How to Export Veterinary Supplements from India: Step-by-Step

India is one of the leading producers of veterinary feed supplements, Ayurvedic animal health products and plant based supplements for animals. With a strong manufacturing capability, lower production costs, proven expertise in natural product ingredients and growing establishments GMP and ISO certified across the country, India is fast establishing itself as a country of choice for imports for veterinary supplements to Southeast Asian, MENA and LATAM markets.

However, for many Indian veterinary supplement manufacturers, particularly for new market entries to export, the knowledge of how to export veterinary supplements from India can seem like a complex process. Before a single container can be shipped, all of the regulations, records, certification etc. have to interlock.

Veterinary supplement manufacturers, feed additive manufacturers, distributors, and entrepreneurs from India have been looking for a comprehensive step-by-step guide for a long time that helps them to go through the various processes involved in entering/exploring the export market of veterinary supplements to the world. Following is the practical export experience guide based on the knowledge of regulatory information about India made by Varahvet a GMP, ISO certified veterinary feed supplement manufacturing facility operating from Uttar Pradesh.

Step 1: Introduction – Understanding the Regulation for Exporting Veterinary Supplement in India.

It is important to familiarize yourself with all the statutory requirement authorities that are tasked with the supervision of making and exporting veterinary supplements in India before you start any export. International credibility is based on compliance with domestic regulations.

Key Regulatory Authorities

• National Planning Commission (NPC): Responsible for policies pertaining to national growth and development
• Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940 – Regulatory body for veterinary drugs and biologicals – Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules: Rules of its functioning are governed by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD)
• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA): Assists with the export of agri food products as well as animal origin foods including processed food products
• Foreign Trade Policy: It is issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and gives Import Export code (IEC), that governs the import export licenses.
• FSSAI/BIS: Applicable for partnering specific categories of supplements that are used in humans as well as animals.

Knowing which authority regulates your particular category of product (whether it is a feed additive, a premixture, a herb product or a veterinary drug) is the first and most important step before moving forward with documentation of your product for export.

Step 2: To acquire Your Import Export Code (IEC)

Import Export Code (IEC) is mandatory 10 digit registration that the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce, will provide. No Indian entity is allowed to make any export without IEC.

How to Apply for IEC

1.Go to the DGFT portal– https://dgft.gov.in

2.Register using PAN and Company (SAN) Information.

3.Provide necessary documents like PAN, Aadhaar, bank certificate, cancelled cheque, company address proof

4.Make an application fee which is based on ₹500 per application.

5.Get IEC delivered electronically — generally in 2–3 business days

The IEC should be updated every year on the DGFT portal; otherwise it will be inactive. It is also needed to open an account for export and management of export subsidies.

Step 3: Make sure your manufacturing and production facility complies with international certification requirements.

No order will be placed by International buyers without an acceptable quality certification from your manufacturing facility, especially within regulated markets such as the EU, The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), Southeast Asia and Latin America. Indian veterinary supplement exporters either gain or lose business in the initial interaction.

The right certifications for export.

Certification	What It Demonstrates	Markets That Require It
GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice)	Consistent manufacturing quality and hygiene	All major markets — essential baseline
ISO 9001	International quality management systems	Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa
FAMI-QS	Global gold standard for feed additives & premixtures	EU, Latin America, Vietnam, Philippines
WHO-GMP	Pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing	Gulf countries, regulated Asian markets
Halal Certification	Compliance with Islamic dietary requirements	GCC, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh
Organic Certification	Natural/herbal supplement authenticity	EU organic market, premium segments

Varahvet is certified with the three most internationally recognised certificates in our target export markets from Southeast Asia, Middle East and Latin America; namely GMP, ISO.

Step 4: Categorize your product correctly in the ITC HS Code system.

All exported products have to correspond to a ITC-HS (Indian Trade Classification — Harmonised System) classification code. This is an 8-digit code used to identify controlling export duties, export licenses, export documentation or the specific export regulations of the respective country of destination.

The ITC-HS Codes are generally applicable to veterinary supplements.

• HS Code 2309: Preparations of a kind used in animal feeding — These include premixtures and compound feed supplements as well as blended feed additives used for animals.
• HS Code 3004: Registered veterinary drugs and formulations fall under the “Medicaments for therapeutic or prophylactic use”.
• HS Code 3002: Veterinary blood fractions, vaccines, and immunological preparations.Blood fractions, vaccines and immunological preparations for veterinary use.
• HS Code 1302: Many animal health products formulated using vegetable exudates, extracts or sap use this HS Code permit.

Incorrect HS code classification is one of the most common and costly export errors. Before proceeding be sure to consult a Licensed Customs House Agent (CHA) or export compliance consultant to determine the appropriate classification for your export product category.

Step 5: The last step is to prepare the required export documentation.

