DGFT imposes port restrictions on select imports from Bangladesh to India

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has issued Notification No. 07/2025-26, dated 17 May 2025, imposing port restrictions on the import of select goods from Bangladesh into India. The directive is aimed at streamlining import regulations and enhancing logistical and regulatory oversight at designated ports.

The restrictions, which come into immediate effect, apply to goods such as ready-made garments, processed food items, carbonated drinks, cotton waste, plastic goods, and wooden furniture. However, the notification makes it clear that these restrictions will not apply to goods originating from Bangladesh and transiting through India, but destined for Nepal and Bhutan.

Key highlights of the notification

1. Restriction on Ready-Made Garments

   • Imports of all kinds of ready-made garments from Bangladesh are prohibited through land ports.

   • Such imports will be permitted only via Nhava Sheva (Mumbai) and Kolkata seaports.

2. Restriction on Other Specified Goods

   • Imports of the following goods are not allowed through any Land Customs Stations (LCSs) or Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) located in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, as well as through LCSs at Changrabandha and Fulbari in West Bengal:

     • Fruit/fruit-flavoured and carbonated drinks

     • Processed food items

     • Cotton and cotton yarn waste

     • Plastic and PVC finished goods (excluding pigments, dyes, plasticisers, and granules used as inputs for domestic industries)

     • Wooden furniture

3. Exempted Commodities

   • The newly imposed port restrictions do not apply to the import of the following items from Bangladesh:

     • Fish

     • LPG

     • Edible oils

     • Crushed stone

These measures are part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to regulate imports efficiently and ensure that appropriate infrastructure and safety checks are available at entry points designated for sensitive commodities.

The DGFT has directed that all concerned stakeholders, including customs authorities, importers, and logistics service providers, comply with the new port restrictions without delay.