Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 9/30/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** IN5108

IN5108

**India**

**Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards**

**Export Certificate Report**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Michael Riedel

U.S. Embassy, New Delhi

**Prepared by:**

Santosh Kr. Singh

**Report Highlights:**

Export certification requirements for Indian imports of food products,
including packaged foods, are evolving, complex, and non-transparent.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Annual Report

New Delhi \[IN1\]

\[IN\]

**Table of Contents**

[SECTION I: LIST OF REQUIRED EXPORT CERTIFICATES
3](#section-i-list-of-required-export-certificates)

[SECTION II: PURPOSE OF THE EXPORT CERTIFICATES
4](#section-ii-purpose-of-the-export-certificates)

[SECTION III: SPECIFIC ATTESTATION REQUIRED ON THE EXPORT CERTIFICATE
4](#section-iii-specific-attestation-required-on-the-export-certificate)

[SECTION IV: GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATE LEGAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
4](#section-iv-government-certificate-legal-entry-requirements)

[SECTION V: OTHER CERTIFICATION OR ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT
4](#section-v-other-certification-or-accreditation-requirement)

# SECTION I: LIST OF REQUIRED EXPORT CERTIFICATES 

+-----------+------------+-------------+------------------+-----------+
| > **P     | > **Title  | > **        | ###### Purpose   | **R       |
| roducts** | > of       | Attestation |                  | equesting |
|           | > Cer      | > required  |                  | M         |
|           | tificate** | > on        |                  | inistry** |
|           |            | > Ce        |                  |           |
|           |            | rtificate** |                  |           |
+-----------+------------+-------------+------------------+-----------+
| > Plants  | > Phy      | >           | > Prevent        | Ministry  |
| > and     | tosanitary |  Additional | > introduction   | of        |
| > Plant   | > C        | >           | > of exotic pest | Ag        |
| >         | ertificate | declaration | > and diseases.  | riculture |
|  Products |            | > per the   |                  |           |
|           |            | > specific  |                  |           |
|           |            | >           |                  |           |
|           |            |  conditions |                  |           |
|           |            | > mentioned |                  |           |
|           |            | > in the    |                  |           |
|           |            | > import    |                  |           |
|           |            | > permit.   |                  |           |
|           |            | > 1/        |                  |           |
+-----------+------------+-------------+------------------+-----------+
| > Animals | > Sanitary | >           | > Prevent        | Ministry  |
| > and     | > Health   |  Additional | > introduction   | of        |
| > Animal  | > C        | >           | > of exotic      | Ag        |
| >         | ertificate | declaration | > pests and      | riculture |
|  Products |            | > per the   | > diseases, and  |           |
|           |            | > specific  | > avoid human    |           |
|           |            | >           | > health risks   |           |
|           |            |  conditions | > due to         |           |
|           |            | > mentioned | > microbial &    |           |
|           |            | > in the    | > chemical       |           |
|           |            | > import    | > contamination. |           |
|           |            | > permit.   |                  |           |
|           |            | > 2/        |                  |           |
+-----------+------------+-------------+------------------+-----------+

Notes:

1/ For specific conditions applicable for different commodities, please
refer to the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports Into India) Order
2003, as amended, at:
[http://agricoop.nic.in/gazette/gazette.htm]{.underline}, and
[www.plantquarantineindia.org/PQO_amendments.htm](http://www.plantquarantineindia.org/PQO_amendments.htm)

2/ The specific conditions applicable for different dairy and animal
products may not be readily available. However, general procedures for
the importation of livestock and related products to India under the
Livestock Importation Act, 1898, are available at:
[http://dahd.nic.in/order/livestockimport.doc]{.underline}

## Processed Food Products

India's current import regulations do not require any specific export
certificates from the country of origin for imports of processed food
products, including products in consumer packages. However, all
processed food and beverages products imported into India should meet
requirements under various domestic food laws, such as:

-   The Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954, and PFA Rules
    of 1955, as amended.

-   The Standards and Weights and Measures Act, 1976

-   Meat Food Products Order, 1992

-   Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992

```{=html}
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```
-   Fruit Products Order, 1955

Imported food products such as milk powder, condensed milk, and infant
food should comply with Indian quality standards
([http://www.bis.nic.in](http://www.bis.nic.in/))

The domestic food laws/standards apply equally to domestic and imported
products. At the port of entry, the food products are sampled and tested
by inspectors from the Ministry of Health, and the consignment is
cleared only if it meets the requirements of the domestic
laws/standards. Details on Indian food laws are available in our 'Food
and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report 2005'
(IN5080), which can be accessed via the USDA/FAS website:
[www.fas.usda.gov](http://www.fas.usda.gov/).

# SECTION II: PURPOSE OF THE EXPORT CERTIFICATES

Historically, India has had a highly restrictive import market for food
and agricultural products. Although quantitative import restrictions on
most agricultural products were removed effective April 1, 2001,
non-tariff barriers, including phytosanitary and sanitary restrictions,
were introduced.

Imports of plants and plant products are subject to a \"Bio-security &
Sanitary-Phytosanitary Import Permit\" issued by the Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, per the conditions
of the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order (PQO)
2003, as amended. The importer applies for an import permit and submits
it to the exporter, who in turn acquires the required phytosanitary
certificate from the exporting country's authorities. The relevant
authority in the country of export issues the phytosanitary certificate
based on the specific conditions as stated on the import permit.

Similarly, imports of animals and animal products (including meat and
meat products) are subject to a \"Sanitary Import Permit\" issued by the
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Agriculture,
per the conditions of Livestock Importation Act, 1898. The relevant
authority in the country of export must issue a sanitary certificate
based on the specific conditions as stated on the import permit.

# SECTION III: SPECIFIC ATTESTATION REQUIRED ON THE EXPORT CERTIFICATE

The attestation for both of the above-mentioned export certificates
should meet all specific conditions stated in the respective import
permits. These conditions vary from commodity to commodity, and may
change over time.

# SECTION IV: GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATE LEGAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS 

The original export certificates should accompany each individual export
consignment of the product at the time of entry into India. The
government of India does not accept export declarations by suppliers or
manufacturers as proof of compliance. However, in certain cases, the
Government of India may allow export certificates containing specific
declarations from the import permit by organizations accredited by the
government of the exporting country. The government of the exporting
country has to apply to the Ministry of Agriculture for this special
approval.

# SECTION V: OTHER CERTIFICATION OR ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT

**Certificate of Origin:** A certificate of origin issued by the
relevant authority of the exporting country's government, state
government, industry association, or manufacturer/supplier should
accompany the export consignment of all food and agricultural products,
including processed and packaged food.

This certificate should mention the order number, container number, port
of discharge, buyer's name, and product description, along a declaration
along the following lines:

"The undersigned for (relevant organization) declares that the following
mentioned goods as consigned above (or below) are the products of the
United States of America (or any country of origin). We hereby certify
goods to be of United States of America (or any country) origin."