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September 16, 2026
Wheat Export Policy 2026: DGFT Makes Specified Wheat and Wheat Flour Exports Free
Introduction
The wheat export policy 2026 has changed significantly after the Central Government revised the export status of specified wheat and wheat-flour products from “Prohibited” to “Free.” The change was made through two DGFT notifications dated 24 August 2026, both stating that the revised policy is “Free” with immediate effect.
Under the wheat export policy 2026, ITC (HS) Codes 10011900 and 10019910 for specified wheat, and ITC (HS) Code 11010000 for wheat or meslin flour, are now covered by the revised “Free” export policy. The amendments were issued through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
Quick Insights
- Free export status means the specified wheat products are no longer prohibited under the relevant DGFT export-policy entries.
- Exporters must still hold a valid IEC and comply with customs, shipping, and foreign-exchange requirements.
- Correct ITC (HS) classification is essential before exporting wheat or wheat-flour products.
- Food-safety, phytosanitary, quality, and destination-country requirements may continue to apply depending on the shipment.
- The revised policy removes the earlier quota-based restriction for covered tariff lines but does not make exports duty-free or compliance-free.
What Changed Under the Wheat Export Policy 2026?
The wheat export policy 2026 changes the classification of specified products under Schedule 2 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy. Earlier, these tariff lines were “Prohibited,” although limited quantities had been permitted through special authorisation or quota-based relaxations.
The August 2026 amendments are different because they change the underlying export-policy status itself. For the notified HS codes, exporters no longer operate under the earlier “Prohibited” classification.
However, “Free” is a DGFT export-policy classification. It does not remove requirements relating to an Importer Exporter Code (IEC), customs procedures, product standards, shipping documentation, foreign-exchange rules or destination-country conditions that may otherwise apply.
Who Introduced the New Wheat Export Policy?
The wheat export policy 2026 was amended by the Central Government through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The notifications exercise powers under Section 5 read with Section 3 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, as amended, read with Paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.
The notifications were issued through DGFT as part of the Central Government’s statutory power to amend India’s export policy.
Notification No. 35/2026-27: Specified Wheat Made Free
A major part of the wheat export policy 2026 is the DGFT Notification No. 35/2026-27 dated 24 August 2026, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. It revised the export policy of specified wheat under HS Codes 10011900 and 10019910 from “Prohibited” to “Free” with immediate effect.
|
ITC (HS) Code |
Description |
Earlier Policy |
Revised Policy |
|
10011900 |
Durum Wheat: Other | Prohibited | Free |
| 10019910 | Wheat | Prohibited |
Free |
The notification states that these products are “Free” with immediate effect. Exporters should verify that their goods correctly fall within the notified HS codes before relying on the revised wheat export policy 2026.
Notification No. 34/2026-27: Wheat Flour Made Free
The wheat-flour component of the policy was introduced through the DGFT Notification No. 34/2026-27 dated 24 August 2026, which changed the export policy of wheat or meslin flour under HS Code 11010000 from “Prohibited” to “Free” with immediate effect.
It changes ITC (HS) Code 11010000 from “Prohibited” to “Free.” The entry covers wheat or meslin flour, including atta, maida, semolina or rava/sirgi, wholemeal atta and resultant atta.
The notification also states that the revised policy applies with immediate effect. This is a major change in the wheat flour export policy because exports had previously been subject to prohibition with limited quantitative relaxations.
What Was the Position Before 24 August 2026?
The wheat export policy 2026 should be understood against the earlier controlled export framework.
For wheat flour and related products under HS Code 1101, Notification No. 55/2025-26 dated 16 January 2026 permitted 5 LMT through DGFT export authorisations while keeping the underlying policy “Prohibited.” Notification No. 61/2025-26 dated 24 February 2026 permitted an additional 5 LMT and again retained the “Prohibited” status.
Wheat followed a similar approach. Notification No. 62/2025-26 dated 24 February 2026 permitted 25 LMT under HS Codes 10011900 and 10019910 while the policy remained “Prohibited.” Subsequently, Notification No. 13/2026-27 dated 27 April 2026 permitted an additional 25 LMT without changing the underlying prohibited status.
Therefore, before the August amendments, 50 LMT of wheat and 10 LMT of wheat-flour products had been permitted through specific relaxations, while their underlying export-policy classification continued to remain “Prohibited.”
What Does “Free” Mean Under DGFT Policy?
Under the wheat export policy 2026, “Free” means that the specified goods are no longer subject to the earlier prohibition under the relevant DGFT export-policy entries.
It does not mean that the goods are free of cost, automatically duty-free or exempt from all regulatory requirements. Depending on the product and destination, exporters may still need:
- A valid IEC
- Correct ITC (HS) classification
- Customs and shipping-bill compliance
- Commercial invoice and packing documents
- Applicable food-safety, quality or phytosanitary requirements
- Certificate of Origin, where required
- Foreign-exchange and export-realisation compliance
Businesses new to international trade can also understand the broader requirements through our guide on Import Export Code and its advantages for exporters.
The wheat export policy 2026 therefore removes the specified DGFT prohibition but does not override other applicable laws.
What Should Exporters Check Before Shipping?
Businesses planning wheat export from India should first verify the exact HS code. The wheat notification covers 10011900 and 10019910, while the wheat-flour notification covers 11010000.
Exporters should also check whether their IEC remains active and the details recorded with DGFT are current. Businesses can refer to the guidance on IEC update requirements for exporters for maintaining their DGFT registration.
