India-Oman CEPA TRQ Applications 2026: DGFT Update

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has opened India-Oman CEPA TRQ applications 2026 for the financial year 2026-27. Public Notice No. 24/2026-27 was issued on 3 August 2026 and published in the Gazette of India on 4 August 2026. Applications are invited from 4 August through 19 August 2026.

The notice covers 30 Harmonised System (HS) tariff lines, including dates, marble, chemicals, polymers, PET flakes and aluminium. It also names extra documents for selected marble and PET flake applications.

This is an allocation notice, not a general ban or product standard. A Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) gives eligible imports an agreed tariff treatment up to a fixed quantity. Public Notice No. 24 starts the FY 2026-27 round it does not state every tariff rate or repeat the full procedure. 

Notification at a Glance

The notice bears 3 August as its issue date, while Gazette publication and filing begin on 4 August. The final date is 19 August 2026.

The Regulatory Framework

India-Oman CEPA and the TRQ mechanism

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) took effect on 1 June 2026. DGFT Trade Notice regarding CEPA implementation: Importation of lines identified as sensitive shall be subject to concession based on quota as opposed to concession without quantity restrictions. The Department of Commerce has identified certain sensitive items in India’s offer as subject to tariff liberalization under the TRQ system.

TRQ is an agreement between a commodity and a certain quantity. An allocation does not eliminate classification, origin, and customs requirements, nor does it constitute automatic clearance.

DGFT's procedural foundation

Public Notice 24 draws authority from sections 1.03 and 2.04 of Foreign Trade Policy 2023. It is an amendment to Public Notice 20/2026-27, which introduced the procedure for India-Oman into Annexure VIII of Appendix 2A of the Handbook of Procedures 2023. Both notices are necessary for applicants: Public Notice 20 for the procedure, and Public Notice 24 for the live window, quantity, and additional document. The DGFT offers a TRQ system using the Import Management System. Public Notice 24 clarifies that there is no charge, quota formula, minimum request or priority system. Applicants should verify this in the operative module and Annexure VIII rather than assuming it. DGFT Import Management System

What Has Changed?

The procedure is defined in Public Notice No. 20. Public Notice No. 24 triggers the new application cycle for FY 2026-27 and provides product-level quantities. It also sets the requirements for accompanying documents for selected marble and PET flake lines.

• There will be a fixed filing period between 4 August and 19 August 2026.
• There are 30 HS Codes, but some share the combined quantity.
• For marble block applications under Serial No. 3, a valid Chartered Engineer Certificate is required.
• Applicants for the products grouped as marble slabs at serial numbers 4, 25, 26 and 27 must provide a valid pre-purchase agreement with the supplier in Oman. 
• PET flake applicants with serial numbers 22, 23, and 24 must provide a Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change NOC as per the cited office memorandum. 
• An Annexure-A template sets out the information and certification expected from the Chartered Engineer for marble blocks. 

The notice does not say that every listed importer needs all three document types. Each condition attaches to a specific product group. Applying a marble requirement to a polymer or aluminium line would overstate the notice.

Products and Permitted TRQ Quantities for FY 2026-27

The HS code should be used to read the product schedule and not just the trade name. The same descriptions can be seen in different tariff codes. Several quantities can apply to more than one HS code, and the number is shared among these tariff codes.

The polymer group includes technical distinctions based on ethylene monomer content and specific gravity. Applicants should preserve the exact eight-digit HS classification used in the notice. A commercial description such as "polyethylene" is too broad to establish coverage.

The notice uses "Pet Flakes" in its document clause, while the tariff table uses "PET Flake (Chip)" for two lines and "Other Primary Form" for another. This article treats PET as the material abbreviation, not the word "pet." Classification should follow the HS code and tariff description.

Scope and Applicability

The invitation covers applicants seeking FY 2026-27 TRQ allocation for the listed imports from Oman. Marble block applicants at serial 3 need the Chartered Engineer certificate. Marble applicants at serials 4 and 25-27 need the supplier agreement. PET applicants at serials 22-24 need the stated MoEF&CC NOC.

Products outside Table 1 receive no TRQ invitation through this notice. Businesses not seeking this CEPA allocation have no stated filing duty under Public Notice No. 24. No general exemption, MSME relaxation or startup category is stated. Allocation also does not remove separate customs, environmental, standards or product controls.

Mandatory Documents for Selected Products

Chartered Engineer certificate for marble blocks

For serial number 3, a valid Chartered Engineer certificate is mandatory. It must certify installed marble-processing capacity, machinery installation and production during the preceding three financial years. Annexure-A provides a draft template.

Production figures, machinery records and capacity should support the certificate. The notice states that there is no specific rejection or penalty rule for a mismatch.

Pre-purchase agreement for specified marble lines

A valid pre-purchase agreement with the Oman supplier is mandatory for serial numbers 4, 25, 26 and 27. No format, value, duration or minimum quantity is prescribed. The executed agreement should clearly connect the applicant, supplier and intended goods.

