DGFT Notifies Four New SIONs for Doxycycline and Clobetasol Exports: Faster Advance Authorisations for Pharma

DGFT has added four new Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) for pharmaceutical exports. Public Notice No. 36/2026-27, dated 23 October 2026, notifies norms A-3715 to A-3718 under the Chemical and Allied Products group (Product Code 'A'), covering Doxycycline tablets and Clobetasol Propionate. SIONs fix the standard quantity of imported input allowed, duty-free, to produce a given quantity of an export product — the backbone of the Advance Authorisation scheme. For exporters of these products, the norms mean faster, more predictable duty-free input sourcing.

What Happened

The four new norms are:

The Public Notice records that the SIONs are issued under paragraph 1.03 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. Their stated purpose is to help Regional Authorities issue Advance Authorisations quickly and to apply the input norms uniformly across offices.

Why / Background

Under the Advance Authorisation scheme, an exporter can import the inputs physically embodied in an export product without paying customs duty, provided the inputs stay within the notified SION. When no SION exists for a product, the exporter must apply for ad-hoc norms fixing by the Norms Committee — a slower, case-by-case process. Publishing standard norms for common, high-volume pharma products removes that bottleneck: Regional Authorities can issue authorisations against a published ratio rather than waiting for individual norms approval, and every office applies the same input-output ratio.

Doxycycline is a widely exported antibiotic, and Clobetasol Propionate a high-value corticosteroid API/finished product — both staples of India's generic-pharma export basket, which is why fixed norms are worth notifying.

Who Benefits

• Exporters of Doxycycline tablets (50 mg and 100 mg strengths) and Clobetasol Propionate who use, or plan to use, Advance Authorisation to import inputs duty-free.
• Pharma manufacturer-exporters seeking predictable input entitlements and faster authorisation turnaround.
• CHAs and consultants filing Advance Authorisation applications, who can now cite a published SION.

What Exporters Should Do Now

• Check whether your export product matches the exact SION description and strength (for example, A-3716 vs A-3717 differ only by pack size at the same 100 mg strength) before filing against a norm.
• When applying for a new Advance Authorisation, reference the applicable SION (A-3715 to A-3718) rather than seeking ad-hoc norms, to speed up issuance.
• Confirm the input specification matches — Doxycycline USP (Monohydrate) for the tablets, Betamethasone 17-Propionate for Clobetasol — and that your bill of materials aligns with the notified quantities.
• Maintain production and consumption records consistent with the SION to support export obligation discharge and any later verification.
• Pharma exporters of related products with no SION should still pursue ad-hoc norms fixing.

The Bigger Picture

Routine SION additions rarely make headlines, but they are the operational grease of India's duty-exemption schemes. Each published norm converts a discretionary, time-consuming approval into a standard entitlement — reducing working-capital drag on exporters who would otherwise pay duty up front and claim it back later. For the generic-pharma sector, where margins are thin and volumes high, faster Advance Authorisations translate directly into cost competitiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a SION and why does it matter? A Standard Input Output Norm is the officially fixed quantity of input needed to make a unit of an export product. It is the basis for duty-free input imports under Advance Authorisation, so a published SION means you can get an authorisation without individual norms fixing.

Which products do these four SIONs cover? Doxycycline tablets in USP 50 mg (100s) and 100 mg (50s and 500s) strengths, and Clobetasol Propionate BP/EP/USP.

Do I still need an Advance Authorisation? Yes. The SION fixes the input-output ratio, but you still apply for and hold an Advance Authorisation and must fulfil the associated export obligation.

My product is similar but not identical — can I use these norms? Only if your product matches the notified description and strength. Otherwise, apply for ad-hoc norms fixing by the Norms Committee.

Conclusion

Public Notice 36/2026-27 adds four standard norms that let Doxycycline and Clobetasol exporters obtain Advance Authorisations faster and on a uniform basis. The benefit is procedural speed and predictability for a core slice of India's pharma export trade.

This is a plain-English summary for pharma exporters and their CHAs. Verify the exact norms and input specifications against DGFT Public Notice No. 36/2026-27 on the official DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) before filing.