Food
Export Policies and Regulations in India
Directorate General of Foreign Trade regulates
food Export in India under the Ministry of commerce. Exporters have to comply
with the provisions of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992,
and terms conditions of any License/certificate/ permission/Authorization as
well as the provisions of any other law for the time being in force.
Application for Grant of Export License
The application for grant of export license n
in respect of items mentioned in Schedule 2 of ITC (HS) has to be made in the
‘Aayaat Niryaat Form’, to the Director-General of Foreign Trade. The Foreign
Trade Facilitation Committee scrutinizes the application on the merits s for
the issue of export.
Profile of Exporter
Each exporter has to file exporter profile
once with the Regional Authority in Part 1 of ‘Aayaat Niryaat Form’.The
Regional Authority enter the information furnished in Part 1 of ‘Aayaat Niryaat
Form’ in their database.
Application for IEC Number
An application for Import-Export Code has to
be made by the Registered/Head Office of the applicant to the Regional
Authority under whose jurisdiction, the Registered office falls in the ‘Aayaat
Niryaat Form.
Other Authorities
1) Commodities Board- There are five y
Commodity Boards under the Department of Commerce. These Boards regulates the
production, development and export of tea, coffee, rubber, spices and tobacco.
A) Tea Board: A license under the provision of
Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order 1957 is necessary to export the
tea from India.
B) Spice Board: Certificate of Registration as
Export of Spices issued by the Board is also mandatory in addition to IE Code
No. Spices Board issues Certificates of Registration for export of spices under
Section 11 of the Spices Board Act.
C) Rubber Board: The Rubber Board is a
statutory organization constituted under Section (4) of the Rubber Act, 1947.
The activities of the Board are exercised through nine departments viz. Rubber
Production, Research, Processing & Product Development, Training, License
& Excise Duty, Statistics and Planning, Market Promotion, Finance &
Accounts and Administration.
D) Coffee Board: The Coffee Board is a
statutory organization constituted under Section (4) of the Coffee Act, 1942.
The Board is mainly focusing its activities in the areas of research,
extension, development, market intelligence, external & internal promotion
and welfare measures.
E) Tobacco Board: The Tobacco Board was
constituted as a statutory body on 1st January 1976 under Section (4) of the
Tobacco Board Act, 1975. the primary function of the Board is the export
promotion of all varieties of tobacco and its allied products, and its
functions extend to production, distribution (for domestic consumption and
exports) and regulation of Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco.
2) Export Inspection council: To ensure the
sound development of export trade of India through Quality Control and
Inspection and for matters connected thereof the Government of India under
Section 3 of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 (22 of
1963)set up The Export Inspection Council (EIC).
The EIC is responsible for the enforcement of
quality standards, and compulsory pre-shipment inspection of the various
commodities meant for export and notified under the Export (Quality Control
& Inspection) Act, 1963.
3) Marine Products Export Development
Authority (MPEDA): The MPEDA is a statutory body, set up under Section 4 of
MPEDA Act, 1972. It is responsible for the development of the marine products
industry with particular reference to exports.
4) Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Exports Development Authority (APEDA): The APEDA is a statutory body set up by
an Act of Parliament of 1986. It is entrusted with the tasks of agricultural
exports, including the export of processed foods in value-added form.
5) Directorate of Plant Protection:
Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine & Storage was established in the
year 1946 on the recommendation of Woodhead Commission. It checks/verifies
pesticide residue certificates for grapes exported to the European Union before
issuance of PSC to the exporters.
Custom clearance procedure
1) The arrival of Goods at Port: After goods
arrive at the port, the documents have to submit to the Custom House for
further procedure. The documents include a packing list, invoice, letter of
credit, certificate of origin and other relevant documents. The checklist of
documents is uploaded to ICEGATE.
2) Processing of Shipping Bill: After the
submission of the required document, the customs officer scrutinizes and
verifies them according to the physical quantity of goods received. He
generates the shipping bill for export of goods from India and gives a copy to
the dock appraiser.
3) Examination of the Goods: The dock
appraiser after examining the goods according to the examination order
generates a ‘Let Export’ order. In case of discrepancy, the goods are sent back
to the export department. Otherwise, goods are forwarded to the preventive
superintendent and loaded to the assigned vessel.
4) Loading of Goods: The clearing and
forwarding agent deliver the ‘Let export’ marked bill to the steamer agent. The
goods are then loaded in the supervision of the preventive officer, and he
gives ‘Shipped on Board’ endorsement on the shipping bill. Besides, the
commanding officer of the ship issues ‘Mate receipt’ confirming the export of
goods.
5) Export General Manifest: All the shipping lines/agents need to furnish the Export General Manifests, Shipping Bill wise, to the Customs electronically within seven days from the date of sailing of the vessel.