The Indian Government has issued a notification allowing exemptions on the export of specific agricultural commodities to Bhutan. This exemption, is released under the powers of section 3 rad with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, and the provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy (2023), bought instant relief for cross border trade.
As per the revision made to Section (I) of the ‘General Note to Export Policy’, Schedule- II (Export Policy) of ITC (HS) 2022, exports of the specified agricultural items listed in the official table will not suffer any restrictions or prohibitions. This exemption is operative immediately and will remain valid until further order are issued by the authorities.
The move is expected to support smooth trade relations with Bhutan and guarantee continuous supply of essential farm goods. By relaxing these restrictions, the government aims to s bilateral cooperation and facilitate better access to agricultural goods. Businesses involved in export to Bhutan can now proceed without the compliance hurdles that were applicable before.