The following categories of importers or exporters are exempted from obtaining
Importer - Exporter Code (IEC) number :
(i) Importers covered by clause 3(1) [except sub-clauses (e) and (l)] and
exporters covered by clause 3(2) [except sub-clauses (i) and (k)] of the
Foreign Trade (Exemption from application of Rules in certain cases)
Order, 1993.
(ii) Ministries / Departments of the Central or a State Government.
(iii) Persons importing or exporting goods for their personal use not
connected with trade or manufacture or agriculture.
(iv) Persons importing / exporting goods from / to Nepal provided the CIF
value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rs.25,000.
(v) Persons importing / exporting goods from / to Myanmar through Indo-
Myanmar border areas provided the CIF value of a single consignment does
not exceed Indian Rs.25,000.
However,the exemption from obtaining importer-exporter code(IEC) number shall not be applicable for the export of special chemicals,organisms,materials,equipments and technologies(SCOMET) as listed in appendix 3,schedule 2 of the ITC(HS) except in the case of exports by category(ii) above
(Above last para of 4.6(v) has been amended vide the public Notice No. 15(RE-2000)/1997-2002 dated 14-6-2000).
(vi) The following permanent IEC numbers shall be used by the categories of importers/exporters mentioned against them for import/export purposes.
| S.No. | Code number | Categories of importers/exporters |
| 1. | 0100000011 | All Ministries/Departments of the Central Government and agencies wholly or partially owned by them. |
| 2. | 0100000029 | All Ministries/Departments of the State Government and agencies wholly or partially owned by them |
| 3. | 0100000037 | Diplomatic personnel, Counselor officers in India and the officials of the UNO and its specialised agencies. |
| 4. | 0100000045 | Indians returning from/going abroad and claiming benefit under the Baggage Rules |
| 5. | 0100000053 | Persons/Institutions/Hospitals importing or exporting goods for their personnel use not connected with trade or manufacture or agriculture. |
| 6. | 0100000061 | Persons importing/exporting goods from/to Nepal provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian rupees 25000/-. |
| 7. | 0100000070 | Persons importing/exporting goods from/to Myanmar through Indo-Myenmar border areas provided the CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian rupees 25000/-. |
| 8 | 0100000088 | Ford Foundation |
| 9. | 0100000096 | Importers importing goods for display or use in fairs/exhibitions or similar events under the provisions of ATA carnet. |
| 10 | 0100000100 | Director, National Blood group reference laboratory, Bombay or their authorised
offices. |
(Above sub para has been added vide P.N. No 17(RE-00), Dt. 30-06-2000)
| S.No | Code No. | Categories of
importers/exporters |
| 11. | 0100000126
| Individuals/Charitable Institutions/ Registered NGOs importing goods ,
which have been exempted from Customs duty under the Notification issued by
Ministry of Finance for bonafide use by the victims effected by natural calamity.
|
(Above S.No. 11 has been added vide P.N. No. 58(RE-00), Dt. 26-02-2001)