FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual - 2023 - Certificate Purpose Attestations and Entry Requirements
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)
Certificate Purpose Attestations and Entry Requirements
SECTION II. PURPOSE OF SPECIFIC EXPORT CERTIFICATE(S) On July 19, 2016, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MOAFW) released Final Notification S.O. 2453 E. One of the amendments introduced includes waiving the requirement of import permits for most crops under the Plant Quarantine (PQ) Order (2003). For phytosanitary requirements specific to any commodity, the exporter/shipper should refer to the website of the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage at: http://ppqs.gov.in/divisions/plant-quarantine/import-export-procedure. As per the conditions of the amended Livestock Importation Act (1898), imports of animals and animal products (including meat and meat products) are subject to a “Sanitary Import Permit (SIP)” issued by the MOFAHD’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The relevant animal health authority in the country of export must issue a sanitary certificate based on the specific conditions as stated on the import permit. Special Import Permits are not required for some select livestock products; however, these still require veterinary health certificates. Importers are instructed to approach India’s Animal Quarantine and Certification Services prior to importing these livestock products. The Indian government’s import policy qualifies as restricted items the import of live animals, germplasm,
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and other livestock products. These require a specific import license from the MOCI/Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Several key trade restrictions limit market access for U.S. food products. Effectively banned are imports of most animal and livestock-derived food products. This includes dairy products for food as well as non-food uses classified in the HS chapters 4, 17, and 35 as well as seafood, goat, and extends to pet foods classified in the HS chapters 2-5, 16, and 21. High import tariffs, state and local taxes, state-level labeling requirements, and a complex licensing system for the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages also constrain imports.
SECTION III. SPECIFIC ATTESTATIONS REQUIRED ON EXPORT CERTIFICATE(S) The attestations for all the export certificates, mentioned in Section I of this FAIRS report must meet all the specific conditions. Conditions vary between commodities and may change over time.
SECTION IV. GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATE’S LEGAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS An original export certificate must accompany each individual export consignment at the time of entry into India. The Indian government does not accept an exporter’s self-declaration by suppliers or manufacturers as proof of compliance. However, in certain cases, India may allow export certificates containing additional declarations on the import permit by organizations accredited by the government of the exporting country. The government of the exporting country must petition the MOAFW to obtain this special approval. Effective June 15, 2017, the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS) began issuing digital phytosanitary certificates (i.e., e-Phytos) to all countries to help facilitate ease of doing business in India. The Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage issued the Circular (July 18, 2021) to this effect.
SECTION V. OTHER CERTIFICATION/ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS Beyond export certificates, products being imported into India must also meet several other requirements. Details of these requirements are contained in previous FAIRS India reports, as well as in periodic FAIRS subject reports that are accessible at https://gain.fas.usda.gov/#/home.
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Links to access few of these GAIN-INDIA reports are provided below. IN2023-0053 Implementation of Transition Period for the Integrated Veterinary Health Certificate for Imports of Milk and Milk Products. IN2023-0051 India's FSSAI Extends Integrated Veterinary Health Certificate's Implementation Date. IN2023-0054 India Halal Market – Update July 2023. IN2023-0004 India’s FSSAI Catches Itself and Expands List of HS Food Product Codes Requiring Health Certificates to Include Chapter 35 - Whey Protein. IN2023-0006 India’s FSSAI Has a Reality Check and Extends the Compliance Timeline for Health Certificate Requirements for Imports of Milk and Pork and Fish Products. IN2023-0027 Holding our Breath – India’s FSSAI Updates on the Mandatory Registration Requirements. IN2023-0030 Got Milk - India's DAHD Publishes its Integrated Veterinary Health Certificate for the Import of Milk and Milk Products. IN2020-0020 FSSAI Defers Compliance Timeline for Health Certificate Requirements for Imports of Milk - Pork - Fish Products Until Further Notice. IN2023-0010 India Halal Market Update – 2023. IN2023-0002 FSSAI Publishes List of HS Food Product Codes Requiring Health Certificate.
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Source
USDA GAIN (Global Agricultural Information Network) Original source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
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*Last updated: 2026-07-18*