Renu Suresh

Expert

Published on: Aug 17, 2026

Standard Input-Output Norms (SION)

The Direct General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has published the Standard Input Output Norms (SION) to specify the required amount of inputs needed to produce a unit of outputs for exporting. SION is applicable for numerous products, including electronics, engineering, chemical, handicraft, plastic, leather, and many more; it is also suitable for various food products such as fish and other marine products.

Advance licenses are issued based on the inputs and export items given under SION, and the applicant's exporter needs to ensure that the goods sought for import and import are used in the export product. The manufacturer, exporter, and merchant-exporter can modify these norms by applying DGFT. Get Importer Exporter Code (IEC) through IndiaFilings

SION for Advance Authorizations

As explained above, based on the Standard Input Output Norms (SION), the Government issues advance authorizations for inputs and export items. The Advance Authorization allows duty-free import of information, which is physically incorporated into the export product. As per SION, the duty-free import of fabric is permitted under the Special Advance Authorization Scheme for the export of Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories. A duty-Free Replenishment Certificate (DFRC) also shall be issued for the

import of inputs as per SION as indicated in the shipping bills.

Condition for Exports

The applicant's exporter needs to ensure that the goods sought for import and importation are used in the export

product. According to SION, the customs authority will check whether the items allowed in the import license are co-related with the description of the export product in the Shipping Bill. For better understanding, kindly go through this example: If the input allowed in the SION is 'relevant fabrics,' only the specific types of Polyester or nylon used in the products will be approved for export. Similarly, if the input-output norms provide for the import of BOPP film against the trading of self-adhesive tape, only BOPP film required for the manufacture of Self Adhesive Tape will be allowed for shipping.

SION in Textile Product Group

SION for 'Dipped Belting Fabrics (E.P.) Conveyor Duck/Synthetic Fabrics of Nylon 6/66 and Polyester 840 Denier in the Textiles Product are as follows:

Export Product	Import item	Quantity allowed
Dipped Belting Fabrics Conveyor Duck/Synthetic Fabrics Of Nylon 6/66 & Polyester 840	Pet Chips (Polyester chips)	782.25 kg
Spin Finish Oil	6.71 kgs
Relevant Industrial Yarn (Nylon 6/66)	305.00 kgs
V.P. Latex	65.00 kgs
Resorcinol	7.00 kgs
Formaldehyde	10.00 kgs
Bonding Agent (Grill Bond, Vulca bond, ISO-bond PC45)	5.00

SION in Golf Gloves made of Knitted/Crocheted/Woven/Non-woven fabric

Export item	Import item	Quantity allowed
Gloves made of Knitted/Crocheted/Woven/Non-woven fabric	Relevant knitted, Crocheted, Woven, non-woven fabric or relevant inner lining materials	0.112 square meters
Elastic Tape	Net content + 1% wastage
Binding tape	Net content + 1% wastage
Velcro	Net content + 1% wastage
Logo	Net content + 1% wastage
Snap Fasteners	Net content + 1% wastage
Lycra	0.02 Square meter
Relevant Knitted Ribbed fabric for Cuff	1.01 kg/kg of content in the export product

SION in Rubber Products

Export item	Import item	Quantity allowed
All Types of Steel Truck Radial Tyres (Tube Type	Miscellaneous Chemicals Microcrystalline Wax Resorcinol Paraffin Wax Pigments Softeners Sulfur Stearic Acid, Process Oil Dip Chemicals Mould Release agents Tackifiers	6.6425 Kg

Maximum Value Limit for Products

An advance license or the duty-free replenishment certificate will be issued regarding the following products based on the total value limit indicated against each product.

Sl.No	Products	Maximum value limit
1	Perfumery compounds, chemicals, Natural essential oils, Resinods, or Aromatic chemical	Item-wise value limit, as indicated in the relevant norm.
2	Rubber Chemical	Up to 7% of the FOB value of exports. However, in the case of Break Diaphragms for Automobiles - Up to 5% of the FOB value of export
3	Miscellaneous Chemicals Break Diaphragms for Automobiles Bicycle Tyres Transmission Rubber Belting Rubber pads Rubber Polished Brakes Synthetic Rubber Sheets	Up to 5% of the FOB value of exports,
4	Dyes	Item-wise limit as provided in the relevant norm
5	Spin Finish Oil (Including Surface Active Agent u as a finishing oil in the manufacture of Polyester)	Up to 5% of the FOB value of exports.

FOB: Freight On Board or Free On Board

Classification of Tile and Slab as per SION

For distinguishing tile from the slab in the SIONs for export products of Marble, Granite, and Serpentine, consider the following parameters for classifying the product as Tile or Small be adopted:

Sl.No	Product	Thickness
1	Tile	Up to 12 mm
2	Slab	More than 12 mm

For more details regarding the

Standard Input Output Norms, kindly access the official website of DGFT.

Application for Modification of Standard Input Output Norms (SION)

The manufacturer exporter and merchant-exporter can furnish a request for modification of existing Standard Input-Output norms to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The format of the application is as follows:

Along with the form, the applicant needs to furnish the following documents for modifying the Standard Input Output Norms (SION):

Technical Details of the Export Products
Chartered Engineer certificate certifying the import requirements of raw materials
Production and Consumption data of the manufacturer of the preceding three licensing years, duly certified by the Chartered accountant/ Cost & Works Accountant/ Jurisdictional Excise Authority.

