India Reaffirms Import Restrictions on Electronics and IT Goods

India has reaffirmed its stance on import restrictions for certain electronics and IT goods, as per an official notification from the Commerce Ministry dated May 20. This move continues a policy established in 2021, with periodic updates.

The ministry has reinforced its prohibition on the import of unregistered and non-compliant electronics and IT products. A government official, speaking to Reuters, clarified that this notification upholds the current import restrictions without introducing new changes.

For LED products and DC/AC supplied control gears for LED modules, authorities will perform random sampling from selected consignments. These samples will be tested in laboratories for compliance with specific safety standards. Only consignments that meet these safety criteria will be approved by customs, while non-compliant goods will be returned or destroyed at the importer's expense.

Products that fail to meet the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) requirements or do not comply with labeling standards will be either re-exported or scrapped by government agencies.

In August 2023, the government imposed additional restrictions on certain IT hardware items. In response to industry concerns, the restrictions on laptop and computer imports were modified in October, allowing importers to bring in these items with an 'authorization' specifying quantity and value.

Clarifications from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) indicated that some IT hardware products, such as desktop computers, are not subject to import restrictions. However, laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers, and ultra-small form factor computers remain restricted and require an import authorization.

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