The Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended the export policy for Red Sanders (Pterocarpus Santalinus) wood, establishing a formal, restricted export quota system based on state-wise allocations and CITES requirements. The notification dated November 4, 2025, restricts the export of Red Sanders wood in log form and roots, permitting it only under a Restricted Export Authorisation (REA). The new policy specifically targets wood of cultivation origin obtained from private land (including Patta land).
Key Conditions for Export Authorisation
Export under REA is subject to stringent verification and conditions:
- Certificate of Origin (CoO): Applicants must submit an attested copy of the CoO from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of the state of procurement, detailing the date and quantities procured from legal sources.
- Stock Verification: The application must include a certificate of the current stock position, issued after a physical verification by an authority nominated by the PCCF.
- CITES Compliance: The authorisation is subject to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) quantity ceiling requirements and the recommendations of the CITES Management Authority of India.
Annual Export Quotas Notified
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) will fix a yearly quota based on the recommendations of the CITES Management Authority and the National Detrimental Findings (NDF) Study.
The state-wise annual export quotas for Red Sanders obtained from artificially propagated sources have been fixed as per the Annexure:
| State | Annual Export Quota (April to March) (in MTs) |
| Andhra Pradesh | 280 |
| Tamil Nadu | 900 |
| Karnataka | 10 |
| Gujarat | 100 |
| Total | 1,290 MTs |
Special Quota for Karnataka and Gujarat
The notification highlights a specific annual quota running from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2027:
- Karnataka: 10 MTs
- Gujarat: 100 MTs
Zero Quota for Wild Specimens
A zero export quota is available for Red Sanders specimens from wild sources. This strict measure is backed by further conditions imposed on State Governments:
State Governments must develop a digital platform featuring Geo-referenced sites and an MIS to track the number of trees, their age, and diameter at breast height.
State Working Plan Guidelines must now include specific management and harvest plans with approved rotation periods for the sustainable harvest of Red Sanders from forest and non-forest plantations.
This policy aims to tightly regulate the export of the endangered Red Sanders, ensuring that trade is limited to legally verified, artificially propagated sources under strict international and national monitoring.