FDA Uncertain How New Rules Will Impact Food Exports to India
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New registration requirements for foreign food manufacturing facilities intending to export certain products to India have gone into effect, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that it has not yet received sufficient information about the scope of these requirements and the intended use of the registration information.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced in October 2022 that on February 1, 2023, new registration requirements will go into effect for foreign food manufacturing facilities intending to export the following products to India: milk and milk products; meat and meat products including poultry, fish, and fish products; egg powder; infant food; and nutraceuticals. FSSAI formally notified the World Trade Organization of the new requirements in November 2022.
FDA has been working with U.S. government agencies and FSSAI to better understand the new requirements. The U.S. has submitted formal comments to India and has requested an extension through the World Trade Organization’s process for notification and comment on these new requirements. To date, FSSAI has not extended the implementation date for these requirements, nor has it provided sufficient information about the scope of these requirements and the intended use of the registration information.
At present, the impact on U.S. food exports to India after February 1, 2023 is uncertain. Industry stakeholders that experience shipment detentions or delays as a result of the requirements may contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Foreign Agricultural Service for assistance by emailing AgNewDelhi@usda.gov, or calling (011-91-11) 2419-8769 or 2419-8297.
FDA will continue to engage with U.S. government agencies and FSSAI on behalf of U.S. exporters of the affected products to India. FDA will communicate further information as it becomes available.
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