Defence Ministry Granted Authority for Munitions Exports

The Department of Defence Production has been designated as the licensing authority for exporting military munitions. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade updated the SCOMET list for 2024, aligning it with international export control regimes. These changes aim to facilitate responsible export of dual-use items and military goods.

The Department of Defence Production has been officially designated as the licensing authority for the export of munitions used by the military, according to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on Tuesday.

The DGFT has released its updated Special Chemicals Organisms Materials Equipment and Technologies (SCOMET) list for the year 2024. The updated list incorporates recent changes from multilateral export control regimes and includes policy amendments based on feedback from government organizations and stakeholders.

This latest update also includes the authorization of the Department of Defence Production, under the Ministry of Defence, to oversee the export of all items listed under Category 6 of SCOMET, which includes weapons, rifles, and magazines. These changes aim to align India's export control protocols with those of international regimes, facilitating the responsible export of high-end goods and technologies.

(With inputs from agencies.)