The government has enacted import restrictions on certain platinum jewellery to remain in effect until April of next year, aimed at curbing “bad actors” who misuse free trade agreements (FTAs).
In a notification released on Monday, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) revised the import policy for platinum jewellery from a ‘free’ category to ‘restricted,’ instating an immediate requirement for import licenses.
“These measures have been introduced to address violators who are flouting import regulations and taking advantage of FTAs to import goods while evading full import duties. More items may see similar restrictions if necessary,” an official stated.
Earlier this year, import limitations on select silver jewellery were instituted, set to last until March 31 next year. This action was taken in response to an increase in imports from countries like Thailand under the ASEAN FTA.
India signed the FTA with ASEAN in 2009, and officials noted that it is challenging to predict future developments that could lead to misuse of the agreement by unscrupulous entities.
In the context of reviewing trade agreements and negotiating new FTAs, measures are being implemented to ensure that rules of origin—criteria determining the geographical source of a product—are stringent enough to minimize circumvention risks, officials confirmed.
Published on November 17, 2025.
