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Exporting clothing, footwear and textiles from India

For garments and textiles leaving India, origin is the main paperwork: preferential certificates under India's FTAs come from authorised agencies through trade.gov.in, with self-declaration allowed under the India-UK CETA and India-EFTA TEPA. The exporter's RCMC comes from the council for its line, such as AEPC for readymade garments. Footwear made for export is outside the BIS footwear order.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Preferential origin
Authorised agencies, through trade.gov.in
Self-declaration
India-UK CETA and India-EFTA TEPA
EU GSP
Statement on origin under REX
Non-preferential certificate
Rs 200 a certificate
Readymade garments RCMC
Apparel Export Promotion Council
Footwear QCO
Not for goods meant for export

Before the goods leave

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Does the buyer claim a preference under an FTA, and do the goods meet its rules of origin? Read more
  2. 2Is a non-preferential certificate needed, and do imported fabrics or trims change the answer? Read more
  3. 3Which council issues the exporter's RCMC? Read more
  4. 4Is footwear made for export kept apart from footwear sold in India? Read more
  5. 5Is the IEC current, and which documents travel with the shipment? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Preferential origin

Certificates that let the buyer claim a lower tariff under an agreement or a preference scheme.

  • India's FTAs include those with Sri Lanka, SAFTA, Thailand (early harvest), Singapore, ASEAN, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, the EFTA states, the United Kingdom and Oman (HBP para 2.88).
  • Under an FTA, PTA or unilateral concession, the importing country grants the preference only when the rules of origin are met. Key criteria are wholly obtained, change in tariff classification, value addition and non-minimal operations (HBP para 2.91).
  • Preferential certificates are issued by the agencies listed in Appendix 2B, which also advise on rules of origin, product coverage and verification.
  • For the India-EFTA TEPA and the India-UK CETA, certificates of origin may also be obtained on the basis of the exporter's self-declaration.
  • For the EU's GSP scheme, exporters registered under REX self-certify the statement on origin; REX registration is free.
  • Agencies deliver a certificate of origin within one working day of the application.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each certificate of origin with the invoice and shipping bill it matches, and the supplier documents behind the origin claim with the lot. Ask about this

Non-preferential origin

Certificates that show Indian origin without claiming a preference.

  • Goods are of Indian origin if manufactured by the exporting entity, and imported inputs undergo more than simple operations (HBP para 2.93).
  • Simple operations include sorting, cutting, washing and painting; changes of packing; affixing marks and labels; simple assembly of parts; and simple packing in bags or boxes.
  • Applications go online through trade.gov.in to an agency in Appendix 2E, with the invoice and packing list. The fee is Rs 200 a certificate.
  • Agencies may issue back-to-back certificates for goods not of Indian origin that are re-exported, naming the foreign country of origin.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the bill of materials and supplier origin documents with the lot, so the origin claim can be read against the rule. Ask about this

RCMC from the textile councils

Which council registers the exporter, by product line.

  • An RCMC is needed to apply for an authorisation or other benefit under the Foreign Trade Policy, and comes from the council for the exporter's main line of business (FTP para 2.57; HBP para 2.80).
  • DGFT's list of councils includes the Apparel Export Promotion Council for readymade garments; the Cotton Textiles EPC for cotton yarn, fabrics and made-ups; the Synthetic and Rayon Textiles EPC; the Handloom EPC; the Indian Silk EPC; and the Council for Leather Exports.
  • Exporters of handicrafts and handloom products from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh take their RCMC from the Director, Handicrafts, Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • An RCMC is valid for five years from 1 April of the year it is issued.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the RCMC with the exporter's record and shows when it falls due. Ask about this

Footwear and the BIS order

India's compulsory BIS certification for footwear, and its exemption for exports.

  • The Footwear made from Leather and other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 (S.O. 1421(E)) requires listed footwear to conform to Indian Standards and carry the BIS Standard Mark.
  • Its proviso: "nothing in this Order shall apply to goods or articles meant for export."

How we help: Compliant Always records which lots are made for export and which for India, and keeps the BIS licence with the lots that need it. Ask about this

IEC and shipping documents

The general rules every export from India meets.

  • No export or import of goods is made without an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) unless specifically exempted (FTP 2023, para 2.05).
  • The IEC is a 10-character code, the same as the firm's PAN, issued separately by DGFT on an online application.
  • The IEC holder updates its details online every year between April and June; an IEC not updated is de-activated.
  • Mandatory export documents are the bill of lading, airway bill or other transport receipt; the commercial invoice cum packing list; and the shipping bill or bill of export (FTP 2023, para 2.06).
  • The shipping bill is an electronic declaration in the Indian Customs EDI System, entered by the exporter or an authorised customs broker through ICEGATE or a service centre.
  • Where goods carry restrictions or need an NOC under another law, the regulator may notify additional export documents.
  • IEC holders use the same invoice numbers on the certificate of origin and the shipping bill.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the shipping bill, invoice and packing list of each shipment with its certificate of origin, so an importer's question can be answered from the record. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ExporterThe IEC, the RCMC, the origin application or self-declaration, and the shipping bill.Origin documents and registrations kept with each shipment, dated.
ManufacturerMaking the goods, and the record of inputs that the origin claim rests on.Bills of materials and supplier documents kept with each lot.
Certificate of origin agencyChecking the goods meet the rules of origin and issuing the certificate through trade.gov.in.The certificate read against what the destination's customs asks for.
Customs brokerEntering the shipping bill electronically for the exporter.The shipment's documents available from one record.

Where are the goods going?

Most of what clothing, footwear and textiles have to meet is set where they are sold. Each guide sets out the rules on arrival, with the official source for each.

Questions businesses ask

How do I get a certificate of origin for garments exported from India?
Apply online through trade.gov.in to a DGFT-authorised agency: one listed in Appendix 2B for a preferential certificate under an FTA, or in Appendix 2E for a non-preferential one. The invoice number must match the shipping bill.
Can I self-declare origin for textiles exported to the UK?
Yes. Under the India-UK CETA, and the India-EFTA TEPA, certificates of origin may be obtained on the basis of the exporter's self-declaration, as well as from an authorised agency.
How does origin work for exports to the EU?
Under the EU's GSP scheme, exporters registered under the Registered Exporter System (REX) self-certify the statement on origin of their goods. Registration on REX is free.
Does cutting or labelling imported fabric in India make it Indian?
Not for a non-preferential certificate. Simple cutting, changes of packing, affixing labels and simple packing are among the operations that do not confer Indian origin on imported inputs.
How much does a certificate of origin cost in India?
A non-preferential certificate costs Rs 200, including attestation of additional documents. Fees for preferential certificates are set in Appendix 2K.
How fast is a certificate of origin issued?
The Handbook of Procedures says the certificate will be delivered within 24 hours, or one working day, of the application.
Which council issues an RCMC for garment exporters?
The Apparel Export Promotion Council for readymade garments. Cotton yarn and fabrics go to the Cotton Textiles EPC, synthetics to the Synthetic and Rayon Textiles EPC, and leather to the Council for Leather Exports.
Does footwear made for export need the BIS mark?
No. The Footwear made from Leather and other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024 does not apply to goods or articles meant for export.
Which countries have FTAs with India?
The Handbook lists FTAs with Sri Lanka, SAFTA, Thailand, Singapore, ASEAN, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, the EFTA states, the United Kingdom and Oman, alongside trade arrangements with Nepal and Bhutan.
How does Compliant Always help with exporting from India?
Our team reads the rules for the routes you ship. Compliant Always shows which export documents apply to your product, keeps them with the shipment beside what the destination asks for, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in India and what your paperwork needs to show.

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