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General conditions
1. General conditions for edible non-prescribed goods
1.1. Prohibited
Unless specified with in the commodity list below, the Department is unaware of any specific requirement for edible non-prescribed goods that are for export to India.
1.2. Conditions
Compliance with relevant Australian domestic requirements. Non-prescribed edible goods usually do not require a certificate.
1.2.1 Product label requirements for pre-packaged non-vegetarian food exported to India
The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified the Department of labelling requirements for all non-vegetarian pre-packaged food exported to India. The term ‘pre-packaged food’ means food, which is placed in a package of any nature, in such a manner that the contents cannot be changed without tampering with it and which is ready for sale to the consumer.
These products must now be identified with a symbol which consists of a brown colour filled triangle inside a square with brown outline. The symbol must appear on product labels of all pre-packaged non-vegetarian foods and is pictured below:
Further information on the updated labelling requirements, including required dimensions for the symbol, can be found in Part III – Section 4 (page 34) of
the notification on FSSAI’s website (PDF 2315 KB).
These updated product labelling requirements have been in effect since 1 January 2022. If Australian exporters encounter issues at import clearance in India due to implementation of these labelling requirements, please contact the Department through
ExportStandards@agriculture.gov.au.
1.2.3 Product label requirements for products labelled as 'vegan'
The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified the Department of requirements for all products labelled as 'vegan'. The requirements come into effect on 26 January 2023.
The requirements include, "No vegan food products shall be imported except with a certificate issued by the recognised authorities of the exporting countries in the format as specified by the Authority is accepted". Refer to the full requirements:
Gazette notification Vegan Food (PDF 1.2MB)
The Department is unable to issue such certification. Exporters are advised food products labelled 'vegan' may be detained at the border in India and the Department will be unable to facilitate release. The Department advises against exporting food products labelled 'vegan' or do so at commercial risk.
2. General conditions for inedible non-prescribed goods
2.1 Prohibited
The Department is unaware of any specific requirement for inedible non-prescribed goods that are for export to India.
2.2 Conditions
Compliance with relevant Australian domestic requirements. Non-prescribed inedible goods usually do not require a certificate.
Specific goods
Animal feed supplements products
1. Preconditions for market access
2. Documentation requirements
Animal feed supplements not containing any materials animal origin
For animal feed supplement and additives, use an EX188B with the following attestation:
The animal feed supplement/ additive does not contain any animal origin material.
For further information on what is required, contact the Non-prescribed goods program at
NPGExports@agriculture.gov.au
3. Other requirements
4. Exemptions granted by India
Edible Apiculture products
1. Preconditions for market access
1.1 Import permit
1.2 Listing and audit
1.3 Prohibited products
The Department is not aware of any prohibited edible apiculture products for export to India.
2. Documentation requirements
2.1 Government certification
Government certification for edible apiculture products is not required for export to India.
3. Other requirements
4. Exemptions granted by India
Inedible Apiculture products
1. Preconditions for market access
1.1 Import permit
1.2 Listing and audit
1.3 Prohibited products
The Department is not aware of any prohibited inedible apiculture products for export to India.
2. Documentation requirements
2.1 Government certification
Government certification for inedible apiculture products is not required for export to India.
2.2 Supporting documents and exporter declarations
3. Other requirements
4. Exemptions granted by India
Infant food products
1. Preconditions for market access
Definition of infant food products
The Indian government defines infant food as: "any food (by whatever name called) being marketed or otherwise represented as a complement to mother’s milk to meet the growing nutritional needs of the infant [after the age of six months and up to the age of two years]."
FSSAI notification of 4 December 2020 (REGD No. L-33004/99 (PDF 1.9 MB) – in English from p39) which provides infant food includes but is not limited to:
- "Milk cereal based complementary food" means the food for infants after 6 months up to 24 months of age, which is based on milk, cereals and /or legumes (pulses), millets, nuts and protein concentrates or protein isolates and/or defatted edible oilseed extracts and so prepared as to permit dilution with water or milk or other suitable medium.
- "Processed cereal based complementary food" means food for infants after 6 months up to 24 months of age, which is based on cereals and legumes (pulses), millets, nuts and protein isolates or protein concentrates or de-fatted edible oil seed extracts and so prepared as to permit dilution with water or milk or other suitable medium.
- "Follow-up formula" means a food for infants after six months up to 24 months of age, which is intended for use as a liquid part of the complementary diet for infants when prepared in accordance with instructions for use.
