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Export Regulations

Registration of exporters with DGFT for IEC

IE Code is issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of India, and is compulsory for the allowance of trade in India.

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Registration of exporters with MPEDA

Registration as an exporter is granted under section 9(2) (h) of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Act 1972 read with rules 40-42 of MPEDA Rules, 1972. The exporters are categorized into four, viz:-

  1. Manufacturer Exporter – is an owner of an approved processing plant, or an approved fishing vessel having onboard processing facilities, or live fish handling facility, or chilled fish handling facility or dried fish handling facility.
  2. Merchant Exporter – is an exporter who does not own a processing plant, but utilizes the surplus capacity of an approved processing or handling facility.
  3. Route through Merchant Exporter – is an Export House or Trading House or Star Trading House or Super Star Trading House, possessing a certificate of approval issued by the DGFT.
  4. Ornamental Fish Exporter – is an exporter who exports only ornamental fish.
  5. For detailed information, visit here

Exports Policy of India for Fishery Products (HS Code Wise)

Tariff Item HS Code Unit Item Description Export Policy Nature of Restriction
03000000 Kg Marine species and products except the following Free Subject to pre-shipment quality inspection as may be specified by the Government through a notification
03000000 Kg Those species (and their parts, products and derivatives) mentioned in the Schedules of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Prohibited Not permitted to be exported.
03026930
03037950
Kg Fresh or Chilled or Frozen silver pomfrets of weight less than 300 gms. Restricted Exports permitted under licence.
03037999 Kg Beche-de-mer Prohibited Not permitted to be exported irrespective of its size.
03061100
03061210
03061290
03062100
03062200
Kg Lobsters except undersized ( $ ) rock lobster and sand lobster variety below Free  
03061100
03062100
Kg Rock Lobster:
Panulirus polyphagus 300 gm as whole chilled live or frozen, 250 gm as whole cooked; 90 gm as tail
Prohibited Not permitted to be exported
03061100
03062100
Kg Panulirus homarus 200gm as whole live, chilled or frozen, 170 gm as whole cooked, 50 gm as tail Prohibited Not permitted to be exported
03061100
03062100
Kg Panulirus Ornatus 500gm as whole live/chilled or frozen; 425 gm as whole cooked; 150gm as tail Prohibited Not permitted to be exported
03061210
03061290
03062200
Kg Sand Lobster:
Thenus orientalis 150 gm as whole; 45 gm as tail
Prohibited Not permitted to be exported

Note 1: A consignment/ lot is considered to be undersized if it contains specified species any piece of which has a weight less than that indicated against the species or has been processed out of or obtained from individual pieces of the species weighing less than the minimum weight indicated against the species.
Note 2: “as tail” means without head.

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Registration of Aquaculture Farms

Farms can be registered with Coastal Aquaculture Authority. It is mandatory that all persons carrying on coastal aquaculture shall register their farm with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority.  Registration is made for a period of five (5) years, which can be renewed further. The registration process would be continued in respect of new farms as well as farms that may be renovated for taking up coastal aquaculture activities in future.Find the forms for farm registration in the link below

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Registration of Fishing Vessels

Fishing Vessel means a ship or boat fitted with mechanical means of propulsion which is exclusively engaged in sea-fishing for profit. Vide Notification dated 15th February 2007, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry inserted the following definition viz:

  • ‘Freezer vessels’ mean vessels where fishery products are frozen and stored for further processing and packing on land.
  • ‘Fishing vessels’ mean vessels engaged in fishing activities where fishery products are stored in optimal conditions for further processing, freezing and packing on land.

Registration of Fishing Vessels is to be done through MPEDA or EIC.

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Registration of Processing Units through MPEDA

Processing plant is a building and premises constructed as per the standards laid down by the European Union/MPEDA and approved by the Inter Departmental Panel wherein a freezing unit or any other processing machinery is installed for processing marine products in any form.
Every application for the registration of a processing plant shall be made to the Secretary or another officer authorized by him.  Application for registration of Processing Plant will have to be submitted to the registering office having jurisdiction over the location of the plant.

The documents required along with the applications are:

  • a. Project report
  • b. Plant layout
  • c. Declaration
  • d. Permission from the Local body to run such processing unit
  • e. Certified copy of Title deed
  • f. Clearance Certificate from the Pollution Control Board, other documents, if any, as required by the registering authority.
  • g. Names & addresses of owners/Partners/Directors/Trustees etc. (documentary evidence in support of ownership)

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General guideline for Approval of Establishments for exporting Fish and Fishery products through EIC

Establishment looking to process fish and fishery products for export have to follow certain guidelines for receiving approval of export from EIC.

Registration of Fishing Vessels is to be done through MPEDA or EIC. (Need Link)

  • a. The establishment will have to apply for approval to EIC with necessary documents
  • b. Approval will be scrutinized and processed.
  • c. The establishment will be verified and inspected by IDP convenor.
  • d. Technologists of the establishment will be verified and assessed.
  • e. Approval of additional facilities/activities.

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Executive instructions for approval and monitoring of fish & fishery products for export

The feed mills, hatcheries, aquaculture farms, fishing harbours, landing / auction centres, fishing vessels, factory vessels, freezer vessels, pre-processing centres (independent / detached), ice plants (independent / detached), establishments and cold storages (independent / detached), intending to process and / or to carry out allied activities, for export of fish and fishery, products shall submit an application for approval.

  • a. Application for approval is to be submitted to EIC by paying fee and with necessary documents.
  • b. Approval will be scrutinized and processed.
  • c. The site will be verified and inspected by APE convenor.
  • d. Assessment of in-house lab facility.
  • e. Technologists of the establishment will be verified and assessed.
  • f. Approval of additional facilities/activities.
  • g. Approval for export to EU & / or Russian federation to an already approved Non EU facility

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Executive instructions for approval and monitoring of establishments processing Live Fish for export to countries other than the EU

All establishment processing live fish including molluscs and crustaceans meant for human consumption for export are statutorily required to be approved and monitored by EIA. The procedure for approval is as follows;

  • a. Application for approval is to be submitted to EIC by paying fee and with necessary documents.
  • b. Approval will be scrutinized and processed.
  • c. The site will be verified and inspected by IDP convenor.
  • d. Assessment of in-house lab facility.
  • e. Technologists of the establishment will be verified and assessed.
  • f. Approval of additional facilities/activities.
  • g. Approval of additional facilities/activities
  • h. On approval, approval number will be issued

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Quality Assurance

Exporter approval is highly dependent on quality of goods exported by the trader. Quality assurance tests are carried out via labs recognized by EIC and/or MPEDA.

EIC Approved labs

MPEDA Approved labs

Compendium of Orders of Fresh, Frozen and Processed Fish & Fishery Products

For the development of the export trade of India, certain proposals for subjecting Fresh, Frozen and Processed Fish & Fishery products to quality control and inspection, prior to export, were published .