Indian exporters seek reciprocal approval rules for food imports
Rice exporters are urging India to require risk-based registration and approval of overseas food suppliers, mirroring tighter market-access rules faced by Indian mills abroad. FSSAI rejected 277 consignments from 46 countries in 2023-24.
What happened
retail-company · Indian rice exporters want India to adopt reciprocal, risk-based registration and approval measures for overseas food suppliers after
Key facts
- 411 items from 42 countries rejected by FSSAI
- 619 items from 57 countries rejected in 2022-23
- 277 items from 46 countries rejected in 2023-24
- 28 consignments from China rejected in 2023-24
- 27 consignments from Turkey rejected
What changed
Indian rice exporters want India to adopt reciprocal, risk-based registration and approval measures for overseas food suppliers after importers, including China, tightened mill-specific approvals. FSSAI rejected 277 food consignments from 46 countries in 2023-24.
Why this matters
Food retailers and importers should prepare for potentially stricter supplier-registration, documentation and risk-based approval requirements if India adopts reciprocal food-import rules.
What to watch
- FSSAI notification proposing foreign-facility registration, country approvals, pre-export certification, or revised import-clearance rules.
- Publication of the food categories, countries, or risk criteria covered by any new regime.
- Changes in FSSAI rejection rates, laboratory testing intensity, border hold times, and import-clearance turnaround.
- Ministry of Commerce support for reciprocity measures or exporter-association lobbying expanding beyond rice.
- Trade-partner responses, including requests for WTO consultation or reciprocal scrutiny of Indian food exports.