DGFT Notifies EPCH as Certifying Agency for Wood Procurement from Legal Sources

[Ref: Notification No 13 (RE – 2013)/2009-2014 dated 14 May 2013]

Subject: Nomination of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) as nodal agency for certificate on due diligence adopted by the exporters in procuring wood from legal sources for manufacture of Handicraft articles.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No.22 of 1992) read with Para 2.1 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-2014 (as amended from time to time), the Central Government hereby adds, with immediate effect, a new Note 3 in Chapter 44 of Schedule 2 of ITC(HS) Classification of Export & Import Items for nominating Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) as nodal agency for certificate on due diligence adopted by the exporters in procuring wood from legal sources for manufacture of Handicraft articles.

2. Accordingly, Note 3 of Chapter 44 of Schedule 2 of ITC(HS) Classification of Export & Import Items will read as under:

“Note 3

Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is authorized to issue certificate, on demand, on the due diligence adopted by the exporters in procurement of wood from legal sources”.

3. Effect of this notification

In case of request by the foreign buyer or any other agency on showing due diligence in procurement of wood from legal sources for manufacture of handicraft articles, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) will be authorized agency to issue such certificate.