DGFT Extends the Minimum Import Price on Glufosinate and Its Salts to 12 April 2027

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has extended the Minimum Import Price (MIP) condition on glufosinate and its salts — a widely used herbicide active ingredient — to 12 April 2027. The change comes via Notification No. 43/2026-27, dated 12 October 2026, which amends the import policy entries for these products under Schedule-I (Import Policy) of the ITC(HS), 2022. Importantly, the notification does not introduce a new MIP rate; it continues the existing condition first set under Notification No. 10/2026-27 (dated 13 April 2026). In practical terms, the price floor that was due to lapse now runs for roughly another six months.

What Happened

• The MIP condition on glufosinate and its salts is extended up to 12 April 2027.
• The products fall under Chapter 38 of the ITC(HS) import schedule, across tariff lines including 38089193, 38089199, 38089361, 38089391, 38089399, 38089912, 38089991 and 38089999.
• The notification sets no new MIP value — the rate and condition already in force under Notification No. 10/2026-27 continue unchanged.
• Imports at a CIF value below the MIP floor remain restricted; imports at or above the floor continue to be permitted subject to the usual conditions.

Why / Background

A Minimum Import Price is a floor on the declared import value of a product. Its purpose is to curb the inflow of under-priced or dumped imports that can undercut domestic manufacturers. For agrochemical active ingredients like glufosinate, MIPs are a common tool to protect Indian producers from very low-priced imports while still allowing supply to continue above the floor. Extending the existing condition — rather than changing the number — signals that the government sees the underlying market conditions as unchanged for now.

Who's Affected

Importers of glufosinate technical and its salts, agrochemical formulators who rely on imported active ingredient, and the customs house agents who file their bills of entry are directly affected. Domestic manufacturers of the same active ingredient are the intended beneficiaries of the continued floor. Because the MIP is enforced at assessment, the declared CIF value on each consignment is the critical compliance point.

What Importers and CHAs Should Do Now

• Confirm the applicable MIP value under the continuing Notification No. 10/2026-27 before committing to any contract — the floor, not a new number, is what applies.
• Price every bill of entry at or above the MIP floor on a CIF basis; consignments below the floor will be treated as restricted.
• Review purchase contracts and letters of credit running past the earlier expiry to ensure landed values still clear the floor through 12 April 2027.
• CHAs: flag glufosinate tariff lines in your internal checklists so the MIP condition is verified at the time of filing, not after a query is raised.
• Diarise 12 April 2027 as the next review point and watch for a further extension or a revised rate closer to that date.

The Bigger Picture

MIP extensions on specific agrochemical and bulk-chemical inputs have become a recurring feature of India's import policy, used alongside anti-dumping duties to manage low-priced inflows — particularly of products where China and a few other origins dominate global supply. For importers, the operational discipline is straightforward but unforgiving: the declared value must clear the floor. For the domestic industry, the extension preserves a measure of price protection without escalating it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the MIP amount changed? No. Notification No. 43/2026-27 only extends the timeline to 12 April 2027. The MIP value and condition continue as set under Notification No. 10/2026-27.

Can I still import glufosinate? Yes, provided the declared CIF value is at or above the MIP floor. Imports below the floor are restricted.

Which tariff lines are covered? The condition applies to specified glufosinate and salt entries under Chapter 38, including the 3808-series lines listed above. Verify the exact lines against the notification.

What happens on 12 April 2027? The condition is due to expire then unless DGFT extends it again or revises it. Plan contracts with that date in mind.

Conclusion

DGFT has kept the glufosinate MIP floor in place for roughly another six months without changing the rate. Importers and CHAs should confirm the continuing MIP value, price consignments at or above the floor, and treat 12 April 2027 as the next decision point.

This summary is for general guidance. Verify the exact MIP value, tariff lines and conditions against DGFT Notification No. 43/2026-27 (read with Notification No. 10/2026-27) on the official DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) before acting.