Commerce Ministry's Export Inspection Council to Enhance Food Testing Infrastructure for Better Exports

The Export Inspection Council (EIC), part of the commerce ministry, is set to enhance food testing infrastructure to boost exports, according to a senior official. The EIC is conducting a comprehensive study to identify gaps in the current food testing facilities for exports. "We hope that the study will be over in 2-3 months and after that we will come up with a full plan of how to expand our infrastructure in a more holistic way," stated Nitin Kumar Yadav, Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce.

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The EIC serves as an advisory body to the central government, responsible for notifying commodities that require quality control or inspection before export. It establishes quality standards for these commodities and specifies the type of quality control or inspection needed. The council is also launching an integrated traceability module to streamline inspection, testing, and certification processes for exports.

Food Testing Infrastructure Expansion

New laboratories are being established in Ahmedabad, Faridabad, and Mangalore as part of this initiative. The EIC is adopting advanced technologies like IoT-based sampling techniques to enhance efficiency. Additionally, the council is signing mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various countries to ensure global recognition of its mechanisms and processes.

The EIC aims to help exporters reduce transaction costs by developing capacities that align with international requirements. "We are aspiring that India do MRAs. We are also understanding requirements of other countries and we are developing capacities so that we can have MRAs with them," Yadav explained.

International Recognition and Certification

The EIC's certification system is acknowledged by major international regulatory bodies such as those in the European Union, USA, Australia, Turkey, Korea, and Japan. This recognition underscores its commitment to maintaining international quality benchmarks. Over the past decade, the number of export certificates accepted by importing countries has nearly doubled from 61,000 in 2013-14 to over 120,000 in 2023-24.

According to the commerce ministry, there has been a significant increase in testing facilities across India, with 78 accredited labs now operational. The number of export establishments approved through the EIC system has also risen from 794 to 1,446 over the last ten years.

The EIC has gained trust from international regulatory authorities through effective official control systems. This trust is evident in the growing acceptance of export certificates by importing countries. The council's efforts reflect its dedication to enhancing India's export capabilities while adhering to global standards.