Well documented veterinary supplement exports. Documentation problems can cause prolonged shipping delays, port detention, customs of destination rejection or monetary fines. Here is an extensive list of the types of documents that are normally required:

Mandatory Export Documents

• A Commercial Invoice shows details of Product, Quantity, Price of each item, Total value, who it was bought from/by, Payment Terms.
• Each carton description, price and carton weight (gross/net), together with the product description, should be recorded on a packing list
• Bill of Lading (Sea) or Airway Bill (Air): A document of the shipping carrier and is the title document for the goods.
• Certificate of Origin:Issued by the Export Inspection Council (EIC) or by an authorized Chamber of Commerce — certifies the country of origin of the goods as India
• Certificate of Analysis (COA): Lab-assured specification report for the product batch (usually needed in the importing countries)
• Manufacturing Licence – Issued by State Drug Controller / State Animal Husbandry Department
• GMP Certificate: up to date certificate of your certifying body
• FSSAI / CDSCO Registration: As applicable to your product category
• Currently, the Plant Quarantine Authority issues one to reject plants originating from other countries that have been found to have plant-origin materials.
• CERTIFICATE OF EQUIPMENT: Issued by APEDA or relevant Export Promotion Council — for export incentives as applicable in various schemes such as RoDTEP

Destination Country-Specific Documents

• Import Permit from the destination country’s veterinary or agricultural authority
• Short message service notifications (SMS) notification (for Gulf countries and Muslim majority countries)
• Free Sale Certificate (FSC) or No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Indian authorities — a key and often required certificate from regulators in Southeast Asia and Africa
• Receipt of product registration in the desired country (required in Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brazil and most regulated countries).

Start to prepare these documents 4-6 weeks in advance of the intended dispatch date. There are many certificates with a limited validity and they need to be renewed per shipment or on an annual basis.

6. Register Your Products in the Destination Country

This is the thing that people do not think about when they are moving into exporting and is one of the most frequent reasons for delays at the launch of exporting. Most serious export markets will ask overseas manufacturers of veterinary supplements to register before the product can be imported into that country.

The products registered in each region are listed below.

• For Vietnam, products need to be registered with the Department of Livestock Production (DLP) of MARD. The registration process may last from 6–18 months. A local registered importer/distributor is required.
• In the Philippines: Registration by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) under the Department of Agriculture. Needs COA, technical dossier and label artwork and manufacturing certificate.
• Entry into the country in Malaysia through registration by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) / Veterinary Surveillance Division. Market access is greatly increased with halal certification.
• Brazil: MAPA (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento) registration is among the most stringent worldwide, with a complete dossier and the importer being localised (SIF registered in Brazil), and labelling in Spanish/Portuguese language.
• GCC (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait): Registration at the relevant Ministry of Agriculture/equivalent authorities. Halal certification is mandatory.
• Some markets require additional importing permits in Africa, including some GMP and ISO regulatory approvals in Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Varahvet meanwhile recommends anyone interested in and considering becoming an export partner to start the product registration process while the commercial process is underway. Early involvement in Regulatory helps to prevent unnecessary regulation delays after commercial terms have been decided.

Step 7: Choose the export logistics and Incoterms that are best suited to you.

Any commercial and logistics arrangements set out for exporting the product must be correctly negotiated when documentation and the registration of the product is underway.

Knowing the rules of Incoterms when sending veterinary supplementary feeds.

• FOB (Free on Board): Goods are already delivered by the seller to the port of origin and the buyer takes over the risk and freight accordingly thereafter. Most frequently seen, in terms of first-time export relationships.
• Cost, Insurance, Freight: Seller arranges and pays freight and insurance to port of destination. Favored by those looking to obtain one landed charge.
• Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): Seller responsible for the entire delivery including import customs clearance. Demanding and growing in complexity from larger institutional buyers.
• EXW (Ex-Works): Buyer picks up from the seller’s factory or works. Not too difficult for the seller, but this shifts all logistics risks to the buyer.

How to select your freight forwarder?

Use a freight forwarder who has expertise in exporting animal or medical goods. If applicable they should be aware of the requirements for sensitive cargo and cargo types (temperature sensitive), as well as CITES documentation (for products containing controlled plant/animal extracts) and requirements for fumigation or container inspections at destination ports.

Step 8: Know about Export Financing and Payment Terms.

Getting paid is as important as finding/taking the order. When exporting veterinary supplement products to new international customers, financial terms should be based on safe and secure payment practices, especially at the early stages in the relationship.

Recommended Payment Instruments

• This is the most secure instrument for exporting to buyers for the first time, namely the Letter of Credit (LC). The bank of the buyer will ensure that payment will be made if the documents presented are the correct ones.
• Advance Payment (TT in Advance): Usually done with smaller amounts, sample orders or good business relationships. Gives complete protection to the seller.
• Documents Against Payment (DP): A balanced risk arrangement in which the Bank sends out the documents to the buyer only after payment is received.
• Open Account (30 days/60 days): Only for buyers who are known and have a history of long-term transactions.

