The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), vide Public Notice No. 20/2025-26 dated 26 August 2025, has suspended with immediate effect the Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) pertaining to food products.
The suspension has been necessitated as DGFT has observed that in several cases, (i) input descriptions are generic, and (ii) quantities of alternative inputs are not clearly defined. Such ambiguities create scope for misinterpretation and potential misuse of norms.
In view of the sensitive nature of food items, Norms Committee-VI has initiated a comprehensive review of the following SIONs and the associated General Notes:
SIONs under review: E-1, E-4, E-5, E-7, E-38, E-46, E-75, E-76, E-77, E-100, E-101, E-102, E-127, E-132, E-133.
Implications for Exporters/Importers
- Advance Authorisation for Food Products
- Applications may continue to be filed under the following mechanisms:
- Self-Declaration
- Applicant-specific prior fixation of norms by the Norms Committee
- Self-Ratification Scheme
- Applications may continue to be filed under the following mechanisms:
- Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA)
- DFIA benefit is admissible only where SION exists for the specific product.
- As the above SIONs stand suspended, DFIA shall not be available for the concerned food products until finalisation of revised norms.
Call for Stakeholder Inputs
DGFT has invited comments, suggestions, and feedback from exporters, importers, industry associations, and other stakeholders in respect of the above-mentioned SIONs.
Deadline for submission: 5 September 2025
Mode of submission: By email to nc6.dgft@nic.in
