India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin (eCoO) from 15 July 2026: DGFT Trade Notice 11/2026-2027 Explained

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued Trade Notice No. 11/2026-2027 dated 13 July 2026, confirming the electronic filing and issuance of Preferential Certificates of Origin (eCoO) under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with effect from 15 July 2026. For every Indian exporter shipping to the United Kingdom, this is one of the most important compliance developments of the year. The Certificate of Origin is now the single document that unlocks zero-duty access to a market worth over 500 billion dollars.

This guide explains what the Trade Notice means for exporters, why the Certificate of Origin sits at the centre of your CETA benefit, which documents you need to keep ready, and how Rasp International can file and manage your India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin end to end.

What the DGFT Trade Notice 11/2026-2027 Actually Announces

The India-UK CETA came into force on 15 July 2026. To claim the preferential (zero or reduced) duty that the agreement offers, your UK buyer must be able to prove that your goods genuinely originate in Bharat. That proof is the Preferential Certificate of Origin.

Under Trade Notice 11/2026-2027, Preferential Certificates of Origin for exports to the UK under CETA are rolled out on the Trade Connect ePlatform (www.trade.gov.in), the unified digital platform for application and issuance of all electronic Certificates of Origin (eCoO) for Indian exports. The Certificate of Origin service on the platform supports issuance on two bases:

• Self-declaration by the exporter, and
• Issuance by an authorised agency notified under the agreement.

In both routes, the certificate is generated digitally with a QR code and digital signature, and the recipient country authorities can verify its genuineness online. This replaces slow, paper-based chamber visits with an end-to-end digital process, but it also raises the compliance bar: a wrong origin declaration now travels with a permanent digital trail.

Why the India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin Matters So Much

The scale of the opportunity is what makes the Certificate of Origin so critical. Under CETA, the UK eliminates tariffs on approximately 99 percent of India’s tariff lines, covering nearly the entire value of India’s exports to the UK. Duties that were previously punishing simply fall to zero, but only for consignments that carry a valid Certificate of Origin.

Consider the tariff walls that CETA dismantles from day one:

• Leather and footwear: duties of up to 16 percent reduced to zero
• Textiles and clothing: up to 12 percent reduced to zero
• Marine products: up to 20 percent (and as high as 21.5 percent on some lines) reduced to zero
• Engineering goods and auto components: up to 18 percent reduced to zero
• Chemicals and pharmaceuticals: up to 8 percent reduced to zero
• Processed food: tariffs on the vast majority of lines, previously as high as 70 percent, reduced to zero

For labour-intensive clusters, this is transformational. India’s leather and textile heartlands, including the artisan clusters around Agra, Kanpur, Tirupur, Panipat and Bhadohi, gain a decisive head-start over competitors in Bangladesh, Vietnam and China. But here is the hard truth every exporter must internalise: the tariff cut is only theoretical until the Certificate of Origin makes it real. A shipment without a valid CoO pays the full standard duty, wiping out the entire competitive advantage the agreement was designed to give you.

Self-Declaration vs Authorised Agency: The Two Issuance Routes

Trade Notice 11/2026-2027 confirms that eCoO under India-UK CETA can be obtained through two distinct routes, and choosing the right one matters.

1. Self-Declaration Route

Under this route, the exporter self-certifies the origin of the goods. It is faster and does not depend on an external agency’s approval queue, but it places the full weight of Rules of Origin accuracy on the exporter. A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) linked to your IEC is mandatory, and a scanned copy of your ink-signed signature must be uploaded. The certificate is generated in two copies, an “Electronic Copy” with the scanned signature and a “Physical Copy” with blank space to sign after printing.

2. Authorised Agency Route

Under this route, the application is submitted by selecting the agreement as “India-UK CETA (Agency Issued)”, and a DGFT-notified authorised agency reviews and approves it. The Electronic Copy is generated with a QR code, digital signature, the issuing officer’s signature image and the agency stamp. This route adds a layer of third-party validation that some UK buyers and customs authorities prefer.

Deciding which route protects you best depends on your product, your Rules of Origin position and your buyer’s expectations. This is exactly where professional judgement prevents expensive mistakes, and where Rasp International’s Certificate of Origin service adds real value.

Documents Required for India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin Issuance

Before any eCoO application can be generated, your documentation and registrations must be complete and consistent. Keep the following ready:

Registrations and prerequisites

• Valid Importer Exporter Code (IEC) issued by DGFT, with updated firm details. See our IEC registration service.
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), Class 3, with the IEC of the firm embedded and linked to the applicant profile. See our Digital Signature Certificate service.
• Registered profile on the Trade Connect ePlatform / DGFT, with the applicant’s name matching exactly the name in the DSC.
• Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) where required for your product or council. See our RCMC registration service.
• Scanned copy of the applicant’s ink-signed signature (mandatory for the self-declaration route).

