The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has announced a key amendment to India’s import policy regarding areca nuts. As per the Notification, roasted areca nuts classified under ITC (HS) Code 20081991 will now face a strict import restriction. Specifically, any consignment of roasted areca nuts with a Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value of less than INR 351 per kilogram is now classified as “Prohibited” for import into India.
This amendment falls under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, and aligns with Paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020. The policy change also applies to ITC (HS) Code 08028090, updating the conditions under Schedule-I (Import Policy) of ITC (HS) 2022.
The decision, approved by the Commerce and Industry Minister, aims to regulate low-cost imports that may undermine domestic producers or bypass quality standards. Importers dealing in areca nut products should carefully assess CIF values and documentation to ensure compliance with the new regulation.