DGFT · August 18, 2026 · 11 min read

Import Compliance Checklist for Indian Businesses: Certifications You Cannot Ignore in 2026

Planning to import goods into India? Don’t wait for your shipment to reach the port before checking compliance.

For Indian importers, customs clearance is only one part of the process. Depending on the product, you may also need BIS certification, FSSAI approval, IEC, product-specific licences, DGFT authorisations, customs documentation, labelling compliance and other regulatory approvals.

A missing certificate or incorrect product classification can turn a profitable import order into a costly delay.

That is why businesses should complete their import compliance checklist India before the goods leave the supplier’s country.

In this guide, we explain the major import compliance requirements Indian businesses should check in 2026, including BIS, FSSAI, EPR, IGCR, MOOWR, IEC, ITC(HS) classification, customs documentation and product-specific approvals.

Why Import Compliance Matters More Than Ever

International sourcing has become an important part of business for Indian manufacturers, distributors, retailers and e-commerce companies.

But importing is not simply:

Find Supplier → Place Order → Ship Goods → Clear Customs

A better process is:

Product Identification → HS Classification → Compliance Check → Certifications → Documentation → Shipment → Customs Clearance → Delivery

This difference is important.

If you discover that your product requires mandatory certification after it has already arrived in India, correcting the problem may be expensive and time-consuming.

Import compliance should therefore be treated as part of your purchasing and supply-chain strategy, not as paperwork handled at the last minute.

Import Compliance Checklist: 12 Things Every Business Should Check

1. Get a Valid Importer Exporter Code (IEC)

The first step for most commercial importers is having a valid Importer Exporter Code (IEC).

DGFT states that IEC is compulsory for imports and exports, subject to specified exemptions.

Before placing an import order, verify that:

Your IEC is active
The business name is correct
Address details are updated
PAN-related details are correct
Bank information is properly maintained
The importer details match your commercial documents

Why does IEC matter?

Your IEC forms an important part of India’s import-export framework. Incorrect or outdated details can create unnecessary issues during customs and trade-related processes.

Pro tip: Don’t wait until your first shipment arrives to check your IEC status.

2. Identify the Correct ITC(HS) Code

One of the most important — and frequently overlooked — steps is correct product classification.

Your ITC(HS) classification can influence:

Customs duty
IGST
Import restrictions
Exemptions
Licensing requirements
BIS requirements
Other regulatory conditions

ICEGATE provides a Trade Guide on Imports that allows businesses to search relevant tariff information, including product and country-of-origin details.

Why is HS classification so important?

Consider an importer bringing a new electronic product into India.

If the product is incorrectly classified, the importer may face:

Wrong duty calculation + incorrect declaration + customs query + clearance delay

Therefore, classification should be verified before shipment, not after the cargo reaches the port.

3. Check Whether Your Product Is Restricted

Not every product can be imported into India under the same conditions.

Depending on the product, you may encounter:

Free import policy
Restricted import policy
Prohibited products
Specific licences
Government permissions
Quarantine requirements
Product-specific certifications

Before confirming your purchase order, check the applicable DGFT import policy and product-specific regulations.

This is particularly important when importing a product into India for the first time.

4. Is BIS Certification Required?

If you’re importing electrical, electronic, steel, chemical, machinery or other regulated products, BIS compliance should be one of your first checks.

BIS certification is generally voluntary, but certain products are covered by compulsory certification requirements through applicable government notifications and Quality Control Orders.

Depending on the product, compliance may involve:

BIS registration
BIS licence
Applicable Indian Standard
Testing
Factory-related requirements
Product marking
Documentation

Don’t make this mistake

A product being certified in the USA, Europe, China or another country does not automatically mean it meets Indian standards.

Indian import requirements need to be checked separately.

5. Food Importers: Check FSSAI Compliance

Importing food products?

Then FSSAI compliance is critical.

Commercial food imports are subject to the applicable FSSAI licensing and food import clearance framework. Imported food consignments may undergo document scrutiny, inspection, sampling and testing.

FSSAI’s Food Import Clearance System is integrated with Customs for processing imported food consignments.

Before importing food, check:

FSSAI licence
Product category
Ingredients
Labelling
Shelf life
Country of origin
Packaging
Test reports
Certificate of Analysis, where applicable
Supporting import documents

Important: Food compliance should be checked before shipment. Fixing a documentation or labelling issue after arrival can be much harder.

