The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has issued two notifications. The notifications tighten regulations on the import of specific precious metal alloys and chemical compounds containing gold, aiming to enhance regulatory oversight while safeguarding legitimate industrial usage.
Stricter Controls on Gold-Containing Alloys
Notification No. 18/2025-26 imposes new restrictions on the import of alloys that contain palladium, rhodium, and iridium with more than one percent gold by weight. This expands upon earlier restrictions on platinum imports, introduced under Notification No. 60/2024-25, and now applies to the full Customs Tariff Heading (CTH) 7110 at the 4-digit level. The harmonised policy shift is part of a broader effort to standardise import regulations across all precious metals and their alloys.
Exemptions for Low-Gold Content Alloys
In a balanced move to support industrial operations, the DGFT has allowed continued free import of alloys that contain less than one percent gold. This ensures uninterrupted supply of critical raw materials for sectors such as electronics, automotive components, and specialised chemical manufacturing.
New Controls on Chemical Compounds Under CTH 2843
In a related development, DGFT has also issued Notification No. 19/2025-26 to regulate imports under CTH 2843. This category includes colloidal metals, amalgams, and specific chemical compounds—some of which have allegedly been used to import gold in disguised forms, bypassing existing restrictions. To prevent such misuse, imports under this heading will now require import authorisation.
Industrial Users Granted Exemptions
Despite the stricter controls, DGFT has built in exemptions for genuine industrial users. Sectors such as electronics, electrical equipment, and chemical manufacturing will still be able to import required materials under the authorisation framework—ensuring business continuity while tightening compliance.
Conclusion
As reported by knnindia.co.in, with these notifications, the DGFT has taken a calibrated approach—curbing potential misuse of trade channels for gold imports, while ensuring that legitimate industries continue to access essential inputs without disruption.
