DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade)
The Indian government body that regulates foreign trade policy, issues IEC codes, and can restrict export of specific goods.
Definition
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, administers India's foreign trade policy — including issuing Importer-Exporter Codes and maintaining the ITC(HS) classification and export-policy database that determines whether a given product is currently 'Free', 'Restricted' or 'Prohibited' for export.
Why It Matters
DGFT can move a formulation or API from Free to Restricted status overnight during a domestic shortage — export status is checked on the day of shipment, not assumed from an earlier quotation.