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Export Inspection Council: All you need to know about its role in India

The Export Inspection Council is the official export certification authority of India. In this blog, learn more about its role and certifications provided by EIC for hassle-free exports from India.

When exporting products from India to the world, it’s important to keep a check on the quality and safety of the goods. While this ensures that your customer is satisfied with your products, it also increases brand loyalty. Even as a country, India has an official body to inspect and ensure the safety of export products – the Export Inspection Council (EIC).

Headquartered in New Delhi, Export Inspection Council is a government body that inspects, tests and certifies export products. It also encourages Indian manufacturers and exporters to implement the best quality management systems so they produce quality products according to customer’s needs and international standards.

Role of Export Inspection Council

To ensure smooth export trade between India and other countries by providing quality products, Export Inspection Council has the following roles¹:

• Export Inspection Council assures the quality and safety of products specified under the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act 1963 through food safety management-based certification, a consignment wise inspection or quality assurance. This is to ensure that the products are appropriate for exporting to other countries in respect to their quality and safety.
• It provides mandatory certification for a list of food products and consumables including dairy, honey and fishery, among others.
• EIC issues various certificates like health and authenticity to Indian exporters through product export schemes.
• Export Inspection Council also offers NABL accredited laboratory testing facilities for exporters who opt for testing.
• It also trains exporters and the industry to ensure they install and use Quality and Safety Management Systems.
• EIC also conducts investigations on complaints received from exporters through High Commissions or Embassies for the export of sub-standard materials.

One of the key roles of the Export Inspection Council is to ensure that the export products match the requirements of the importing country. Sellers exporting from India, especially those exporting food and consumables, need to register with the EIC for a mandatory inspection and obtain Certificate for Export (CFE). EIC also issues the Certificate of Origin (COO), which can also be applied on the official DGFT website.

Certifications provided by EIC

• Quality Certification for exportable food items by implementing Food Safety Management Systems and providing laboratory testing facilities in the food dispensation units.
• Food Safety Management Certification by providing certification for quality of food products by ensuring that Food Safety Management Systems are implemented in the food processing units.
• Certifiates of Origin (COO)
• Quality Certification for export goods through laboratory testing facilities.

How to export from India?

Expanding across the globe can be done in an easy and simple way, thanks to ecommerce export program Amazon Global Selling. You can start an export business anywhere, anytime. With over 300 million customers across the globe, businesses can reach international customers in 200+ countries and territories in 18 marketplaces like Amazon USA, UK, UAE, Australia and more.

Register your business

First, you must register your export business with Amazon Global Selling. You don’t have to be an existing Amazon India seller. The registration can be done online on Seller Central. You’ll need the following documents to register:
• PAN
• ID proof (Aadhar, driving license or passport)
• Business address proof (Bank statement)
• Credit card (international transactions enabled)

List your products

Once you have successfully registered to sell globally on Amazon, you can list your products. Remember to follow tips on how to list your products include attractive pictures and descriptions that’s clear to international customers. You can also seek help from third party service providers.

Ship & receive payments

Once a customer places an order, you can choose to deliver by yourself or you can opt for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Under FBA, Amazon takes care of shipping, delivery, returns and customer concerns. Once a customer purchases your product, Amazon credits the money in your bank account in the currency of your choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Export Inspection Agency?

Export Inspection Agency is an administrative body approved by the EIC for inspecting export products.

What is the role of the Export Inspection Agency in the pre-shipment inspection?

EIAs are managed by the Export Inspection Council and are involved in pre-shipment inspection, quality control, and certification with many laboratories. They are also engaged in consignment-wise inspection, quality controlling, and self-certification³.

Published on January 15, 2021.

Sources:
1. https://commerce.gov.in/about-us/autonomous-bodies/export-inspection-council-of-india-eic/
2. https://coo.dgft.gov.in/manuals/Exporter-Manual.pdf
3. https://www.india.gov.in/website-export-inspection-council-india-eic

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*Map not to scale. The map has been used for design and representational purpose only, it does not depict the geographical boundaries of the country. These do not conform to the external boundaries of India recognized by the Survey of India.

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