Shipment and origin documents

• Commercial Invoice matching the product description, quantities and values exactly
• Packing List with carton details, gross weight and net weight
• Shipping Bill filed with customs, with matching invoice numbers for automated verification
• Bill of Lading or Airway Bill as proof of shipment
• Correct HS Code for each product line
• Declaration of Origin confirming the goods are of Indian origin
• Rules of Origin working / value-addition statement demonstrating the goods meet the CETA origin criteria
• Manufacturing process details and supplier declarations where the product involves imported inputs
• Purchase order or export contract where applicable

Rules of Origin: The Fine Print That Turns a Tariff Cut Into a Real Saving

Rules of Origin establish the “economic nationality” of your goods. Under CETA, goods qualify for preferential treatment only if they are wholly obtained in India or meet the relevant Product-Specific Rules (PSRs), which typically involve a change in tariff classification, a minimum value-addition threshold, or both.

This is the part most exporters underestimate. Your product may feel “obviously Indian”, but if it uses imported fabric, components or chemicals, the value-addition maths must be worked out correctly and documented. An origin declaration that cannot survive scrutiny exposes you to duty recovery, penalties and suspension of preferential treatment. Getting the Rules of Origin position right, before you file, is the single highest-value step in the entire process.

Who Should Act on This Now

If you fall into any of these groups, the CETA Certificate of Origin should be on your desk this week:

• Manufacturer-exporters of leather goods and footwear, especially in and around Agra and Kanpur
• Textile and garment exporters and clusters
• Engineering goods and auto component manufacturers
• Marine product and processed food exporters
• Gems, jewellery, sports goods and chemical exporters
• MSMEs and first-time exporters entering the UK market who need their IEC, DSC and RCMC in order before they can even apply

Let Rasp International File Your India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin

The Certificate of Origin is not paperwork you want to learn on the job with a live shipment on the line. A single origin error can cost you the duty benefit, invite penalties and damage trust with your UK buyer.

Rasp International is an ISO 9001:2015 certified EXIM consultancy based in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, with a family legacy in international trade since 2005. We handle the complete Certificate of Origin lifecycle for India-UK CETA, from confirming your Rules of Origin position and getting your IEC, DSC and RCMC in order, to preparing consistent documentation and managing the eCoO issuance so your consignment ships with a clean, verifiable certificate.

We also support the wider compliance picture through our DGFT consultancy, EXIM licences and registrations and export incentive services including RoDTEP.

Request Certificate of Origin Support

Fill in the short form below and our team will get back to you about your India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin and export documentation. There is no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions: India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin

What is the India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin?
It is a Preferential Certificate of Origin that proves your goods originate in India and qualify for the reduced or zero duty offered under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Your UK buyer presents it to customs to claim the preferential tariff. Without it, the goods pay the standard duty.

From when is the India-UK CETA in force?
The India-UK CETA came into force on 15 July 2026. Preferential Certificates of Origin under the agreement are issued electronically through the Trade Connect ePlatform as confirmed by DGFT Trade Notice 11/2026-2027 dated 13 July 2026.

What documents do I need for an India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin?
You need a valid IEC, a Class 3 DSC with your IEC embedded, an RCMC where applicable, a commercial invoice, packing list, shipping bill, bill of lading or airway bill, correct HS codes, a declaration of origin and a Rules of Origin / value-addition working. Manufacturing and supplier details are needed where imported inputs are used.

Is a Digital Signature Certificate mandatory?
Yes. For the self-declaration route, a DSC linked to your IEC with a valid profile is mandatory, and a scanned copy of your ink-signed signature must be uploaded. Rasp International can arrange your DSC if you do not have one.

What is the difference between the self-declaration and authorised agency routes?
Under self-declaration, the exporter self-certifies origin using a linked DSC. Under the authorised agency route, a DGFT-notified agency reviews and approves the application and the certificate carries the issuing officer’s signature and agency stamp. The best route depends on your product, Rules of Origin position and buyer expectations.

What are Rules of Origin and why do they matter?
Rules of Origin decide whether your goods legally count as Indian for CETA purposes. Goods must be wholly obtained in India or meet Product-Specific Rules, usually a change in tariff heading and/or a minimum value addition. An incorrect origin claim can lead to duty recovery, penalties and suspension of preferential treatment.

How long is the Certificate of Origin valid?
A Certificate of Origin is generally valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, subject to the terms of the agreement and the requirements of the importing country.

What happens if I ship to the UK without a Certificate of Origin?
Your buyer cannot claim the preferential duty and will be charged the full standard duty. This makes your goods more expensive in the UK market and erases the competitive advantage CETA was designed to give you.

Can MSMEs and first-time exporters use CETA benefits?
Yes. CETA is especially valuable for MSMEs in leather, textiles, engineering goods, marine products and processed food. First-time exporters usually need their IEC, DSC and RCMC in place first, all of which Rasp International can set up for you.

Can Rasp International file the Certificate of Origin for me?
Yes. We manage the complete Certificate of Origin process for India-UK CETA, including Rules of Origin assessment, documentation preparation and eCoO issuance, alongside IEC, DSC, RCMC and wider DGFT compliance. Contact us on WhatsApp at +91 82180 43048 or through our contact page.

Get Started With Your India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin

The India-UK CETA is one of the biggest export opportunities Bharat’s exporters have seen in a decade. But the benefit belongs to those who get their Certificate of Origin right. If you export to the United Kingdom, or plan to, now is the time to prepare your documentation and lock in your zero-duty advantage.

Rasp International provides Certificate of Origin, export documentation and DGFT compliance support for Indian exporters, importers, MSMEs and businesses entering the UK and other global markets. For India-UK CETA Certificate of Origin support, contact Rasp International.