Introduction

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) block may be a connected department of the Ministry of Commerce and Trade and is run by Director General of Foreign Trade. DGFT has been essentially committed with in the regulation and promotion of foreign trade through regulation. Keeping in line with easement and globalisation and therefore the overall objective of accelerating of exports, DGFT has been appointed for the role of service provider for imports & exports. This was done to promote and facilitate of exports/imports from prohibition and control of imports/exports keeping in view the interests of the country.

Organizational Set-up

This Directorate, with headquarters at New Delhi, is liable for formulating and implementing the Foreign National Trading Policy with the only objective of promoting India's exports. The DGFT also provides scraps/authorization to exporters and monitor their corresponding obligations through a network of 25 regional offices and an extension counter at Indore. The regional offices are located at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Ernakulum (Kochi), Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panipat, Pune, Rajkot, Srinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Varanasi and Visakhapatnam.

Restricted Items

Restricted items are those items that requires different licenses or permission from concerned department. Restricted items can be imported after having the valid authorization from the concerned ministries or departments.

List of Restricted Items

1. Live animals and bovine semen for breeding purposes etc.
2. Horses for sportsmen
3. Import of Pets
4. Import of live animals for R&D purposes
5. Import of Tyre scrap/ Lead scrap/battery scrap
6. Import of slag
7. Import of ozone-depleting substance
8. Import of Wild Animals under Animal Exchange Programme
9. Import of Arms and ammunition
10. Aircraft/Helicopter/Hot Air Balloons/UAVs
11. Transmitter or Communication device
12. Refurbished electronic items
13. Import of gold –Dore
14. Import of Silver – Dore

How to Import Live Animals and Bovine Semen for Breeding Purposes etc.?

As per the import policy of DGFT, import of live animals & bovine semen for breeding purposes or some other purpose is restricted. But these restricted items can be imported by taking the permission from concerned state animal husbandry department.
After taking the NOC from the concerned state animal husbandry department, the applicant has to make an application for the import of restricted items in DGFT.
The concerned department NOC is the mandatory document that has to be submitted by the applicant along with other documents. 
After successful completion of the application, DGFT will issue the license for the import of restricted items.

How to Import Horses for Sportsmen?

As per the import policy of DGFT, the import of Horses for sportsmen is restricted. But it can be imported by taking the Recommendation from the Equestrian Federation. 
Equestrian Federation is the apex body in India that will recommend the import of horses for sportspersons. After taking the recommendation the applicant has to make an application for import of restricted items in DGFT.
The concerned department's Recommendation is the mandatory document that has to be submitted by the applicant along with other documents. 
After successful completion of the application, DGFT will issue the license for the import of restricted items.

How to Import Live Animals for R&D Purposes?

Import of live animals for R&D purposes requires adequate research & development facilities and also the certificate for their research & development facilitate.
The R&D facilitator must have all the arrangements for testing, research & other development facilitated.
After that, the applicant has to apply for the import of restricted items from DGFT.

How to Import Tyre Scrap/ Lead Scrap/Battery Scrap?

Tyre Scrap/ Lead Scrap/ Battery Scrap is considered Hazardous Waste according to the Hazardous Waste Management rules. To import hazardous waste Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change is the nodal agency to grant permission.
After getting authorization from Moef one can apply for the import of restricted items from DGFT.

Import of Slag

When a metal is separated, a glass-like by-product is obtained which is known as slag. Slag can be used as raw material in many processes. As Slag is a restricted product to import, firstly one has to take the permission from State Pollution Control Board.
After getting authorization from the concerned state pollution control board one can apply for the import of restricted items from DGFT.

Import of Ozone Depleting Substance

Ozone-depleting substances are substances that deplete the ozone layer & is of great concern. That’s why ozone-depleting substances are restricted, one has to take the approval from ministry to import and then apply for DGFT LICENSE.

Import of Wild Animals Under Animal Exchange Programme

To import wild animals one has to take approval from the central zoo authority, only in the recommendation of the central zoo authority wild animals can be imported.

Import of Arms and Ammunition

To import arms & ammunition, an arms dealer license is needed along with an end-user certificate from the concerned department.
DGFT will issue the restricted license only to the applicant having valid approval from the concerned department.

Import of Aircraft/Helicopter/Hot Air Balloons/UAVs/Transmitter or Communication Devices

Import of aircraft/helicopters etc. all are restricted items and need permission from the concerned department. DGCA & Permission from WPC Department is required in order to import the restricted products.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation will provide the approval for aircraft, helicopters, hot air balloons, etc.
The Wireless Planning Commission department will provide permission for wireless products like UAVs, transmitters or communication devices, etc.

Refurbished Electronic Item

Refurbished electronic items can be imported only if you have a BIS Registration Certificate or an exemption certificate from the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.

Import of Silver & Gold Dore

Gold Dore & Silver Dore are in the form of bars that contains 50-70 % of gold & silver inside it. Import of silver & gold Dore can be permitted by DGFT if the applicant has permission from the concerned department.

Concerned Departments List from Where Permission is Required 

Following is the list of different departments from where one has to take permission to import restricted items before taking approval from the DGFT import license.

1. State Husbandry Department
2. Certification of having R&D facilities
3. NoC from MoEF&CC
4. State Pollution Control Board certificate
5. Recommendation of Central Zoo Authority
6. Arms Dealer license
7. DGCA permission
8. NABL certification for first-time importers
9. BIS certification
10. End-User Certificate

Import of Restricted Items

DGFT provides the service for the registration of the Import of Restricted Items. After having the valid authorization from concerned departments one has to take approval from DGFT for the Import of Restricted Items. If a person is not having approval from DGFT for the import of Restricted Items then the person cannot import restricted items.

Multiple items can be imported in the same application
1.    If the port of registration is the same for all the restricted items
2.    No Import from the EDI port is permitted 
3.    In case different ports are required, different 

Fee for Import of Restricted Items

One per thousand or part thereof is subject to a minimum of Rs. 500 and a maximum of Rupees one lakh on CIF value/duty saved amount of Authorization/license/permission.

Documents Required to Import Restricted Items in India

The following documents are required for the registration of Import of Restricted Items.
1.    IEC Certificate
2.    Udyog Aadhar
3.    Board Resolution copy
4.    Authorized Signatory aadhar card & pan card
5.    Authorization from the concerned department