Export Inspection Council (EIC)/Export Inspection Agency (EIA)

About Export Inspection Council (EIC):

The Export Inspection Council (EIC) was set up by the Government of India under the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 (22 of 1963), in order to ensure sound development of export trade of India through Quality Control and Inspection and for matters connected thereof.

EIC is an advisory body to the Central Government, which is empowered under the Act to:

The Council is empowered to:

• Notify commodities which will be subject to quality control and/ or inspection prior to export,
• Establish standards of quality for such notified commodities, and
• Specify the type of quality control and / or inspection to be applied to such commodities.

Besides its advisory role, the Export Inspection Council, also exercises technical and administrative control over the five Export Inspection Agencies (EIAs), one each at Channai, Delhi, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai established by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, under the Act for the purpose of implementing the various measures and policies formulated by the Export Inspection Council of India.

Export Inspection Council, either directly or through Export Inspection Agencies, its field organisation renders services in the areas of: Certification of quality of export commodities through installation of quality assurance systems (In-process Quality Control and Self Certification) in the exporting units as well as consignment wise inspection.

Certification of quality of food items for export through installation of Food safety Management System in the food processing units.

Issue of Certificates of origin to exporters under various preferential tariff schemes for export products.

Objective:

To facilitate worldwide access for Indian exports through a credible and efficient inspection and certification system and earn global recognition as India’s premier organization for certifying quality and safety to meet international norms.

Mission:

• To create an export inspection & certification infrastructure within the country based on International Standards for Certification Authorities in consonance with WTO requirements.
• To instill confidence in importers about quality and safety of Indian exports.
• To provide accredited state-of-art testing facilities in chosen frontier areas.
• To enhance capability of manpower through trainings to meet International requirements.
• To obtain recognition for India’s export certification system from our major trading partners.
• To participate in international fora and project Indian interest.
• To be in sync with the latest technological advancements for capacity building.
• (EIC) stands out as the forerunner.

Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963

• The Act was promulgated to ensure quality of products exported to other countries by meeting quality standards of importing country
• It is under administrative control of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India
• Export Inspection Council of India is entrusted to implement the Act

Export Inspection Agency (EIA)

• There are five Regional Export Inspection Agencies under administrative control of EIC located at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Kochi
• There are also sub-regional offices of EIA under each region
• EIA follows both Consignment-wise inspection and System-based approach by approval of facilities
• Consignment-wise inspection is done under compulsory Pre-shipment Inspections (PSI), System-based inspection is done by approval of the establishment and its facilities
• The inspection for approval of processing of establishment is done as per international norms based on ISO and FSMS
• Inspection is done by an inter-departmental panel of two to three officers
• PSI certification is compulsory for a number of food products
• EIA has its own Testing laboratories in different Regions
• EIC has also recognized private NABL Labs for testing of water used for processing purposes and used as ingredient, as per BIS

Products cover under Certification Scheme:

• Animal Casing
• Black Pepper
• Basmati Rice
• Egg Products
• Feed Additives and Pre-Mixtures
• Fish & Fishery Products
• Live Fish
• Fruit Products
• Honey
• Hatchery
• Milk Products
• Poultry Meat Products
• Raw Meat Products

Download, Read & Share: Export Inspection Act, Executive Instruction for Milk, Certification Scheme for Fruit Products, User Manuals etc.

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