India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has launched an updated certificate of origin (eCoO) 2.0 system to simplify the certification process for exporters and enhance trade efficiency.
This upgraded platform offers several features like multi-user access that enable exporters to authorise multiple users under a single importer-exporter code (IEC).
Additionally, the system supports Aadhaar-based e-signing alongside digital signature tokens, providing greater flexibility, an official release said.
An integrated dashboard offers exporters seamless access to eCoO services, free trade agreement information, trade events and other resources.
The platform also introduces an in-lieu certificate of origin feature, allowing exporters to request corrections to previously issued certificates through an easy online application process.
As of January 1, 2025, the electronic filing of non-preferential CoO has become mandatory via the eCoO 2.0 platform.
The platform processes over 7,000 eCoOs daily, including both preferential and non-preferential certificates, connecting 125 issuing agencies, which includes 110 national and regional chambers of commerce and industry, over 650 issuing officers and all Indian exporters under one unified system.
DGFT has also introduced the procedure for availing online back-to-back CoOs (non-preferential). These certificates cater to goods not of Indian origin, intended for re-export, trans-shipment or merchanting trade.
Issued based on documentary evidence from the foreign country of origin, the back-to-back CoO ensures transparency and accuracy by explicitly mentioning details of the origin and supporting documents.
This initiative not only simplifies the certification process but also accelerates processing times, making it particularly beneficial for global supply chains involving intermediary trade through India, the release added.
