Export Documents You Should Receive with Food from India

Clearing a food container smoothly is mostly about paperwork. Here are the documents a professional Indian exporter sends, and why your customs broker needs each one.

Commercial documents

• Commercial invoice: the sale price, terms (FOB, CFR, CIF), HS codes and product descriptions.
• Packing list: number of bags or cartons, net and gross weights, and marks. Customs uses it to check the cargo.
• Proforma invoice and sales contract: agreed before shipment; your bank may need them to open a letter of credit.

Shipping documents

• Bill of lading: issued by the shipping line; it is the title to the goods. You need the original or a telex release to collect the container.
• Insurance certificate: included when the price is CIF.

Origin and food-safety documents

• Certificate of origin: proves the goods are Indian. A preferential certificate can lower your import duty under trade agreements (for example with the UAE, Australia or ASEAN countries).
• Phytosanitary certificate: issued by India's plant protection authority for whole seeds, grains, pulses and other plant products.
• Certificate of analysis: lab results for the lot, such as moisture, purity, pesticide residues and microbiology.
• Health certificate or other market-specific papers: some countries ask for these, and the USA needs FDA Prior Notice before arrival.

Tip

Send your exporter a list of the documents your broker needs before the goods are packed. It is much easier to prepare a certificate before shipment than to fix a missing one while the container waits at the port.