Items that cannot be imported freely are often included on the Restricted/Negative list. An import permit or license is needed to bring in Restricted/Negative products. Only the authenticated user can import Restricted goods. Items on the Restricted items list may be off-limits for various reasons, including but not limited to safety, health, or environmental concerns, or because they are manufactured by home- or village-based businesses that employ large numbers of people with little investment in training or technology.

Import of Restricted items in India are as follows:

• Animals alive and bovine semen
• Pets
• Research involving the use of live animals
• Horses for athletes
• Slag
• Substances that deplete the ozone layer
• The Discarded Battery/Lead Scrap/Type Scrap
• Weapons and ammo
• The Dore Import of Gold
• Communication equipment or transmitter
• Used and re-purposed gadgets
• Silver-Dore Imports
• Airplanes, hot-air balloons, helicopters, and crewless aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Exchanging wild animals

Items that cannot be imported without first receiving an Import of Restricted Items license, Authorization or approval from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade are considered Restricted Import Items. Obtaining a Restricted Import License is required to bring in restricted items. To better manage restricted import licenses, the government launched an online module on March 23, 2021, as part of the Import Management System. There is absolutely no way to apply manually. The DGFT Delhi is responsible for issuing licenses to import or export restricted items.

According to obtaining an export license from the DGFT, you may export any goods designated as “Restricted” in the 2018 edition of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) / International Trade Classification (HS) Schedule 2. The following standard operating procedure (SOP) / documentation checklist has been prepared with the concerned commodity Ministry / Department. It shall be followed by manufacturers/exporters while filing applications with DGFT for obtaining Export Authorization for ‘Restricted’ items to facilitate the trade by reducing the turnaround time in obtaining export authorizations/licenses.

• Animals alive and bovine semen
• Pets
• Research involving the use of live animals
• Horses for athletes
• Slag
• Substances that deplete the ozone layer
• The Discarded Battery/Lead Scrap/Type Scrap
• Weapons and ammo
• The Dore Import of Gold
• Communication equipment or transmitter
• Used and re-purposed gadgets
• Silver-Dore Imports
• Airplanes, hot-air balloons, helicopters, and crewless aerial vehicles (UAVs)
• Exchanging wild animals