DGFT Launches Electronic Certificate of Origin for India-New Zealand Trade

Under DGFT Trade Notice 34/2026-27, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade has enabled the issuance of electronic Certificates of Origin under the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), effective from 20 October 2026 via the Trade Connect ePlatform. A Certificate of Origin is a vital trade document verifying that a product's economic nationality meets specific domestic content rules required to qualify for preferential tariff benefits under a bilateral trade pact.

Traditionally, obtaining these certificates involved manual paper submissions and physical verification; the new system moves the entire workflow online to speed up trade processing. Under the old procedure, exporters relied on physical paperwork; the updated notice shifts issuance directly onto the digital Trade Connect ePlatform. Exporters dealing with New Zealand markets must register on the Trade Connect ePlatform and adopt the electronic Certificate of Origin workflow for all shipments claiming FTA benefits from 20 October 2026 onwards.

Trade compliance officers should update their documentation protocols to ensure smooth digital sign-offs. Check your digital credentials on the platform today to prevent shipment delays at export ports.