There is a drafting point that deserves care. Clause 3(ii) calls all four entries "Marble Slabs," but the table describes serial 25 as marble blocks/tiles, serial 26 as monumental stone and serial 27 as "other." The document expressly attaches the agreement requirement to all four serial numbers. Businesses should follow the serial-number reference even where the collective label is narrower than the table descriptions.

MoEF&CC NOC for PET flakes

For serial numbers 22, 23 and 24, an NOC from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is mandatory. It must be obtained in accordance with Office Memorandum No. 23/66/2019-HSMD dated 23 August 2022.

The notice does not reproduce the NOC procedure, processing time or supporting papers. PET applicants should confirm that their approval matches the applicant, material and proposed import.

Implementation Timeline/Norms

The source provides no later correction period, extension, allocation date or separate transition phase. It also does not state when DGFT will decide applications. Businesses should not plan around an assumed grace period.

Why This Was Implemented?

The official purpose of the public notice is to invite new applications for the allocation of the India-Oman CEPA TRQ for FY 2026-27. It is an operationalization of the framework issued in the notification of 13 July by specifying the filing period and the quantities involved. The context, rather than the purpose, of Public Notice No. 24 determines the logic of the additional documents.

A tariff quota allows tariff concessions with a quantified limit. This is accomplished through the combination of product codes, origin documents, and the allocation mechanism.

The additional documents are used as controls for product-specific purposes as follows:

• The Chartered Engineer Certificate links marble block access to processing facilities, functioning equipment, and previous production.
• The Oman supplier agreement links the selected marble applications to the source agreement.
• The MoEF&CC NOC links PET-based allocation to the environmental clearance referred by DGFT.
• Specific HS codes and quantities link the allocation to the specific tariff lines. 

The notice does not claim that these controls were introduced to protect domestic industry or to increase recycling.

Impact on Businesses

The immediate consequence is a filing deadline that is too short. Commercial value will depend on allocation, tariff preferences, origin, and landed cost. The announcement ensures that no allocation or saving occurs.

Marble producers and importers

Marble companies have the most additional evidence. Applicants for Serial 3 require confirmed plant and three years' production information. Applicants for Serial 4 and 25 to 27 will need a supplier in Oman. Quantity must be the same in the certificate, contract, and application.

Chemical and polymer consumers

Chemical and polymer consumers will need proper classification. Some quota amounts are combined across multiple HS code numbers and cannot be treated separately on each line.

PET flake applicants

The MoEF&CC NOC is mandatory for the named lines. An absent or mismatched NOC does not meet the express document condition, although the notice states no specific consequence.

Aluminium importers

Aluminium contracts, requests and customs papers should use consistent units. The three entries cover different goods, each with a separate code and quantity.

MSMEs and smaller importers

Smaller firms may face a higher relative burden because the window is brief and specialist evidence may be needed. The notice contains no MSME preference or relaxation.

No tariff saving can be calculated from this notice alone because it omits preferential rates. The CEPA tariff schedule, customs notification and shipment data are also needed.

How Businesses Will Achieve Compliance

No. 24 Public Notice does not set out an entire filing sequence. The following is a practical checklist, not an alternative to Annexure VIII or the live DGFT Import Management System.

• Verify product eligibility and classification. Align the technical product with the eight-digit HS code, description and unit in Table 1. Obtain customs advice on classification where required.
• Study the operative allocation process. Refer to Public Notice No. 20/2026-27 and to Annexure VIII of Appendix 2A. Review the live DGFT Import Management System for any fields, declarations, fees, technical specifications and instructions applicable in the absence of such in Public Notice No. 24.
• Prepare product-specific information. The Marble block applicants will need to fill out the Chartered Engineer certificate along with supporting records. The other applicants regarding marble will require the agreement of Oman suppliers. The PET applicants will need to verify their MoEF&CC NOC. 
• Ensure consistency in commercial information. The importer name, IEC, HS code, product description, volume, supplier, and supporting documents must be consistent within a single transaction. Any inconsistencies must be sorted out before filing.
• Apply during 4-19 August 2026. Make the online filing before the due date. Save the acknowledgement, final application form, and uploaded documents as internal records. 
• Prepare post-allocation measures separately. A TRQ allocation is part of the import process. Public Notice No. 20 requires a Certificate of Origin issued by Oman at the time of clearance. In addition, the applicant must review the customs, environmental and product-specific controls for each shipment.

The notice names no application fee and no correction mechanism. It would be unsafe to state that filing is free or that an error can be repaired after 19 August.

Practical Challenges and Risks to Avoid

Reading a shared quota as a per-code quota: Several figures span multiple HS lines. This can distort sourcing plans and requested quantities. 

