategy to boost its competitiveness in the global leather market while maintaining transparency and adherence to quality standards under general customs laws.
By easing export procedures, the DGFT’s initiative reflects a thoughtful and responsive approach to the needs of leather exporters, encouraging growth and supporting livelihoods dependent on this vital industry. For more details, stakeholders can visit the official DGFT website.