Quick answer: To export packaged food from India you need an IEC, an FSSAI Central Licence in an exporter category (₹7,500 a year as of October 2026) and, for most processed foods, an RCMC from APEDA (₹5,900 for five years). Your label must show your FSSAI logo and licence number, but the rest of the label has to meet the rules of the country you are selling to, not India’s. Most refusals abroad come from contamination, pesticide residues and labelling errors, so test before you ship.
Who this guide is for
This is for women making or trading packaged food: pickles, papads, namkeen, spice mixes, millets and flours, sweets with a long shelf life, ready-to-cook mixes. It assumes you have read our guide on starting to export and have, or are getting, your IEC and a GST LUT. This guide covers what is different about food.
Food is one of the most regulated export categories. The Indian side is fairly simple. The hard part is the buyer’s country, which decides what is allowed in and checks it at the port.
The Indian approvals you need
| Approval | Who issues it | Cost and validity (as of October 2026) | Needed for |
|---|---|---|---|
| IEC | DGFT | ₹500, lifetime with yearly update | Every exporter |
| FSSAI Central Licence (exporter category) | FSSAI, through FoSCoS | ₹7,500 a year | Every food exporter, any turnover |
| RCMC | APEDA, through the DGFT e-RCMC service | ₹5,000 plus 18% GST (₹5,900), five years | Exporters of APEDA scheduled products |
| Spices Board registration | Spices Board | As set by the Board | Spice exporters (it counts as the RCMC) |
| EIC certificate | Export Inspection Council | Per consignment or approval | Notified products such as fish, milk products and honey |
FSSAI. An FSSAI Public Notice of May 2026 says every exporter must hold a valid FSS licence in the kind of business “Merchant-Exporter” or “Manufacturer-Exporter”. The products must meet the standards of the importing country. If you also sell in India, you need the domestic manufacturing category as well.
APEDA. APEDA covers processed foods, processed fruit and vegetables, cereals and cereal preparations, groundnuts, pulses, honey, dairy and meat products, among others. You apply only after you have an IEC. Merchant exporters upload their IEC. Manufacturers also upload proof of manufacturing, which for processed foods can be an FSSAI licence, Udyam registration or MSME certificate. Amendments after issue are free.
EIC. The Export Inspection Council runs mandatory pre-shipment inspection or certification for certain notified products. Amazon’s export guidance names dairy products, honey, and fish and fishery products. Check the current notified list on the EIC site before you quote a buyer, because some destinations also require an EIC health certificate.
Labelling: two sets of rules
Your label has to satisfy India and the destination at the same time.
What India asks for on export packs. The same FSSAI notice says exporters must show the FSSAI logo and licence number on the label, printed or as a barcode or QR code, for traceability. Other parts of India’s Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 may not apply to exported products. Your buyer’s country takes over.
United States. The US FDA requires the food source of each of the nine major allergens to be declared: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. You can put it in brackets after the ingredient, for example “whey (milk)”, or in a “Contains” line. For tree nuts, fish and shellfish you must name the type, such as almonds or shrimp. Labels must be in English and most packaged foods need a Nutrition Facts panel.
European Union. EU rules (Regulation 1169/2011) list the mandatory details for prepacked food: name of the food, ingredient list, allergens, quantity of certain ingredients, net quantity, best-before or use-by date, storage conditions, the food business name and address, country of origin where required, instructions where needed and a nutrition declaration. Information must be in a language “easily understood” by consumers where the food is sold, and the minimum x-height of the text is 1.2 mm (0.9 mm on small packs).
Other markets such as the UAE, UK, Australia and Canada have their own rules. Ask your importer or distributor for the label requirements in writing before you print packaging.
Registration in the buyer’s country
Some countries register the producer before food can enter.
- United States: any foreign facility that manufactures, processes, packs or holds food for US consumers must register with the FDA, name a US agent and renew between 1 October and 31 December of every even-numbered year. Each shipment needs a Prior Notice that quotes the registration number. Food from an unregistered facility can be held at the port.
- Importer checks: the US importer must also run a Foreign Supplier Verification Programme (FSVP) on you. Shipments have been refused because the importer did not have one.
If you sell through a distributor, agree in writing who handles these filings.
