Published: 1 Jul 2026
DGFT Relaxes NFMIMS Registration Deadline for Copper & Aluminium Imports
Omega QMS Compliance Insights
Omega QMS
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended the import policy for copper (Chapter 74) and aluminium (Chapter 76) under the ITC(HS), 2022. Importers may now complete their Non-Ferrous Metal Import Monitoring System (NFMIMS) registration any time before the Customs “Out of Charge” order, rather than before the consignment’s arrival.
What Has Been Amended
Through Notification No. 22/2026–27 dated 30 June 2026, the Central Government has amended Chapter 74 [Policy Condition Sl. No. 3, sub-para (c)] and Chapter 76 [Policy Condition Sl. No. 1, sub-para (c)] of the ITC(HS), 2022, with immediate effect. The notification is issued under Sections 3 and 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023.
The amendment changes the point in the import cycle by which importers must register under the NFMIMS.
The Key Change at a Glance
Registration before arrival
Importers of items in Annexure-I (copper) and Annexure-II (aluminium) had to submit advance information online, pay the fee per Appendix 2K, and obtain the automatic Registration Number, applying for registration before the arrival of the import consignment.
Registration before ‘Out of Charge’
The same advance-information and Registration Number requirements remain, but the importer must now apply for registration before final clearance / ‘Out of Charge’ of the consignment, giving more flexibility on timing.
In both cases, registration can be applied for not earlier than the 60th day before the expected date of arrival, and the automatic number thus granted remains valid for 75 days.
Who & What This Covers
- Chapter 74: Copper & articles thereof
- Chapter 76: Aluminium & articles thereof
- Annexure-I items (copper)
- Annexure-II items (aluminium)
- Registration fee as per Appendix 2K
- Automatic Registration Number valid 75 days
- Application window: up to 60 days before arrival
- NFMIMS online submission mandatory
- Effective immediately from 30 June 2026
Effect of the Notification
NFMIMS registration may be obtained at any time before issuance of the Customs “Out of Charge” order. “Out of Charge” is the final Customs clearance permitting removal of goods from the Customs area.
- Registration allowed any time before ‘Out of Charge’
- Eases compliance and facilitates smoother import clearance for copper and aluminium
- Issued with the approval of the Minister of Commerce and Industry
What It Means for Importers
Regulatory
The registration trigger shifts from “before arrival” to “before Out of Charge”, removing a common cause of pre-arrival non-compliance.
Commercial
Consignments are less likely to be held up at the port for want of a timely NFMIMS number, reducing demurrage and clearance delays.
Operational
Importers gain a wider, more practical window to complete registration, aligning the requirement with the actual clearance timeline.
Key Insight
By tying NFMIMS registration to the “Out of Charge” stage rather than arrival, DGFT has aligned the compliance requirement with how imports actually clear Customs. It is a small change in wording that meaningfully reduces the risk of consignments being stuck at the port.
How Omega QMS Can Help
Support for non-ferrous metal importers includes:
- NFMIMS registration and advance-information filing for copper and aluminium
- Guidance on Annexure-I / Annexure-II classification of items
- Fee payment under Appendix 2K and Registration Number tracking
- Timing strategy aligned to the new ‘Out of Charge’ deadline
- Coordination with Customs clearance to avoid port delays
- Ongoing advisory on ITC(HS) and Foreign Trade Policy changes
Importing Copper or Aluminium into India?
Need help with NFMIMS registration timing for your next shipment?
Reference: Notification No. 22/2026–27, dated 30 June 2026, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India (File No. 01/89/180/03/AM-26/PC.2(A)/E-46034), signed by the Director General of Foreign Trade. To be published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part-II, Section-3, Sub-Section (ii).
