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2020 ] FOREIGN TRADE POLICY E41

3. To further this initiative and facilitation, and in the light of current
crisis, the Preferential Certificate of Origin for exports to various other countries
under following FTAs/PTAs shall also be applied and issued only from this
online platform with effect from 7th April 2020.

FTAs/PTAs Partner Countries
AIFTA ASEAN-India Free Trade Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indone-
Agreement sia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philip-
pines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
IJCEPA India Japan Comprehen- Japan
sive Economic Partnership
Agreement
SAPTA SAARC Preferential Trad- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mal-
ing Agreement dives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. (already Live
for Nepal)
SAFTA South Asian Free Trade Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan,
Area Sri Lanka (already Live for Nepal)
APTA Asia Pacific Trade Agree- Bangladesh, China, Lao, Republic of
ment Korea, Sri Lanka
ISLFTA India Sri Lanka Free Trade Sri Lanka
Agreement
All concerned agencies are directed to issue preferential CoO for the
above mentioned FTAs/PTAs through the platform URL: https://coo.dgft.gov.in
4. In view of the movement restrictions in place due to COVID-19 pan-
demic in India, the designated agencies will issue digitally signed electronic cer-
tificates of origin only and no hard copy of the same will be provided. The appli-
cant exporter may download the certificate, so issued, from the online platform
and share the e-certificate with the authorities in the FTA partner countries. Fa-
cility to view/print the issued certificates from the workstations/office of the
applicant has also been provided. These online certificates will maintain the
same layout, appearance and validity as the paper certificates.
5. A traceability and verification functionality is already built into the
eCoO Platform. The electronic copy of the certificate will carry a digital signature
of an authorized officer as already agreed to under the FTA/PTA. Certificates
issued on this electronic platform can be verified by scanning the QR code avail-
able on the certificate or by cross checking the authenticity of the certificate serial
number on the platform at https://coo.dgft.gov.in
6. As and when the functioning of the issuing agency offices resumes,
the Certificate of Origin, so issued on the electronic platform, will also be made
available in hard copy with ink-signature of the issuing officer to the applicant
exporter besides the e-certificate. The certificate issuance process will continue to
remain online.
7. Exporters may also take note of the following additional points with
regard to the CoO portal/application process :
(a) Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) would be required for the purpose
of electronic verification. The digital signature would be the same as
used in other DGFT applications;
EXCISE LAW TIMES  15th April 2020  161