Technical Details of the Export Products – For Modifying SION

The exporter needs to produce the following technical details of the product to modify the norms:

Chemicals Products, Drugs, and Pharmaceuticals

Step-wise Manufacturing Process
Complete Chemical reactions of the manufacturing process with molecular and structural formula molecular weight along with stage-wise % yields on a molar basis.
Material balance for the entire manufacturing process
Essential and recovery of solvents used in the whole manufacturing process at each step
Authentic technical literature in support of percentage yield claimed in the manufacturing process as a whole
Details of products formed in the chemical process with their quantities and values
Information regarding the solvents charged, recovered, and consumed in each step of the manufacturing process
Collaborator's guaranteed norms
Percentage purity of the finished product and raw materials and percentage of any moisture in the export product
The end use of the chemical intermediates
Valid drug manufacturing license
Standard technical literature about the process as well as yields in case of new drug molecules
Pharmaceutical references such as the details of the export product - USP, B.P., etc

Engineering Products

The model number of the item, technical specification, and specific quantity-both in terms of quantity and weight of each export product
Details of technical Notes on the manufacturing process
Drawings/catalogs of each export product
Weight of each engineering product (if the inputs include raw material)

Textile Products

Detailed drawings of the items of manufacture that an export product
Justification for wastages claimed regarding the items
Reason for import of particular grade of the raw material applied

Plastic or Rubber Products

Detailed manufacturing process along with the technical basis for wastages claimed at each stage of the manufacturing process.
Technical descriptions including size, thickness, and weight range of plastic of the products to be exported along with small samples of export product
The chemical name of Processing Aid, Blowing Agent, and pigment proposed to import
Percentage of rubber in the export product
Percentage of the composition of rubber compound in terms of different constituents

Pesticides

The manufacturing process for pesticides for both technical grade as well as formulation
Detailed material balance and chemical reactions, along with the molecular weight of the reactants, % yield, and wastages at different stages of the manufacturing process, supported by authentic technical literature.
Details of byproducts, if any, formed during the reaction, along with their recovery in terms of quantity and value.
Percentage purity of the finished product and raw materials and percentage of any moisture in the export product
Registration Certificate from Central Insecticides Board for the manufacture of pesticides (technical grade)

Paints, Surface Coatings, and Printing Inks

Percentage of reliable resin content in the export product
The interest in pigment content in the export product
A portion of volatile content in the export product

Dyes and Dye Intermediates

Manufacturing process, material balance, and flow chart
The balanced chemical reaction of the process showing all the reactants, products, and byproducts (s) with the molecular formulas and molecular weights
Stage-wise percentage yield in respect of each reactant, along with justification
Authentic technical literature in support of return or quantity of items applied for import
Details of solvents charged during the process, the amount recovered and lost in-process, and recovery
Aspects of byproducts formed during the process and their improvement in terms of amount and value.
Details of standardization and % dye content of the export item

Paper and Paper Products

GSM of a product of export
The coating composition of coated paper and the percentage coating weight in the export product

The format of the Chartered Engineer certificate certifying the import requirements of raw materials is as follows:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Standard Input Output Norms SION.

The Standard Input Output Norms (SION) are norms published by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) that specify the required amount of inputs needed to produce a unit of outputs for exporting. SION is applicable for numerous products, including electronics, engineering, chemical, handicraft, plastic, leather, and many more, as well as various food products like fish and other marine products.

Advance licenses are issued based on the inputs and export items given under SION. The applicant exporter needs to ensure that the goods sought for import and importation are used in the export product. According to SION, the customs authority will check whether the items allowed in the import license are co-related with the description of the export product in the Shipping Bill.

SION provides input-output norms for textile products like Dipped Belting Fabrics, Conveyor Duck, Synthetic Fabrics of Nylon 6/66, and Polyester 840 Denier. It specifies the quantity of inputs like polyester chips, spin finish oil, industrial yarn, and other chemicals allowed for the manufacture of these export products.

SION provides input-output norms for golf gloves made of knitted, crocheted, woven, or non-woven fabric. It specifies the quantity of inputs like relevant fabric, elastic tape, binding tape, Velcro, logos, snap fasteners, and Lycra allowed for the manufacture of these export products.

SION specifies the Maximum Value Limit for certain products like perfumery compounds, rubber chemicals, miscellaneous chemicals, dyes, and spin finish oil. This limit is based on the FOB (Freight On Board or Free On Board) value of exports and is mentioned as a percentage or item-wise value limit.

For distinguishing tiles from slabs in the SIONs for export products of Marble, Granite, and Serpentine, SION considers the following parameters: tiles have a thickness up to 12 mm, while slabs have a thickness more than 12 mm.

Yes, the manufacturer exporter and merchant-exporter can furnish a request for modification of existing Standard Input-Output norms to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). They need to submit an application along with technical details of the export products, a Chartered Engineer certificate certifying the import requirements of raw materials, and production and consumption data.

For modifying SION for chemical products, drugs, and pharmaceuticals, the exporter needs to provide step-wise manufacturing process, complete chemical reactions with molecular and structural formulas, material balance, solvent recovery details, collaborator's guaranteed norms, percentage purity of finished product and raw materials, and other relevant technical information.

For modifying SION for engineering products, the exporter needs to provide the model number, technical specifications, quantity and weight details, technical notes on the manufacturing process, drawings/catalogs, and weight of each engineering product.

Exporters of paints, surface coatings, and printing inks need to provide the percentage of resin content, pigment content, and volatile content in the export product, along with technical details like manufacturing process, material balance, and flow chart, to modify the SION norms.