DGFT fixes seven new SIONs for chemical and pharmaceutical exports
What the notification says
Public Notice No. 23/2026-27 was issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on 3 August 2026 by using the powers under the provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023. It fixes new Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) in the Chemical and Allied Products group, which carries Product Code 'A'.
The seven norms are:
| SION No. | Export Product | Qty. | Sl No. | Import Item | Qty. Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-3708 | Theophylline (Anhydrous) | 1 kg. | 1 | Cyano Acetic Acid 70% | 0.89 kg. |
| A-3709 | PLAOBES 6 mg./ml. Pen Liraglutide Injection 18 mg./3 ml. (6 mg./ml.) (Each 3 ml. contains Liraglutide 18 mg.) | 1 number | 1 | Liraglutide | 19.8 mg. |
| A-3710 | Lumefantrine | 1 kg. | 1 | 9H FLUORENE | 0.814 kg. |
| 2 | Di N Butylamine | 0.390 kg. | |||
| 3 | Sodium Borohydride | 0.040 kg. | |||
| 4 | Para Chloro Benzaldehyde | 0.336 kg. | |||
| 5 | Di Methyl formamide | 0.555 kg. | |||
| A-3711 | MEROPENEM 500 mg. Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion (Each Vial Contains: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Meropenem Trihydrate equivalent to Meropenem Anhydrous ... 500 mg.) | 1 number | 1 | Meropenem and Sodium Carbonate (Sterile Bulk) | 672.6 mg/Vial |
| A-3712 | MEROPENEM 1000 mg. Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion (Each Vial Contains: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Meropenem Trihydrate equivalent to Meropenem Anhydrous ... 1000 mg.) | 1 number | 1 | Meropenem and Sodium Carbonate (Sterile Bulk) | 1345 mg/Vial |
| A-3713 | MEROPENEM 2 mg. Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion (Each Vial Contains: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Meropenem Trihydrate equivalent to 2000 mg. Meropenem Anhydrous) | 1 number | 1 | Meropenem and Sodium Carbonate (Sterile Bulk) | 2690 mg/Vial |
| A-3714 | Ophthalmic Solution (Eyes & Ear Drops) | 1 kg. content of relevant Bulk Drug | 1 | Relevant Bulk Drugs | 1.02 kg. |
Note: Content of Bulk Drug will be as per Drug Manufacturing Licence (DML).
Impact
A Standard Input Output Norm (SION) is a fixed ratio that tells an exporter the quantity of each import item he can import duty free to make one unit of an export item. Before issuance of this notice, these seven products had no fixed norm. An exporter manufacturing these products had to apply to the Norms Committee for an ad hoc norm before the Regional Authority could issue an Advance Authorisation.
This notice is most relevant to bulk drug and formulation exporters making any of these seven products, particularly the anti-malarial, antibiotic and ophthal.
Through this notice, you can save your time by having fixed SIONs. The Regional Authority of DGFT can issue Advance Authorisation directly. The AA file will not be passed through the Norms Committee and wait for the norms to be fixed for each case as every applicant manufacturing under these norms works to the same ratio.
If you are of the opinion that the fixed norms as specified in the public notice will not be used (Different input or a different route), then the Norms Committee route still applies. Read the exact Product and input description in the public notice against your process of manufacturing or materials before concluding.
How Kireeti will assist you
We at Kireeti Group have an expert panel dealing in proceeding of Advance Authorisation (AA). Exporters who are affected by this notice, we analyse the notified norm against your process of manufacturing or materials and for formulations against your Drug Manufacturing Licence, to establish whether the SION actually fits your process.
If the SION fits your process, we prepare and submit an Advance Authorisation (AA) application with your Regional Authority (RA). If your case does not fit with specified norms, we prepare and submit the file with the Norms Committee instead. On issuance of the license, we provide tracking services related to export obligations and closure (redemption) of the license.
If you are exporting or planning to export any of these seven products, get in touch with us and we will evaluate whether the new norm fits your process.
