The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an order on February 24, 2023 delaying the implementation of its model health certificate until further notice. This delay means that the FSSAI certificate will not be implemented on March 1 as previously scheduled.

FSSAI has also advised FAS verbally that they understand that countries are still working to put together the lists of registered plants, and that they do not expect the new plant listing requirements which entered into force on February 1, 2023, to hinder trade. However, the U.S. government (USG) has not received anything in writing to this effect.

With this information, the import requirements into India remain status quo. India's Department of Animal Husbandry (DAHD) continues to require its model health certificate for imports of dairy products, and the USG cannot endorse this certificate due to its current requirements. Pharmaceutical lactose continues to be exempt from the DAHD certificate requirement. See Volume 2 of the USDEC Export Guide for more information on the DAHD and FSSAI certificates, and the FSSAI plant registration requirements.

Please note that these requirements may change at any time, and all shipments to India are at the exporter's own risk.

USDEC continues to work with the USG on a potential resolution to the market access challenges in India. Contact Sandra Benson at sbenson@usdec.org with any questions on the present requirements.