For agricultural and processed food products, exporters should also examine whether APEDA-related requirements apply to their particular product and activity.
Ebizfiling’s guide on the APEDA RCMC registration process explains the registration framework for scheduled agricultural and processed food products, including cereals and cereal products.
Other requirements may include customs documentation, contractual terms, product certifications, destination-country import requirements and foreign-exchange compliance.
The wheat export policy 2026 makes the DGFT policy position more liberal, but responsibility for satisfying other applicable export conditions continues with the exporter.
Impact of the Wheat Export Policy 2026 on Exporters
The wheat export policy 2026 removes the earlier prohibition for the notified tariff lines and reduces dependence on the special quantitative authorisation mechanisms used earlier in 2026.
This can make export planning more straightforward for businesses dealing in products falling within the specified HS codes. However, exporters should not assume that every wheat or processed-wheat product is automatically covered.
Correct HS-code verification remains important before relying on the “Free” classification. Businesses entering international trade for the first time may also explore the requirements for starting an export business in India.
Earlier Position vs New Policy
|
Particular |
Earlier Position |
Revised Position |
|
Wheat – 10011900 |
Prohibited, with limited relaxations | Free |
| Wheat – 10019910 | Prohibited, with limited relaxations |
Free |
|
Wheat/Meslin Flour – 11010000 |
Prohibited, with quota relaxations | Free |
| Policy mechanism | Prohibition with specified exceptions |
Free for notified HS codes |
The wheat export policy 2026 is therefore a policy-status change, not merely another increase in an export quota. Overall, the wheat export policy 2026 replaces the earlier prohibition-based approach for the notified tariff lines.
Wheat Export Compliance Made Simple with Ebizfiling
Exporting wheat or wheat-flour products requires more than checking whether the DGFT classification is “Free.” Businesses must verify their HS code, maintain a valid IEC, review applicable export registrations and prepare the documents required for customs and international trade.
Ebizfiling can assist businesses with IEC registration for import-export activities, DGFT-related compliance and other registrations required to establish an export business in India. Our experts can also help businesses understand the compliance requirements relevant to their proposed shipment under the wheat export policy 2026.
Planning to export wheat or wheat-flour products from India? Talk to an Ebizfiling expert for assistance with IEC, DGFT and export compliance.
Conclusion
The wheat export policy 2026 marks a significant liberalisation for the notified wheat and wheat-flour tariff lines. Notifications No. 34/2026-27 and 35/2026-27, both dated 24 August 2026, revise the relevant entries from “Prohibited” to “Free” with immediate effect.
Unlike the earlier quantitative relaxations, the latest amendments change the underlying export-policy classification itself. Exporters can benefit from the wheat export policy 2026, but they should continue to verify HS classification and comply with applicable customs, IEC, food-safety, documentation and destination-country requirements before shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can a merchant exporter export wheat from India without owning a manufacturing unit?
Yes. A merchant exporter can export wheat or wheat-flour products without owning a manufacturing facility, provided the business satisfies the applicable IEC, product-registration, customs and destination-country requirements.
2. Which authority issues RCMC for wheat and cereal exporters in India?
APEDA is the relevant authority for cereals and cereal products covered under its scheduled-product framework. Exporters can apply for APEDA e-RCMC through the DGFT portal after obtaining an IEC.
3. Can the same IEC be used to export both wheat and wheat flour?
Yes. IEC is issued to the exporter or business entity and is generally not restricted to a single product. The same valid IEC can therefore be used for different permitted export products, subject to their respective policy and regulatory requirements.
4. Is a Certificate of Origin compulsory for every wheat export shipment?
Not necessarily. A Certificate of Origin may be required depending on the importing country’s rules, buyer requirements or whether the exporter is claiming preferential tariff treatment under a trade agreement. DGFT provides an electronic Certificate of Origin platform for both preferential and non-preferential certificates.
5. Can wheat exporters automatically claim RoDTEP because the export policy is now “Free”?
No. Export-policy status and export-incentive eligibility are separate matters. A product becoming freely exportable does not automatically make the shipment eligible for RoDTEP, duty drawback or another incentive; eligibility must be checked under the specific incentive scheme.
6. Can an Indian exporter send wheat to any foreign country once the product is freely exportable?
Not automatically. Exporters must still check the importing country’s food-safety, plant-quarantine, labelling, certification and other entry requirements. Destination-specific restrictions can apply independently of India’s DGFT export-policy classification.
7. Is a phytosanitary certificate required for every wheat export?
The requirement depends on the destination country’s plant-health and import conditions. Since wheat is an agricultural commodity, exporters should verify whether the importing country requires a phytosanitary certificate or any additional inspection or treatment before shipment.
8. What happens if there is a dispute regarding the ITC (HS) classification of a wheat product?
The classification should be resolved before relying on a particular export-policy entry. Under FTP 2023, DGFT’s decision is final and binding on matters concerning interpretation of the export policy and ITC (HS) classification for import/export policy purposes.
9. Can Ebizfiling help a new wheat exporter obtain IEC and start export operations?
Yes. Ebizfiling can assist businesses with IEC registration, export-business setup and related DGFT compliance so that the exporter has the required registrations in place before commencing international trade.
10. Can Ebizfiling assist wheat exporters with APEDA registration and export compliance?
Yes. Ebizfiling can help businesses understand APEDA/RCMC applicability, organise registration requirements and review relevant export compliances based on the product and proposed export activity.
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