• Using only a trade name: Polymer, marble and aluminium entries contain technical distinctions that affect coverage. 
• Submitting an unsupported CE certificate: Production, capacity and machinery details should agree with underlying records and any inspection evidence. 
• Ignoring serial numbers: The supplier agreement applies to serials 4 and 25-27 despite the collective "marble slabs" label. 
• Assuming the notice grants customs clearance, allocation, origin proof, and import clearance are related but separate controls. 
• Waiting for the NOC: PET applicants face a timing risk that the notice will not be relaxed. 
• Assuming an extension: No grace period or extension appears in the notice. 

No fine, prosecution provision, or cancellation rule appears in Public Notice No. 24. Commercial risks include a late application, no allocation, a sourcing delay, and an inability to claim the intended quota treatment.

Benefits for Businesses

For a compliant applicant, the round can create practical value without changing the need for careful import controls.

• Access to quota-based CEPA tariff treatment: An allocation may allow eligible goods to use the agreed treatment within the applicable quota and customs rules. 
• Clear annual quantity signals: Product-wise limits help importers assess whether an Oman sourcing plan is commercially meaningful. 
• More sourcing options: Indian users of covered dates, marble, chemicals, polymers, PET materials, and aluminium can assess Oman as a source. 
• Better procurement discipline: Origin, classification, quantity and supplier evidence must be aligned before filing. 
• Improved record quality: The marble certificate encourages processors to maintain reliable machinery, capacity and production records. 
• Greater planning certainty: A stated window and annual quantities are clearer than an open-ended or informal allocation process. 
• Cross-team control: Procurement, customs, environment, production, and legal teams can coordinate around a single filing event. 

These are potential benefits. The notice promises no allocation, duty saving or faster clearance.

Is This a Right Decision or Additional Burden?

The decision has a sound administrative purpose. A TRQ needs a controlled application window, product mapping and annual quantities. Without those elements, the negotiated tariff treatment would be hard to administer. Product-specific evidence can also connect applications to real business activity and applicable environmental controls.

However, the burden is very real. Time is limited. Marble block producers will need to show professional certification that covers production for three years. On the other hand, those applying for marble beyond what is already covered need an authentic supply agreement, while PET applications require a different ministry NOC. Small companies will have less in-house capability to manage their documentation.

This shows that while the round needs to open to use the CEPA quota, access hinges on well-communicated digital guidelines and assessments. Public Notice No. 24 has made this easier by listing out the quantities and additional documents needed. However, important aspects of the procedure have been left for Annexure VIII.

Business Opportunities Created

The notice creates focused opportunities around lawful trade and implementation rather than a new unrestricted market.

• Marble processors may strengthen capacity records, asset registers and production reporting to support current and later regulatory filings. 
• Chartered Engineers with suitable competence may support the source-based certification required for serial number 3. 
• Environmental consultants may assist PET businesses in understanding the MoEF&CC NOC pathway, without replacing the ministry's decision. 
• Customs and product-classification specialists can review technically close HS lines before an applicant commits to a code. 
• Import compliance services can help connect DGFT filing, origin evidence, procurement documents and customs readiness. 
• Compliance teams can create controls for allocation, use and shipment evidence. 
• Quota availability, tariff difference, freight, contract price and customs requirements affect the commercial case. The notice gives no revenue forecast or assured saving.

What Affected Businesses Should Review Now

This table separates immediate filing work from later shipment controls. It does not imply that DGFT must allocate the amount requested.

How Can Corpseed Help?

Corpseed can provide document-specific import compliance services for businesses assessing or preparing an India-Oman CEPA TRQ request.

• Review whether the product and eight-digit HS code appear in Public Notice No. 24/2026-27. 
• Explain the relationship between Public Notices No. 20 and 24, Annexure VIII and the DGFT TRQ module. 
• Support online licence application preparation and filing within the stated window. 
• Review the Chartered Engineer certificate against Annexure-A and available production records. 
• Check whether the Oman pre-purchase agreement identifies the relevant parties, products and commercial terms. 
• Coordinate document readiness for the MoEF&CC NOC condition applicable to PET flake lines. 
• Assist with Certificate of Origin and customs compliance planning after allocation. 
• Provide regulatory approval services and ongoing file and record support for the import transaction. 

Corpseed's role is to help applicants organise facts, documents and filings. DGFT and other competent authorities retain decision-making power. No adviser can guarantee allocation, approval, duty savings or customs clearance.

Affected importers seeking a structured filing review can contact Corpseed for import compliance services before the 19 August 2026 deadline.

Final Takeaway

Applications under the India-Oman CEPA TRQs for the 2026 quota round are available from 4 to 19 August 2026 for FY 2026-27 imports in the mentioned HS Codes. DGFT has provided 30 HS Codes, each with separate and combined quotas, and requiring additional documentation for certain marble and PET flake goods.

The first step would be to check the HS classification, Annexure VIII, and submit the required documents within the due dates. Businesses must understand that tariff classification, allocation, proof of origin, and customs clearance are four different procedures.