TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
In a significant move towards enhancing ease of doing business and promoting digital trade facilitation, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has announced the operationalization of the electronic filing and issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin (CoO) under the India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (India-EFTA TEPA), effective October 1, 2025.
This new mechanism, detailed in Trade Notice No. 13/2025-2026, enables Indian exporters to digitally obtain CoOs for shipments to EFTA member countries—Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland—through the Trade Connect ePlatform (www.trade.gov.in). The development follows the recent implementation of the India-EFTA TEPA, a landmark trade pact aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.
What is Changing?
With the agreement coming into force, the Trade Connect platform will serve as the unified digital interface for exporters to apply for and receive their electronic Certificates of Origin (eCoOs) under India-EFTA TEPA. This system supports two modes of issuance:
- Self-Declaration by Exporters
- Certification by Authorised Agencies
Self-Declaration Based eCoO: Key Guidelines
Exporters opting for self-declaration can now independently generate their eCoO, subject to fulfilling certain conditions:
- Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is mandatory.
- A scanned ink-signed signature of the applicant must be uploaded.
- Exporters must select “India EFTA TEPA (Self-Declaration)” as the agreement name while applying.
- The application can be authenticated using either DSC or Aadhaar, with no fee applicable.
- The system auto-maps the jurisdictional DGFT Regional Authority or SEZ based on selected branch address, who may verify the CoO if required by partner countries.
- Once submitted and auto-approved, applicants can generate:
- An Electronic Copy (with digital signature and scanned signature).
- A Physical Copy (with space for manual signature).
These copies can then be presented to the destination EFTA country as per their import regulations.
Agency-Issued eCoO: Key Guidelines
For exporters preferring agency-issued CoOs:
- Choose “India EFTA TEPA (Agency Issued)” as the agreement.
- Select from a list of notified authorised agencies.
- Upon approval by the agency, an Electronic Copy with the agencys digital signature and stamp is generated.
Common Requirements for All Exporters (IEC Holders)
- Existing DGFT login credentials are valid for the Trade Connect portal.
- Additional users under the same IEC can be linked via DSC.
- Digital signatures must be correctly mapped and match the applicant’s name.
- IEC profiles must be updated and accurate in the DGFT system.
- Help resources are available under “IEC Profile Management” on the DGFT website.
Verification & Support
All eCoOs can be authenticated using:
- QR Code printed on the certificate, or
- “Verify Certificate” feature on the Trade Connect portal using the certificate number.
For any queries or support, exporters may reach out via:
- Helpdesk Ticketing System (under “Certificate of Origin” service),
- Toll-Free Numbers: 011-23061495 / 011-23061499
- Email:[email protected]
A Step Towards Trade Facilitation and Transparency
This initiative marks a major stride in streamlining India’s trade documentation processes, enhancing transparency, reducing paperwork, and improving response times for exporters. By embracing digital certification under the India-EFTA TEPA, India reinforces its commitment to modern trade facilitation aligned with global best practices.
The DGFT encourages all exporters and stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the new system and utilize the digital CoO issuance mechanism to leverage the benefits under the India-EFTA agreement.
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