Fish Safety and Quality Standards

Export Certification Systems in India

The main systems of export inspection and certification being followed by Export Inspection Council (EIC) include Consignment-wise Inspection (CWI), In-process Quality Control (IPQC), Self-certification (SC), and Food Safety Management Systems based Certification (FSMSC).

Certification in the Fisheries Sector

Fish & Fishery Products

Nearly, 396 Fish and fishery products processing units (146 for EU and 250 for non-EU) were on the approved list. In respect of all consignments of shrimps meant for export to EU, health certificates were issued after testing and clearance for banned antibiotics.

Certificates of Origin

Certificate of Origin are non-contractual instruments through which tariff concessions are extended to goods originating in specific countries. There are seven Schemes under which goods originating in India are accorded preferential duty treatment by importing countries namely Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), Generalised System of Trade Preferences (GSTP), Bangkok Agreement (China acceded to the Bangkok Agreement for preferential tariff effective from 1 January 2004), SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA), Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) and Indo Afghanistan Free Trade Agreement (IAFTA), Indo-Thailand Trade Agreement under Early Harvest Scheme w.e.f. 1 September 2004.

The Council through EIAs, continued to issue a large number of Certificates of Origin under various preferential tariff schemes in India The official seal used for certification of origins and other certificates has also been changed and instructions issued for their proper issue and control. Until December, 2004, a total of 5,96,158 certificates have been issued. A total of around eight lakh Certificates of Origin are expected to be issued, during the current financial year.

The Export Inspection Council (EIC) of India was set up by the Government of India under Section 3 of the Export (Quality Control & Inspection) Act, 1963 to facilitate export trade through quality control and pre-shipment inspection. The Act empowers the Central Government to notify commodity specific minimum standards for exports, (generally international standards or standards of the importing countries) and to set up a suitable machinery for inspection and quality control. EIC is assisted in its functions by the Export Inspection Agencies (EIAs) located at Chennai, Delhi, Kochi, Kolkata, and Mumbai and a network of 41 sub-offices and laboratories. The EIC has a Chairman and 17 members nominated by the Central Government with Director (Inspection & Quality Control) functioning as Member Secretary.

The Council advises the Central Government on measures for enforcing quality control and inspection of commodities intended for export. In drawing-up programmes for improved quality control and inspection of commodities for exports, the EIC also renders various other services like certification of quality of export commodities through installation of quality assurance systems (In-process Quality Control and Self-Certification) in the exporting units; consignment-wise inspection; food safety management systems in food processing units as per international standards, issue of certificates of authenticity to exporters and also certificate of origin to exporters under various preferential tariff schemes, laboratory testing, training and technical assistance to the industry in installation of quality and safety management systems based on principles of HACCP, ISO-9001: 2000, ISO:17025.

In the WTO regime as India's trading partners are installing regulatory import controls, and as such EIC has refashioned its role to handle emerging challenges by introducing voluntary certification programmes, especially in the food sector. It is also seeking recognition for its certification by official import control agencies of the country's trading partners, as per provisions of the WTO agreements. This should facilitate easier access to the markets of other countries by Indian exporters.

Last updated: 16-1-2007