DGFT Amends Export Policy of Red Sanders

New Delhi:

Port Wings News Network:

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The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), on 4 November 2025 amended the export policy for Red Sanders wood (Pterocarpus Santalinus) sourced from cultivation on private land.

In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 read with Section 5 of Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with paragraph 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby amends the Policy condition 3 of Chapter 44 of Schedule-II (Export Policy), ITC (HS) 2022 pertaining to export of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus Santalinus), with immediate effect, as follows:

1. Export of Red Sanders wood in log form and roots, exclusively of cultivation origin obtained from private land (including Patta land) is restricted and Export is permitted only under a Restricted Export Authorisation subject to the following conditions:

(i) Applications for Restricted Export Authorisation shall be accompanied by attested copies of Certificate of Origin issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of the State from where the stocks were procured / exported, giving details of the date of procurement from legal sources and quantities procured.

(ii) A certificate of the current position of stocks so procured and available with the applicant, issued subsequent to the physical verification of the stocks by the authority nominated for the purpose by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of the concerned State, shall also accompany application for Restricted Export Authorisation.

(iii) The applications shall be considered on merits for issue of export authorisation, which shall be subject to any other conditions such as quantity ceiling requirements under CITES, etc. as may be prescribed from time to time.

(iv) Based on the recommendation of CITES Management Authority of India, the MOEF&CC shall fix an yearly quota, which may be reviewed based on National Detrimental Findings (NDF) study or recommendations of Government agencies.

(v) In accordance with the recommendations of the NDF Study, MoEF&CC, the state-wise export quota (as per Annexure) for Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) shall be permitted against Restricted Export Authorisation(s).

(vi) A zero export quota shall be available for wild specimens of Red Sanders subject to the following conditions:-

State Government shall develop a digital platform with Geo-referenced sites and MIS giving the number of trees, their age and diameter at breast height.
The working plan Guidelines of States need to include specific management plans/ harvest Plans with approved rotation periods for sustainable harvest of red sanders wood from plantations in forest and non-forest areas.

Effect of this Notification: Annual Export quota (April to March) of 10 MTs for Karnataka and 100 MTs for Gujarat (from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2027) for artificially propagated Red Sanders (Pterocarpus Santalinus), subject to conditions as mentioned is notified.

The total annual quota is set at 1,290 MT, with specific quotas including 280 MT for Andhra Pradesh, 900 MT for Tamil Nadu, 10 MT for Karnataka, and 100 MT for Gujarat (the last two for the period April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027).

Read the notification in pdf here.