Importing or Exporting Food: Licences and Clearances

Importing or exporting food in India requires an FSSAI Central Licence at minimum, plus an Import Export Code, and imported goods must also clear port-level inspection and meet Indian labelling standards before sale.

Key facts at a glance

• Food importers require an FSSAI Central Licence, regardless of business turnover.
• An Import Export Code (IEC) from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade is required for any cross-border food trade.
• Imported food consignments undergo inspection and clearance at the port of entry.
• Imported food must carry labelling compliant with Indian food safety regulations, which may require re-labelling.
• State Licence threshold for domestic food businesses is now Rs 50 crore; import-category businesses need Central Licence irrespective of this threshold.
• Exporters may face additional certification requirements set by the destination country, on top of Indian FSSAI compliance.

Licensing requirements for importers

Import is treated as a specified category under FSSAI's licensing framework that requires a Central Licence, regardless of the business's overall turnover. This is different from the general turnover-based tiering (Basic Registration up to Rs 1.5 crore, State Licence up to Rs 50 crore) that applies to domestic food businesses - import automatically pushes you to the central tier.

Beyond FSSAI, importers need:

• An Import Export Code (IEC) issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which is the baseline requirement for any import or export business in India, food or otherwise.
• Customs clearance at the port of entry, where consignments are examined and, for food specifically, subject to food safety sampling and testing before release.
• Compliance with Indian labelling standards, meaning imported packaged food must display information (ingredients, allergens, manufacturing/import details, FSSAI licence number) as required under Indian regulations, even if the original packaging already meets the exporting country's rules.

Licensing requirements for exporters

Exporters need FSSAI licensing appropriate to their manufacturing or trading scale under the normal turnover-based tiers, plus an IEC for the export transaction itself. On top of Indian requirements, exporters typically also need to satisfy the importing country's own food safety and labelling standards, which can be more stringent or simply different from India's - for instance around allowable additives or nutritional labelling formats.

Export-specific considerations

• Health certificates or certificates of origin may be required by the destination country's customs or food safety authority.
• Product-specific standards (for example, for spices, seafood, or dairy) may involve additional certification bodies beyond FSSAI.
• Exporters should confirm requirements directly with the importing country's food safety authority, since these vary widely and are outside FSSAI's jurisdiction.

Import vs export compliance at a glance

Practical steps before you start importing or exporting food

Apply for the FSSAI Central Licence and IEC well before your first shipment, since both involve processing time and neither can be skipped. For imports, budget time and cost for port-level testing and potential re-labelling before goods can reach shelves. For exports, research the destination country's food safety requirements early, since a shipment that meets Indian standards can still be rejected abroad if it does not meet the importing country's separate rules.

Sources

• FSSAI - fssai.gov.in
• Directorate General of Foreign Trade - dgft.gov.in
• Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs - cbic.gov.in

If you are planning to import or export food and want to check what licensing gaps you might have, ComplianceCheck's food business assessment gives you a clear picture in a few minutes.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state, sector and headcount - confirm specifics with a compliance professional or the relevant authority.