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DGFT eases pharma export rules for SCOMET items for testing and evaluation
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
May 03 , 2025
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In a move to facilitate technological advancement and streamline pharma export procedures, the Government of India has announced amendments to the Handbook of Procedures (HBP) 2023, enabling the export of SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies) items for 'Testing and Evaluation' purposes.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a draft public notice inviting feedback from stakeholders including exporters, industry bodies, and technical experts. The changes, incorporated under a newly inserted Para 10.13(C) of the HBP 2023, aim to simplify temporary export processes for demonstration, testing, and evaluation without insisting on End-User Certificates, provided the items are returned to India within 120 days.
Stakeholders have been asked to submit their feedback within 10 days to the DGFT at scomet-dgft@gov.in.
This amendment is seen as part of a broader effort by the government to align India’s trade policies with global practices while promoting ease of doing business.
Key highlights of the amendment include authorization for temporary export of indigenous or imported SCOMET items for demonstration, testing, and evaluation abroad and exemption from mandatory End-User Certificates.
It provisions for strict conditions to prevent any technical value addition or unauthorized technology transfer during the process. It also provisions for clear timelines and compliance requirements for the return or appropriate disposal of the exported items.
Additionally, exports to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctioned destinations or high-risk entities will remain prohibited.
There shall not be any commercial transaction in the form of selling/buying/renting/leasing. The number of item(s) should be commensurate with the nature of export items and the purpose for which the application is being made.
Industry experts see this move as a proactive step to enhance India's competitiveness in high-tech sectors while maintaining national security safeguards.
The immediate operationalization of these provisions under Para 10.13(C) is expected to boost India's exports in critical technology sectors, offering industries greater flexibility to participate in global testing and certification activities.
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