No person shall make any import or export except under an Importer-exporter Code Number granted by the Director General or the officer authorised by the Director General in this behalf, in accordance with the procedure specified in this behalf by the Director General.
Section 8 - Suspension and cancellation of Importer-exporter CodeNumber
(1) Where
(a) any person has contravened any law relating to Central excise or customs or foreign exchange or has committed any other economic offence under any other law for the time being in force as may be specified by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette, or
(b) the Director General has reason to believe that any person has made an export or import in a manner gravely prejudicial to the trade relations of India with any foreign country or to the interests of other persons engaged in imports or exports or has brought disrepute to the credit or the goods of the country,
the Director General may call for the record or any other information from that person and may, after giving to that person a notice in writing informing him of the grounds on which it is proposed to suspend or cancel the Importer-exporter Code Number and giving him a reasonable opportunity of making a representation in writing within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice and, if that person so desires, of being heard, suspend for a period, as may be specified in the order, or cancel the Importer-exporter Code Number granted to that person.
(2) Where any Importer-exporter Code Number granted to a person has been suspended or cancelled under sub-section (1), that person shall not be entitled to import or export any goods except under a special licence, granted, in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, by the Director General to that person.
Section 9 - Issue, suspension and cancellation of licence
(1) The Central Government may levy fees, subject to such exceptions, in respect of such person or class of persons making an application for licence of in respect of any licence granted or renewed in such manner as may be prescribed.
(2) The Director General or an officer authorised by him may, on an application and after making such inquiry as he may think fit, grant or renew or refuse to grant or renew a licence to import or export such class or classes of goods as may be prescribed, after recording in writing his reasons for such refusal.
(3) A licence granted or renewed under this section shall--
(a) be in such form as may be prescribed;
(b) be valid for such period as may be specified therein; and
(c) be subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed or as specified in the licence with reference to the terms, conditions and restrictions so prescribed.
(4) The Director General or the officer authorised under sub-section (2) may, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, for good and sufficient reasons, to be recorded in writing, suspend or cancel any licence granted under this Act:
Provided that no such suspension or cancellation shall be made except after giving the holder of the licence a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(5) An appeal against an order refusing to grant, or renew or suspending or cancelling, a licence shall lie in like manner as an appeal against an order would lie under section 15.