- "Food for infants based on traditional food ingredients" are products known to be prepared traditionally at home for feeding infants, but processed and provided in packaged forms, after six months up to 24 months of age.
Further information can be found at
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (PDF 322 KB) and
The infant milk substitutes, feeding bottles and infant foods (regulation of production, supply and distribution) Act, 1992 (PDF 279 KB).
Registration requirement
From 1 February 2023, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) required all foreign food manufacturing facilities of infant food products, being exported to India, to be registered with FSSAI. Other businesses in the export supply chain (e.g., exporters, freight forwarders, storage facilities) do not need to be registered.
The Department provided the FSSAI with an initial list on 30 January 2023. The list included information on:
- Details of the Food Manufacturer: Name: Address: Contact details.
- Approval/Licence no. issued by the competent authority.
- Name of Product/s to be exported to India.
The Department will update lists (add new or change manufacturing facility details) for FSSAI upon request.
To apply to the Department for registration, an authorised person in management at the manufacturing facility, must complete both forms below and return to the Department via email to the Non-prescribed Goods Exports Program at
NPGExports@agriculture.gov.au.
Please state ‘FSSAI Registration’ in the subject line of your email.
Once updated lists are received by FSSAI, registration of facilities will be completed by FSSAI staff within the FSSAI portal. For more information on this process, please refer to
FSSAI Order (PDF 204 KB) dated 10 December 2022.
The Department encourages all exporters to work closely with their importers to ensure that products meet India’s current importing country requirements.
2. Documentation requirements
2.1 Government certification
Non-prescribed edible goods usually do not require a certificate.
3. Other requirements
4. Exemptions granted by India
Nutraceuticals products
1. Preconditions for market access
Definition of nutraceutical products
Under India's Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, and Prebiotic and Probiotic Food) Regulations, 2022. [FSSAI (Nutra) Regulations, 2022] nutraceuticals are defined as: “a category of foods which consists of extracts, isolates and purified chemical compounds having a physiological benefit and help to maintain health. [They are] not intended to treat or cure any medical condition, disease, or disorder."
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the Department) refers industry and exporters to the further guidance provided by FSSAI in its Regulation of 29 March 2022 FSSAI (Nutra), 2022 (PDF | 1.9MB).
Registration requirement
From 1 February 2023, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) required all foreign food manufacturing facilities of nutraceutical products, being exported to India, to be registered with FSSAI. Other businesses in the export supply chain (e.g., exporters, freight forwarders, storage facilities) do not need to be registered.
The Department, provided FSSAI with an initial list on 30 January 2023. The list included information such as:
- Details of the Food Manufacturer: name: address: contact details.
- Approval/Licence no. issued by the competent authority.
- Name of product/s to be exported to India.
The Department will update lists (add new or change manufacturing facility details) for FSSAI, upon request.
To be listed, please read the following.
When a manufacturing facility of nutraceutical products needs to apply to the TGA
If the product/s:
- are currently registered with the TGA
- do appear on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)
- do make claims of providing a physiological benefit or help in the maintaining good health
- do contain any of the following ingredients as listed in the FSSAI (Nutra) Regulations, 2022:
- Schedule I vitamins and minerals
- Schedule II amino acids and other nutrients
- Schedule IV plant or botanical ingredients
- Schedule VI list of ingredients as nutraceuticals (caffeine, glucosamine, herbal extracts)
- Schedule VII probiotics
- Schedule VIII prebiotics
- And have been assigned an AUST L identification number
Please refer to your sponsor, the Therapeutic Goods Administration or via email to Complementary Medicines Complementary.Medicines@health.gov.au for advice on manufacturing facilities applying to be registered with the FSSAI for export to India.
When a manufacturing facility of nutraceutical products needs to apply to the Department
All manufacturers of nutraceutical products (consistent with the FSSAI definition) that wish to export to India that do not meet the above TGA requirements, will need to apply to the Department.
To apply to the Department for registration, an authorised person in management at the manufacturing facility, must complete both forms below and return to the Department via email to the Non-prescribed Goods Exports Program at NPGExports@agriculture.gov.au.
Please state 'FSSAI Registration' in the subject line of your email.
Once updated lists are received by FSSAI, registration of facilities will be completed by FSSAI staff within the FSSAI portal. For more information on this process, please refer to
FSSAI Order dated 10 December 2022 (PDF | 200KB).
The Department encourages all exporters to work closely with their importers to ensure that product meets India's current importing country requirements.
2. Documentation requirements
2.1 Government certification
Non-prescribed edible goods usually do not require a certificate.
3. Other requirements
4. Exemptions granted by India
