Ensure Safe, Compliant & Successful Exports with Expert Testing

Export Testing Services FAQs

1. What are export testing services, and why are they important for exporters?

Export testing services involve pre-shipment laboratory testing and inspection to ensure products meet the safety, quality, and regulatory requirements of target markets. In India, the Export Inspection Council (EIC) oversees mandatory quality control inspections for notified export goods, ensuring they comply with importing-country standards. Testing is usually done in NABL-accredited (ISO/IEC 17025) labs, which generate internationally accepted reports. Reliable export testing prevents shipment rejections and builds buyer trust, so it is a critical part of export compliance and risk management.

2. What is an FSSAI export license and do I need one?

The FSSAI export license (or certification) is a mandatory food safety license issued by India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) for exporters. Any business exporting food products must hold an appropriate FSSAI license (typically a Central Exporter’s License). This license ensures exported foods meet international quality and safety norms. Without an FSSAI export license, food exports cannot legally be shipped abroad.

3. How do I apply for an FSSAI export license for food products?

Exporters apply online via the FSSAI FoSCoS portal under the Exporter category. Key steps include:
✔ Select “Exporter – Manufacturer (Only Exports)” and fill Form B with company and IEC details.
✔ Declare whether you are a 100% Export Oriented Unit or a trading/export business.
✔ Upload required documents (IEC certificate, premises proof, and NOC if needed) and pay the fee.
✔ After submission, track the application online until approval.

4. What FDA requirements must Indian food exporters meet?

When exporting food to the USA, Indian exporters must comply with FDA regulations:
✔ Facility Registration – Any Indian plant manufacturing or handling exported food must register with the US FDA.
✔ Prior Notice – Exporters (or importers) must submit Prior Notice of shipments at least 4 hours before arrival in the US.
✔ Labeling and Compliance – Products must be labeled and packaged per US laws and meet Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements.
✔ Documentation – Maintain records like Bills of Lading, Invoices, and relevant health or origin certificates. Meeting these FDA rules helps ensure smooth entry into the US market.

5. What tests are typically required for exporting food products?

Food exports undergo comprehensive safety testing to meet destination standards. Common tests include:
✔ Pesticide Residue Analysis – Testing for hundreds of pesticides to meet maximum residue limits.
✔ Heavy Metals Testing – Screening for lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, etc., to ensure contamination is below safety thresholds.
✔ Microbiological Tests – Checking for pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli) and spoilage organisms.
✔ Allergen and GMOs – Verifying absence of undeclared allergens or unapproved GMOs as required.
✔ Nutritional/Label Compliance – Verifying nutritional values and label claims meet regulations.
Accredited labs in India perform these analyses so that export testing reports certify compliance with FSSAI and importing-country food safety standards.

6. What regulations govern the export of chemical products from India?

Exporting chemicals requires adherence to both Indian export rules and destination regulations. Indian exporters must obtain an IEC and any necessary DGFT export licenses, and provide export documents (Commercial Invoice, Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Analysis, etc.). Additionally, exported chemicals must comply with target-country laws. For example, shipments to the EU must meet REACH/CLP regulations, and shipments to the US must follow EPA/TSCA chemical rules. Failure to meet these international standards (via proper testing and certification) can block market access, so exporters should verify compliance (through testing and documentation) for every target market.

7. What is EU REACH, and how does it impact chemical exports?

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) is the EU’s chemical safety law. It requires manufacturers/importers to register substances with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and assess risks. For Indian exporters, this means any chemical sent to the EU must be registered. Often an EU-based Only Representative (OR) is appointed by the exporter to handle registration and compliance on the exporter’s behalf. Additionally, exported chemicals must follow EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) rules (aligned with GHS). In practice, Indian companies export chemicals to the EU only after preparing safety dossiers, providing Safety Data Sheets, and meeting REACH/CLP requirements.

8. What is an Only Representative (OR) in the context of REACH?

An Only Representative (OR) is an EU-based agent that non-EU manufacturers (like Indian exporters) can appoint to comply with REACH. The OR assumes all the legal obligations of an EU importer under REACH. This includes submitting chemical registration dossiers to ECHA and ensuring ongoing compliance. Appointing an OR enables an Indian exporter to comply with REACH rules (registration, data submission, SDS management, etc.) without establishing an EU entity.

9. What U.S. chemical regulations apply to Indian exporters?

For chemicals exported to the United States, Indian exporters must follow US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This typically means ensuring the substance is on TSCA’s inventory or obtaining EPA approval if it’s a new chemical. Exporters should verify any specific US import rules for their chemicals (e.g., FDA rules for chemicals in food or drugs). In practice, meeting TSCA means performing required testing (e.g. toxicity) and providing documentation, much like complying with REACH for Europe.

10. What ISO accreditation do laboratories need for export testing?

Testing labs must be ISO/IEC 17025-accredited to produce internationally accepted results. This standard demonstrates a lab’s competence and ensures valid, reliable test data. In India, ISO 17025 accreditation is granted by NABL. Using ISO 17025 labs is crucial, since it allows test certificates to be “accepted from one country to another without the need for further testing,” thus facilitating global trade.

11. What accreditations and approvals should export testing labs hold?

Laboratories servicing exporters should hold multiple accreditations: at a minimum, NABL (ISO 17025) accreditation. Many labs also have approvals from sectoral bodies: for food tests (FSSAI and APEDA), for exports (Export Inspection Council – EIC), and for chemicals (BIS or EIC). In fact, major export labs list credentials such as NABL, FSSAI, EIC, BIS, APEDA, etc., on their reports. These endorsements ensure that foreign buyers and regulators can trust the test results are credible and conform to relevant standards.

12. What are WHO-GMP and COPP certificates, and why are they needed for pharma exports?

WHO-GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification attests that a drug manufacturer follows WHO-recommended quality standards. In India, CDSCO inspects and issues WHO-GMP certificates to compliant pharma plants. Many importing countries require a WHO-GMP certificate to allow pharmaceutical imports. The COPP (Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product) is a related WHO-style document stating that the product is authorized for sale in India. Both certificates serve as proof of quality and regulatory approval for exported medicines. In short, Indian pharma exporters generally need a WHO-GMP and a COPP to demonstrate product safety and legitimacy to overseas regulators.

13. How do Indian pharma exporters apply for WHO-GMP/COPP certificates?

Exporters must apply to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for WHO-GMP and COPP certificates. As of mid-2025, CDSCO requires these applications to be filed online via the ONDLS portal. The process involves submitting drug and manufacturing details on the portal. After review (and often an inspection), CDSCO issues the WHO-GMP and COPP certificates digitally. Companies should ensure their products are licensed in India and compliant with quality norms before applying, as these certificates confirm authorization and WHO-GMP compliance.