Key procedural relaxations announced for Finished and Tanned Leather exports | The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has issued Notification No. 15/2025-26 dated May 26, 2026, removing key procedural restrictions previously applicable to the export of value-added leather products. This strategic step is aimed at reducing compliance burdens and significantly improving the ease of doing business for leather exporters, especially MSMEs.
Under the revised policy:
-
Port restrictions have been withdrawn, thereby allowing the export of Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, and EI Tanned Leather from any port or Inland Container Depot (ICD). Earlier, such exports were confined to specified notified ports only.
-
The mandatory testing and certification by the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) for the export of Finished Leather, Wet Blue Leather, Crust Leather, and EI Tanned Leather has been dispensed with.
These procedural measures were initially introduced to distinguish value-added leather from raw hides and ensure the levy of appropriate export duties. However, with the removal of export duties on these categories and the clear physical distinction between processed and raw leather, these checks have now been deemed redundant.
The decision comes after extensive stakeholder consultations, including discussions with the Council for Leather Exports, leather industry representatives, and the CLRI. It is expected to:
-
Streamline export procedures
-
Lower transaction costs
-
Boost the global competitiveness of Indian leather exporters
These reforms align with the Government of India’s broader objective of promoting Make in India for the World by enhancing export facilitation, while continuing to ensure quality and transparency under the general customs framework.
For more information, stakeholders are advised to visit the DGFT website at: https://dgft.gov.in