Export financing support is provided under the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ICGC), India which provides insurance cover for export receivables. SIDBI and EXIM Bank of India are the sources to provide working capital for export orders.

Step 9: Claim Export Incentives Available to Indian Manufacturers

There are a number of export incentive schemes offered by Government of India which veterinary supplement manufacturers can actively use to make them competitive in export markets are:

• Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP): Refund on embedded taxes and duties not rebated. Rates are based on HS code.
• The details for specific product categories are available with MEIS / RoSCTL — please check the current applicability with DGFT notifications.
• Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme (EPCG): Duty exemption for import of capital goods for new manufacturing equipment for export duty commitments — Applicable for manufacturers investing in new processing equipment.
• Duty Drawback Scheme: Refund of customs duties paid for the import of inputs for the export production of the same goods or services.
• – Market Development Assistance (MDA): Assistance provided under APEDA and Export Promotion Councils for taking part at International trade fairs and Buyer/Seller meets.

Consult with a qualified export consultant/CA who has export DGFT knowledge so that maximum export benefits are availed. The value of these schemes is that they can make an important reduction in the effective cost of export.

Step 10: Build Your International Distribution and Private-Label Network

Documentation and compliance help export products to India. Distribution networks bring it to the farmers’ hands, as well as to veterinarians and end-users in the destination market.

Determining the Right Distribution Partners

• Don’t target feed additive distributors, veterinary product wholesalers and animal health companies in your destination market; the commodity trader is the better choice
• Contact the platforms (Alibaba, IndiaMART Global, etc., as well as Global Sources), but be careful with the validation of the partners with whom you do that.
• Take part in international trade shows like VIV Asia, Victam, EuroTier, India international Poultry Show and get in touch with well-versed buyers
• Use paid trade data platforms (such as Volza, Export Genius, and Panjiva) to find out whether firms are importing similar products from other countries that compete with these nations.
• Provide Private Label Manufacturing services to established local brands which are looking to be certified as an Indian supply chain candidate — thus reducing their scarity on regulatory actions and speeding up market entry.

Varahvet’s Export-Ready Manufacturing Capabilities

Varahvet is involved in the entire supply chain of veterinary feed supplements from formulation development, sourcing of raw materials to GMP manufacturing, quality testing, labelling and export documentation of veterinary feed supplements in an end-to-end fashion. Since we are ISO GMP certified, we are a worthwhile partner for buyers in regulated markets with very high quality standards.

Conclusion

Despite earning huge opportunities in exporting veterinary supplements from India, the process demands careful and rigorous preparation starting from regulatory compliance and completed with documentation, product registration, logistics, and distribution strategy. It outlines the 10 steps that Indian manufacturers can follow for entering foreign markets in a well-structured manner.

Learning from all aspiring veterinary supplement exporters, the critical lesson is that compliance and certification don’t stifle, they’re a competitive advantage. The documentation preparation and high standards for GMP, ISO certification will definitely give the advantage to Indian manufacturers who tend to create and maintain genuine relationships with the regulatory agencies in various countries where they have to sell their products as opposed to using exports merely as a casual way of extending the domestic market.

It is these fundamentals that form the basis of our manufacturing processes at Varahvet, our manufacturing base exists with an eye towards commercialization. You may reach out to us at www.varahvet.com if you have information regarding the companies that are certified Indian manufacturers, or you are an Indian entrepreneur planning to engage in an export business in veterinary supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Whether a separate licence is required for export of veterinary supplements from India?

A: Yes. Apart from your IEC (Import Export Code) from DGFT, you will need to have a valid manufacturing licence from the State Drug Controller/Animal Husbandry department. Some products could also need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from CDSCO or DAHD. It is always best to check requirements against a qualified export compliance consultant or your Customs House Agent (CHA).

Q: When is India going to export veterinary supplements for the first time?

A: You can get your IEC within 2 – 3 days. If they are not already present, it will take 3-6 months to implement facility certification (GMP or ISO). The length of the variable is product registration in the destination country, which can take up to 18 months + (Vietnam, Brazil, Philippines) up to 3 months (some Gulf markets). A registered product shipment will start after 4–8 weeks beginning from completion of product documentation to markets that accept non-registered products.

Q: Where will be the ideal choices of export destinations for the Indian veterinary supplements?

A: Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, among other countries, are the easiest and most-expanding markets today. The region of Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa is especially strong as both commercial poultry and livestock production is rapidly advancing. The demand for export of herbal and Ayurvedic veterinary supplements is also rising in EU and North American markets which are focused on the use of antibiotic-free and organic products.