DGFT Amends Export Policy for Prepared Culture Media: Shipment Clearance and Health Certificates Enabled

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Dated: 14.10.2026

DGFT Amends Export Policy for Prepared Culture Media: Shipment Clearance and Health Certificates Enabled

India has amended the export policy for Prepared Culture Media to enable exporters to obtain shipment clearance and health certificates when these documents are required by the destination country.

What the notification changes

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, issued Notification No. 44/2026-27 on 12 October 2026. The amendment applies with immediate effect to Prepared Culture Media classified under ITC(HS) Code 38210000.

The product category covers prepared culture media used for the development or maintenance of microorganisms, including viruses and similar organisms, as well as plant, human, or animal cells.

Exports of these products remain freely permitted. The amendment does not introduce an export restriction or licensing requirement. Instead, it establishes a certificate process for exporters whose importing countries require documentary assurance for a shipment.

Certificate process when required by an importing country

Where the importing country insists on certification, exporters may follow the prescribed process for two shipment-specific documents:

Shipment Clearance Certificate

CAPEXIL will issue a Shipment Clearance Certificate for each consignment. The certificate is expected to record key shipment and exporter information, including:

Exporter name and address
Address of the registered plant
Importer Exporter Code (IEC) number
Plant Approval Number
Nature of the export product
Quantity being exported
Invoice number and date
Port of loading
Destination

This creates a standardized record linking the consignment to the exporter, production facility, commercial documentation, and destination market.

Health Certificate

After shipment, the exporter must provide a consignment-wise Health Certificate to the buyer. It should include product and shipment details such as:

Product description and HS Code
Packaging details
Country or place of origin
Destination
Vessel name
Date of departure
Applicable health requirements

When the importing country requires or mandates it, the Health Certificate will be issued jointly by CAPEXIL and the Regional Animal Quarantine Officer under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Practical impact for exporters

The revised policy gives Indian exporters a formal pathway to meet destination-country documentation requirements without changing the product’s freely exportable status. It is particularly relevant for shipments to markets that require evidence of product health compliance, traceability, origin, or shipment clearance before allowing entry.

Exporters should ensure that their exporter registration, plant approval details, invoices, packing information, vessel particulars, and destination-country health requirements are accurate and available for each affected consignment.

Legal basis and effective date

The amendment was issued under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 and the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023. It modifies the export-policy condition in Schedule II of ITC(HS), 2022 for Code 38210000, and took effect immediately upon notification.

In case you face any issues related to Indirect Tax-Customs, GST, Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), Arbitration matters and Central Licensing and related advisory matters in India then please feel free to get in touch with SJ EXIM Services.

We offer Legal advice and litigation support in matters related to Indirect Tax-Customs, FTP, other Indirect Tax matters & Arbitration law, all sorts of Central licensing and related matters. Come and explore the new way of doing business with us!

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Source: DGFT

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