Testing before you ship
Testing is not a single government step, but it is what prevents most rejections. Practical steps:
- Get the buyer’s specification for microbiology, pesticide residues, heavy metals, aflatoxins and additives. These limits are often stricter than India’s.
- Use an NABL-accredited lab. EIC labs also offer accredited testing. Ask the lab to test against the destination’s limits, not FSSAI’s.
- Test each batch, not just your first one. Keep the reports with the batch number printed on your pack.
- Check ingredients you buy in. A spice mix is only as clean as the chilli or turmeric you sourced.
Why food shipments get refused
An industry analysis of US FDA data counted about 2,687 refusals of Indian food line items between January 2024 and April 2025. The biggest groups were savoury snacks, spices, grain products, lentils, bakery items and noodles. The reasons cited most often were:
| Reason | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Salmonella | The most common charge, cited 493 times in that period |
| Unsanitary processing | The facility or process was not considered hygienic |
| Pesticide residues | Above the destination’s limit, or a pesticide not approved there |
| Filth or insects | Visible contamination in the product |
| Labelling and misbranding | Missing nutrition panel, ingredients not in English, undeclared allergens |
| Unsafe additives | Colours or preservatives not allowed in that market |
| No FSVP | The importer had not verified the supplier |
Many of these are avoidable with batch testing, proper storage and a label checked against the destination’s rules.
Common mistakes by first-time food exporters
- Holding only a State FSSAI licence. Exporters need a Central Licence in an exporter category.
- Reusing the Indian label. Indian labels rarely meet US or EU rules on allergens and nutrition.
- Sending samples without an FDA registration for US buyers.
- Testing only against FSSAI limits.
- Taking the RCMC from the wrong body, for example FIEO when the product is an APEDA scheduled product, or APEDA for spices.
- Under-declaring the value of parcels, which causes customs and payment problems.
Tip for small and home-based founders: if you make food at home, check whether your premises can be licensed as a manufacturing unit before you take export orders. Many women start as merchant exporters, buying from a licensed manufacturer under their own brand, and add manufacturing later.
FAQ
Q: Can I export homemade pickles?
A: Only through a licensed set-up. You need an FSSAI Central Licence as an exporter, and the product must meet the destination’s standards. Many small brands work with a licensed contract manufacturer.
Q: Is APEDA registration compulsory?
A: APEDA says exporters of its scheduled products must take an RCMC. It costs ₹5,900 for five years and is filed on the DGFT portal.
Q: Do I need FSSAI if I only export and never sell in India?
A: Yes. FSSAI requires all food exporters to hold a valid licence.
Q: Whose labelling rules apply?
A: The destination country’s, plus the FSSAI logo and licence number required by FSSAI.
Q: Can I send food by post?
A: India Post does accept commercial exports through Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras, but the destination’s food rules still apply. Check whether the country allows food parcels and whether your buyer needs FDA or other registration first.
Q: What test reports should I keep?
A: Reports from an accredited lab for each batch, covering the parameters your buyer and destination specify.
Official links
- FSSAI licensing (FoSCoS): https://foscos.fssai.gov.in
- APEDA: https://apeda.gov.in
- DGFT e-RCMC: https://www.dgft.gov.in
- Export Inspection Council: https://www.eicindia.gov.in
- Spices Board: https://www.indianspices.com
- US FDA food allergens: https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-food-labeling-and-critical-foods/food-allergies
- EU mandatory food information: https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/labelling-and-nutrition/food-information-consumers-legislation/mandatory-food-information_en
Last checked: October 2026. Rules, limits and fees change; confirm with the official source before you apply. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Sources: FSSAI West Region Public Notice (Import) 5/2026 (May 2026); APEDA Registration Procedure (June 2026); FSSAI Kind of Business eligibility, revised 1 April 2026 (October 2026); EIC Quality Control and Inspection page (October 2026); Amazon Global Selling, Export Inspection Council guide (October 2026); US FDA Food Allergies page (October 2026); US FDA food facility registration guidance (October 2026); European Commission, Mandatory food information and Language and presentation pages (October 2026); AgroSpectrum India, FDA import refusals for Indian food products 2024 to 2025 (July 2025)
