Under CBIC Notification No. 58/2004-Customs (NT) dated 01.07.2004, Bank Guarantee (BG) exemption for Advance Authorization or EPCG is available only to manufacturer exporters with a clean track record and a valid Export House (or higher) status under their own IEC. The status or entitlement of a co-licensee—even if holding Star Export House recognition—cannot be transferred to the main license holder for the purpose of BG exemption. Hence, unless the main authorization holder's IEC independently qualifies, no benefit under 58/2004-Cus can be availed solely based on the co-licensee's credentials.
The inclusion of a co-licensee under Advance Authorization (Para 4.33, HBP 2023) or EPCG (Para 5.04, FTP 2023) serves limited functional purposes such as facilitating job work, manufacturing, and shared fulfillment of export obligations. Co-licensees must be declared at the time of application and linked structurally (e.g., group companies or supporting manufacturers). However, such inclusion does not confer policy privileges or export house-related benefits to the primary license holder. For BG exemption, eligibility is assessed solely on the credentials of the applicant IEC, not that of any associated co-licensee.