SCOMET Licence: Export Authorisation for Dual-Use Items
A SCOMET licence is the DGFT authorisation you need before exporting dual-use items, munitions or nuclear-related goods listed in Appendix 3. Standard authorisations are valid for 24 months. We prepare the application and file it on the DGFT portal.
What it is
SCOMET stands for Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment and Technologies. These are items with civilian uses that could also feed weapons programmes. India controls their export through Chapter 10 of the Handbook of Procedures and the Appendix 3 list, issued under Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
Different authorities issue the authorisation, depending on the category. DGFT handles most categories. The Department of Atomic Energy handles Category 0 (nuclear items) and certain prescribed substances. The Department of Defence Production handles Category 6, the Munitions List. Applications go online on the DGFT portal.
Who it applies to
Manufacturers of listed items
You make a chemical, material or piece of equipment that appears in Appendix 3. Even a routine product can be listed, so a check against the list comes first.
Merchant exporters and traders
You buy listed goods and export them under your own IEC. The authorisation is needed whoever exports, so a trader cannot rely on the manufacturer’s paperwork.
Software and technology exporters
Technology and software transfers can also be covered by Appendix 3. If your product includes controlled technology, tell us early, as these cannot be revalidated.
Why it matters
Exporting without it is a legal risk
Shipping a listed item without authorisation is a breach of export control. The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 provides a penalty of up to five times the value of the goods.
Buyers ask for it
A foreign buyer in a regulated sector will want proof that the export is authorised. Holding it protects the order.
A clean file helps the review
The Inter-Ministerial Working Group studies the end-user, the end-use and the destination. A clear, complete file helps the review move.
Documents required
About the exporter
- Active IEC linked to your DGFT profile
- Registered DSC of the signatory
- PAN, GST and company or firm registration papers
About the item
- Technical specification and Appendix 3 category match
- Purchase order or contract with the buyer
- Supply chain details: buyers, consignees and end-users
About the end-use
- End User Certificate: items will not be modified or retransferred without government consent
- Internal Compliance Programme, where the authorisation needs it
- Original End User Certificate sent in hard copy to DGFT in New Delhi
How it works
Classify the item against Appendix 3
Your technical team or an expert matches the product to a SCOMET category. We prepare the working file and flag where a technical opinion is needed, because the classification is a technical call.
Collect the end-user papers
The buyer signs the End User Certificate. We draft the checklist and the purchase order details so nothing is missing when the file is submitted.
File on the DGFT portal
We prepare the application using the ANF-10 series form that fits your case, upload the documents as PDFs and submit with your DSC. Original End User Certificates go by hand to DGFT in New Delhi.
Answer queries and keep the records
The review may raise questions. We draft the replies with you. After approval we set up record keeping. See our import export registration page if your IEC needs attention first.
Validity of SCOMET authorisations
| Type | Validity |
|---|---|
| Standard authorisation | 24 months |
| Intra-company transfer (GAICT) | 3 years |
| Chemicals general authorisation (GAEC) | 5 years |
| Repair (GAER) | 1 year |
Revalidation can extend an authorisation by a maximum of 12 months in total, and technology or software authorisations cannot be revalidated. Picture a Faridabad chemicals manufacturer with a repeat buyer in one country. One standard authorisation can cover the order book for two years. That works only if quantities and end-user are stated correctly at the start.
Timelines
Expect a review period
The Inter-Ministerial Working Group targets 30 days for member comments. Total time depends on the category and the queries raised.
Authorisation validity
Standard authorisations run 24 months. Diarise the expiry and apply for renewal well before it.
Record retention
Keep the documents for 5 years or until the authorisation expires, whichever is longer.
What happens if you export without a SCOMET licence
A penalty of at least ₹10,000
Section 11(2) of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 provides a penalty of not less than ₹10,000 and up to five times the value of the goods, technology or services involved.
IEC action if the penalty stays unpaid
Under Section 11, the adjudicating authority can suspend the IEC of a person who fails to pay a penalty, until it is paid or recovered. That stops all your trade, not just SCOMET exports.
Get advice on a past export
If you think an earlier shipment was covered by SCOMET, tell us early. A practising advocate gives the legal view; we help gather the papers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SCOMET licence?
A SCOMET licence is the export authorisation DGFT issues for items listed in Appendix 3: special chemicals, organisms, materials, equipment and technologies. The items have civilian uses but could be diverted to weapons. Exporting them needs prior authorisation. It is a regulatory approval, and we prepare the file and handle the filing for you.
Who issues the authorisation?
DGFT issues it for most categories. The Department of Atomic Energy handles Category 0 (nuclear items) and certain prescribed substances, and the Department of Defence Production handles Category 6, the Munitions List. Your item decides the authority. We check the category and send the application to the right place.
How long is a SCOMET authorisation valid?
A standard authorisation is valid for 24 months. Intra-company transfer authorisations run 3 years, chemicals general authorisations 5 years and repair authorisations 1 year. Revalidation extends the authorisation by at most 12 months in total, and technology or software cannot be revalidated. We diarise the expiry for you.
What is an End User Certificate and who signs it?
It is the buyer’s certificate that the items will not be modified or retransferred without the Indian government’s consent. The buyer signs it. The original goes in hard copy to DGFT in New Delhi. We draft the checklist and the format notes so the certificate is not rejected on a technicality.
How long does the review take?
The Inter-Ministerial Working Group targets 30 days for member comments, but the total depends on the category and any queries. It looks at the end-user, the end-use and the risk of diversion. A complete file helps. We cannot promise a date, only that your file will be clear.
Do traders need a SCOMET licence too?
Yes. The authorisation is needed by whoever exports a listed item, whether manufacturer or merchant. A trader cannot rely on the manufacturer’s paperwork. You apply under your own IEC with your own End User Certificate. We prepare it for both types of exporter and check the category.
How do I know if my product is on the SCOMET list?
Check it against Appendix 3 of the list of SCOMET items, which has Categories 0 to 8. Because the list is technical, the match is usually made with your technical team or an expert, not by guesswork. We prepare the working file and point to the paragraphs that need a technical opinion.
What does Taxhint do and what does DGFT do?
We check your IEC and DSC, prepare the application and documents, file on the DGFT portal and reply to queries. Classification of the item is a technical call made by you or an expert. DGFT, with the other departments, decides on the authorisation. Where a legal view is needed, a practising advocate gives it.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
DGFT charges an application fee on the portal, and amendments and revalidations carry their own fees. We confirm the current figures before filing and show them separately from our fee.
Ready to begin?
Tell us the item and the buyer’s country, and we will map the SCOMET file and flag what needs a technical or legal opinion.