FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual - 2023 - Overview and Required Export Certificates
Report Number: IN2023-0082 Date: January 25, 2024 Country: India Prepared By: USDA FAS Foreign Agricultural Service Source: [USDA GAIN Report](https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=FAIRS+Export+Certificate+Report+Annual_New+Delhi_India_IN2023-0082.pdf)
Overview and Required Export Certificates
Required Report: Required - Public Distribution
Date: January 25, 2024 Report Number:
IN2023-0082
Report Name: FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual - 2023 Country: India Post: New Delhi Report Category: FAIRS Export Certificate Report
Prepared By: Radha Mani, Agricultural Specialist and Mariano J. Beillard, Senior Regional Agricultural Attaché Approved By: Mariano Beillard, Senior Regional Agricultural Attaché Report Highlights: In the calendar year (CY) 2023 (January-December), India's Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying/Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying published the requirement for an integrated veterinary health certificate (VHC) for the import of milk and milk products into India. The implementation date for this requirement is set for December 31, 2023. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published an order that includes a list of Harmonized System (HS) codes for food products imported into India that require an accompanying health certificate.
THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY
DISCLAIMER: The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi – Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Office of Agricultural Affairs (OAA) prepared this FAIRS report to serve as a reference guide for U.S. stakeholders wishing to export food and agricultural products to India. While every possible care has been taken in the preparation of this report, information provided may not be completely accurate either because policies have changed since its preparation, or because clear and consistent information about these policies was not available. It is highly recommended that U.S. exporters verify the full set of import requirements with their foreign customers, who are normally best equipped to research such matters with local authorities, before any goods are shipped. FINAL IMPORT APPROVAL OF ANY PRODUCTS IS SUBJECT TO INDIA’S RULES AND REGULATIONS AS INTERPRETED BY BORDER OFFICIALS AT THE TIME OF PRODUCT ENTRY.” [Note: Use Google Chrome to access the links in case they do not open using Microsoft Edge. Indian host sites geo-block site access on a rolling basis].
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TABLE OF CONTENTS India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW)/Food Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MOFAHD)/ Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) regulate the laws pertaining to the certification of food and agricultural products and of livestock and livestock products for import into India. Several other ministries and their departments, to a lesser extent, are also involved in the handling of food and agricultural products imports. ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW)/Food Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MOFAHD)/ Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) regulate the laws pertaining to the certification of food and agricultural products and of livestock and livestock products for import into India. Several other ministries and their departments, to a lesser extent, are also involved in the handling of food and agricultural products imports. Exporters of U.S. food and agricultural products should research the laws and regulations applicable to the certification of their product(s) across the Indian regulatory agencies. This GAIN FAIRS India Export Certificate Annual – 2023 report highlights Indian government notifications for the calendar years (CY) 2021 to 2023 (January-December).
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SECTION I. LIST OF ALL EXPORT CERTIFICATES REQUIRED BY INDIA Export Certificates Matrix Title of the Attestation Required on the Requesting Purpose Certificate Certificate Ministry Plants and Phytosanitary Both special conditions and To prevent the Ministry of Plant Products Health additional declarations for most introduction of Agriculture and Certificate of the commodities per the exotic pests and Farmers Welfare specific import conditions diseases. mentioned in the Plant Quarantine Order (PQ Order) import permit. Animals and Sanitary Health Import requirements per the To prevent the Ministry of Animal Certificate specific conditions mentioned in introduction of Fisheries, Animal Products the import permit. For some exotic pests and Husbandry and specific products, an import diseases and to Dairying permit may not be minimize human required/issued, but these health risks due to products will still require a microbial or general/sanitary health chemical certificate for obtaining a No contamination. Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS). Food Products Certificate of Country of Origin Traceability Ministry of Health Origin and Family Welfare Milk and Milk Veterinary General conditions and sanitary To prevent milk Ministry of Products Health information. Available on the sourced from Fisheries, Animal Certificate Department of Animal animals fed with Husbandry and Husbandry and Dairying ruminant origin Dairying website. feed(s) and milk products made using animal rennet. 24-Commodity NonRequirements as provided in To ensure the Ministry of Health List of Specific Genetically Annex II of the FSSAI Order of safety and and Family Agricultural Modified (GM) August 21, 2020. wholesomeness of Welfare Products cum GM Free food products FSSAI Certificate imported into (Notification of India. August 21, 2020) Product(s)
For conditions imposed on specific plant products, see the Plant Quarantine (PQ) Order (2003) - Regulation of Imports into India, as amended:
Source
USDA GAIN (Global Agricultural Information Network) Original source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
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*Last updated: 2026-07-18*