6. EPR Compliance for Applicable Products

If your business imports products that fall under India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, don’t overlook registration and reporting obligations.

EPR can become relevant to businesses involved with certain categories of products and packaging, including areas such as:

Plastic packaging
E-waste
Batteries
Other notified products

The exact requirements depend on the product category and applicable regulations.

Why should importers care?

An importer may not simply be responsible for bringing the product into India.

Depending on the applicable EPR framework, the business may also have obligations relating to:

Registration → Reporting → Collection/Recovery → Recycling → Record Keeping

Therefore, EPR applicability should be assessed before importing regulated products.

7. Understand IGCR Before Claiming Concessional Duty

Businesses importing goods under a concessional customs duty notification should check whether the Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty framework applies.

IGCR is particularly relevant where a duty concession comes with conditions relating to the use of imported goods.

Before claiming the benefit, check:

Applicable notification
Eligibility
Intended use
End-use conditions
Documentation
Record keeping
Reporting requirements

Remember:

A concessional duty benefit is not an unconditional discount.

If the importer does not satisfy the conditions attached to the applicable notification, the expected benefit can become a compliance issue.

8. Is MOOWR Suitable for Your Business?

For eligible manufacturing businesses, MOOWR — Manufacture and Other Operations in Warehouse Regulations — can be an important customs planning option.

It can be relevant to businesses that import inputs or capital goods for permitted manufacturing or other operations under the applicable customs framework.

Before considering MOOWR, evaluate:

Manufacturing activity
Imported inputs
Capital goods
Warehouse requirements
Record keeping
Customs procedures
Operational compliance

MOOWR should not be adopted simply because another importer is using it.

The structure needs to fit your actual manufacturing and import model.

9. Check RCMC Requirements

Registration-Cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) is generally associated with exporters and export-related activities rather than being a mandatory document for every importer.

However, businesses involved in both importing and exporting should determine whether RCMC is relevant to their export promotion council, authorisations or benefits.

DGFT provides an e-RCMC process and states that an active IEC is required for applying for e-RCMC.

If your business plans to use export-related schemes or authorisations, it is better to evaluate RCMC requirements early.

10. Check Product-Specific Approvals

This is where many new importers get caught off guard.

Your product may require approval from a specific regulatory authority depending on its nature and intended use.

Potential areas can include:

Plant Quarantine
Animal Quarantine
Legal Metrology
WPC-related requirements
Drugs and pharmaceuticals
Medical devices
Chemicals
Electronics
Automotive products
Environmental regulations
Food products
Agricultural products

For example, food imports may involve coordination with other agencies depending on the nature of the consignment.

The key question is:

What exactly are you importing?

The product determines the compliance requirements.

11. Prepare Your Customs Documents Correctly

Even when all required certifications are available, incomplete documentation can delay clearance.

Common import documents can include:

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading
Airway Bill
Bill of Entry
Certificate of Origin
Insurance documents
Product certificates
Test reports
Import licences
Government approvals
Technical specifications

ICEGATE identifies documents such as the Bill of Lading/Airway Bill, Commercial Invoice, Packing List and Bill of Entry among key import/export documentation, with additional documents depending on the commodity and regulatory requirements.

Make sure your documents are consistent

Check that:

Invoice = Packing List = Shipping Documents = Bill of Entry

Differences in product descriptions, quantities, values or other details can trigger customs queries.

12. Check Labelling & Packaging Before Shipment

For certain products, Indian labelling requirements are an important part of import compliance.

Depending on the product, requirements may relate to:

Product name
Manufacturer
Importer
Country of origin
Net quantity
MRP
Batch number
Manufacturing date
Expiry/use-by date
Consumer information
Warnings
Product-specific declarations

For packaged and regulated products, these requirements should be checked before the goods are shipped.

Don’t wait until the port.

Changing labels after arrival can increase:

Storage costs
Handling costs
Clearance time
Operational complexity

The 2026 Import Compliance Checklist

Before your overseas supplier dispatches the shipment, run through this quick checklist:

Business & DGFT

Active IEC verified
Importer details updated
Correct ITC(HS) code identified
Import policy checked
Restricted/prohibited status verified

Product Compliance

BIS requirement checked
FSSAI requirement checked
EPR applicability checked
Legal Metrology requirement checked
Quarantine requirement checked
Other product-specific approvals checked

Customs & Duties

Customs duty calculated
IGST calculated
Applicable exemption checked
IGCR applicability reviewed
MOOWR applicability reviewed
Country of origin verified

Documentation

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading/Airway Bill
Bill of Entry
Certificate of Origin
Insurance documents
Product certificates
Test reports
Licences/approvals

Pre-Shipment

Product specifications verified
Labelling checked
Packaging checked
Supplier documentation verified
Customs broker informed
Regulatory requirements confirmed

What Happens If Import Compliance Is Ignored?

