Rollout
of Preferential Certificates of Origin (eCOO) under
India–EFTA TEPA
·
India- European Free Trade
Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (India-EFTA TEPA) on
October 01, 2025
·
Effective
Date: 01
October 2025 (when TEPA enters into force).
·
Coverage: Exports from India to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway,
Switzerland.
·
Platform: Trade Connect ePlatform
(www.trade.gov.in) – the unified digital system
for all eCOOs.
1. Self-Declaration by Exporter
o Requires Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)
linked with IEC.
o Mandatory upload of scanned ink-signed signature.
o Application process: Select
“India EFTA TEPA (Self-Declaration)” → fill details → submit with
DSC/Aadhaar → status “Auto Approved Pending Issuance.”
o Generate eCOO
(with mandatory DSC).
o Two copies issued:
§ Electronic Copy: digital + QR code + scanned
signature.
§ Physical Copy: space for manual signature
after printing.
o Copies can be submitted to the
recipient EFTA country as required.
2. Authorised Agency Issued
o Select “India EFTA TEPA
(Agency Issued)” during application.
o List of authorised
agencies (as per notified agreement terms) available for selection.
o After approval, system
generates Electronic Copy
with QR code, digital signature, issuing officer’s signature image, and agency
stamp.
·
Use
existing DGFT login
credentials on Trade Connect.
·
Additional
users can be created and linked with IEC using DSC.
·
Ensure
DSC name matches DGFT
profile name.
·
Keep
IEC details updated in DGFT system for accurate mapping.
·
Guidance
on DSC types & linking available on DGFT site → Learn → Application Help &
FAQs → IEC Profile Management.
·
Scan
QR code on
certificate, or
·
Use
“Verify Certificate”
option on Trade Connect with certificate number.
·
Ticketing
system:
via “Log a Ticket” under CoO service on Trade
Connect.
·
Toll-Free
Assistance:
011-23061495 / 011-23061499.
·
Email: coo-dgft@gov.in.
In
essence:
From 1 Oct 2025, exporters to EFTA countries must obtain preferential
Certificates of Origin digitally
via Trade Connect, either through self-declaration (with DSC)
or via authorised agencies, ensuring
smooth verification and compliance under TEPA.
[DGFT Trade
Notice No. 13/2025-2026 dated 30 September, 2025]
Subject:
Electronic filing and Issuance of Preferential Certificate of Origin (CoO) under India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic
Partnership Agreement (India-EFTA TPA) with effect from October 01, 2025.
It is informed that upon coming into force
of India- European Free Trade Association
Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (India-EFTA TEPA) on October 01, 2025,
Preferential Certificates of Origin for exports to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
and Switzerland under the above said agreement will be rolled out on Trade Connect
ePlatform (www.trade.gov.in ) which serves as the unified
digital platform for application and issuance of all electronic Certificates of
Origin (eCOO) for Indian exports.
2. As per the agreed terms of the India-EFTA
TEPA, eCOO will be available via the "Certificate
of Origin" service on Trade Connect ePlatform for
issuance on the basis of: (i) self-declaration, as well
as (ii) by an authorised agency.
3. The following key points may be noted
regarding the issuance of Preferential eCOO for India-EFTA
TEPA on self-declaration basis:
i.
Digital
Signature (DSC) is a mandatory requirement for generation of Self- Declaration based
eCOO. Only those users (referred to as applicant in this
section) whose profiles are linked with the IEC with a valid DSC will be able to
complete this process.
ii. Uploading of scanned copy of ink
signed signatures of the applicant is also a mandatory requirement for generation
of Self-Declaration based eCOO. The option to upload the
same will be available during the generation stage of the self-declaration based
eCOO.
iii. The applicant may proceed with
the application for self-declaration based eCOO by selecting
Agreement name as “India EFTA TEPA (Self-Declaration)”.
iv. All necessary details maybe filled
as per the application form available, and the application maybe submitted using
Digital Signature (DSC) or Aaadhar authentication without
payment of any fee.
v. During the application, applicant
will also select the necessary branch address as available in the corresponding
IEC details. Based on the branch selected, mapping of the jurisdiction Regional
Authority of DGFT or the jurisdictional SEZ will be automatically fetched and registered
in the application. The concerned authority mapped will undertake verification activity
in case of concerns raised by the partner countries as per the agreement.
vi. Once submitted, the application
appears with file status as “Auto Approved Pending Issuance”.
vii. The applicant may then proceed
by clicking on “Generate Self-Declared CoO” against the
submitted application. The system will also prompt for uploading scanned copy of
signature of the applicant (if not already uploaded during a previous application
of the same type) which needs to be saved.
viii. With the mandatory use of the
linked DSC of the applicant, the Self-Declaration based eCOO
may then be generated.
ix. Self-Declaration based eCOO will be generated in two copies, both with QR code and
digital signature, that can be downloaded and utilised
by the applicant:
·
“Electronic
Copy” with scanned signature in the place available for signature.
·
“Physical
Copy” with blank space for the applicant to physically sign after printing the certificate.
x. The above copies maybe submitted
to recipient EFTA country as required by the concerned authorities.
4. The following key points may be noted
regarding the issuance of Preferential eCOO for India-EFTA
TEPA by authorised agency:
i.
The
applicant may proceed with the application by selecting the agreement name as “India
EFTA TEPA (Agency Issued)”
ii. The list of authorised agencies as per the terms of the agreement and duly
notified will be available for selection by applicants.
iii. On submission of the completed
application and approval by the authorised agency, an
“Electronic Copy” of the eCOO with QR code and digital
signature will be generated by the system.
iv. The “Electronic Copy” shall bear
the image of the signature of the issuing officer as well as the stamp of the issuing
agency which can be downloaded and utilised by the applicant.
5. The following common guidelines are to
be followed by all IEC holders and associated users/applicants:
i.
Existing
user credentials for DGFT website (www.dgft.gov.in) may be used for login on Trade
Connect ePlatform (www.trade.gov.in) without creation
of new login credentials.
ii. Additional user accounts for the
same IEC, if necessary, maybe created and linked using DSC on www.dgft.gov.in and the credentials can be used
on Trade Connect ePlatform for login including for filing/generating
eCOO.
iii. The types of digital signatures
accepted in the DGFT common digital ecosystem and the process of linking DSC to
IEC can be perused at www.dgft.gov.in by navigating to the “Learn”
tab, selecting “Application Help and FAQs” (https://www.dgft.gov.in/CP/?opt=application-help ), and going through the help
documents and videos under “IEC Profile Management” section.
iv. All users may ensure that their
name in the DGFT/Trade Connect user profile matches completely with the name in
the Digital Signature (DSC).
v. All IEC holders may ensure that
that updated details related to the IEC are available in the DGFT system in order
that the correct details are available for selection during application for eCOO.
6. The authenticity of any eCoO issued from Trade
Connect ePlatform may be verified by scanning the QR code
on the certificate or by navigating to “Verify certificate” option under the Certificate
of Origin service on Trade Connect ePlatform and keying
in the certificate number.
7. Support
Channels: Exporters and stakeholders are encouraged to reach out to the Certificate
of Origin (CoO) Helpdesk for assistance with any queries,
suggestions, or feedback. Support is available through the following channels:
i.
Ticketing
system is available under the option “Log a ticket” under the Certificate of Origin
service of Trade Connect ePlatform.
ii. Toll-Free Assistance maybe availed
on the following phone numbers: 011- 23061495 / 011-23061499.
iii. Email inquiries may be sent to
coo-dgft@gov.in.
This notice is issued with the approval of
competent authority.