Ignoring compliance can create more than a simple customs delay.

Depending on the situation, businesses may face:

Shipment Delays

Cargo may remain pending until documentation, clarification or approval is completed.

Additional Costs

Delays can increase:

Demurrage
Storage
Port charges
Handling costs
Testing expenses

Customs Queries

Incorrect classification, valuation or documentation can result in additional scrutiny.

Product Clearance Issues

Products requiring mandatory certification or approval may face serious clearance or marketability problems.

Penalties & Regulatory Action

Non-compliance can potentially lead to penalties or other regulatory consequences depending on the applicable law.

This is why pre-shipment compliance verification is usually much safer than fixing problems after arrival.

Import Compliance Example: A Simple Scenario

Imagine an Indian company wants to import electronic appliances from China.

Before placing the order, the company should ask:

Step 1: What is the correct ITC(HS) classification?

Step 2: Is the product covered by a mandatory BIS requirement?

Step 3: Are there any additional electronics-related approvals?

Step 4: What customs duties and taxes apply?

Step 5: Are the product labels compliant with Indian requirements?

Step 6: What documents must the supplier provide?

Step 7: Is EPR applicable?

Step 8: Are there any restrictions or specific import conditions?

Only after these questions are answered should the business finalise the shipment.

This simple pre-shipment process can prevent many avoidable problems.

Why Pre-Shipment Compliance Is the Smartest Approach

The biggest import compliance mistake is:

“We’ll check everything once the shipment arrives.”

By then, your options may be limited.

A smarter approach is:

Before Purchase

Check product + classification + regulations.

Before Shipment

Complete certifications + documentation + labelling.

During Shipment

Coordinate with customs and logistics teams.

At Clearance

Submit accurate documents and respond quickly to queries.

After Clearance

Maintain records and complete applicable ongoing compliance.

This creates a smoother end-to-end import process.

Final Takeaway

Importing successfully into India requires planning well before the shipment reaches the port.

Your compliance checklist should begin with:

IEC → ITC(HS) Classification → Import Policy → Certifications → Product Approvals → Customs Duty → Documentation → Labelling → Clearance

For some businesses, that may mean BIS.

For food importers, it may mean FSSAI.

For regulated products, it may involve EPR, Legal Metrology, Quarantine or other approvals.

For manufacturers, IGCR or MOOWR may deserve consideration.

And for businesses also engaged in exports, RCMC and DGFT authorisations may become relevant.

There is no one-size-fits-all import checklist.

The correct checklist is always based on what you are importing, where it is coming from, how it will be used and what you intend to do with it after import.

Ready to Import Without Compliance Surprises?

Before your next shipment leaves the supplier, get your product classification, certifications, documentation and customs requirements reviewed.

With the right preparation, businesses can reduce unnecessary delays, avoid avoidable costs and build a more reliable import supply chain.

CargoMate Logistics — helping businesses navigate customs, documentation and international trade with greater confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most important import compliance requirement in India?

There is no single requirement for every importer. A valid IEC, correct ITC(HS) classification, customs documentation and product-specific regulatory compliance are among the key areas to verify.

Is BIS certification required for every imported product?

No. BIS certification is not mandatory for every product. However, certain products are covered by compulsory certification requirements or Quality Control Orders.

Do food importers need FSSAI approval?

Commercial food importers need the applicable FSSAI licence and must follow the relevant food import clearance requirements.

What documents are commonly needed for import clearance?

Common documents include the Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading/Airway Bill and Bill of Entry. Additional documents depend on the product and applicable regulations.

What is the biggest mistake importers make?

One of the biggest mistakes is checking regulatory requirements only after the shipment arrives. Product compliance should ideally be verified before the goods are dispatched.

Can CargoMate Logistics help with import compliance?

Yes. CargoMate Logistics can assist businesses with customs clearance, import documentation and coordination relating to various customs and trade compliance requirements.