How to Export Ayurvedic and Herbal Supplements from India: Licences, Documents and Market Rules (2026)
To export Ayurvedic and herbal supplements from India, get an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) from DGFT, register with the right export promotion council, hold a valid state manufacturing licence for the product, and back every batch with test reports and clean shipping documents. Then meet the rules of the destination market, which differ sharply between the US, EU, UK, UAE and Australia. This guide walks through each step and where the rules vary.
It is written for Indian brands planning their first export and for overseas buyers who want to check that an Indian exporter is doing it properly. It is general information, not legal advice. Where a rule changes by product, classification or country, we say so and point you to the authority to check with.
What do you need in place in India before you can export?
Four things sit on the Indian side: a trade identity, a council membership, a manufacturing licence and, depending on how the product is positioned, a food-safety or quality certificate.
Importer Exporter Code (IEC) from DGFT
The IEC is the business identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, goods cannot be exported without one unless you are specifically exempt. Applications are made online through the DGFT portal at dgft.gov.in. Check the portal for the current steps, documents and any fee.
Council registration (RCMC): AYUSHEXCIL or Pharmexcil?
A Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) from the relevant export promotion council is part of the standard export set-up. For Ayurvedic products this is where many guides are out of date. Under DGFT Public Notice 23/2023 of 31 July 2023, the AYUSH Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL) was added to Appendix 2T of the Foreign Trade Policy to issue RCMCs for Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathic and Biochemic medicaments and certain related cosmetics and toiletries. The same notice revised Pharmexcil's list to exclude those items, and RCMCs that Pharmexcil had already issued for them stay valid until they expire.
In practice, the right council depends on how your product is classified: as an AYUSH medicament, as a food or nutraceutical, or as a cosmetic. We could not find a single official item-by-item table that settles every borderline product, so check Appendix 2T of the Foreign Trade Policy and confirm with AYUSHEXCIL or Pharmexcil before you apply.
State AYUSH manufacturing licence and GMP
Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines are licensed for manufacture by the State Licensing Authority of the state where the unit is located, under Part XVI of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Good manufacturing practice for these products is set out in Schedule T of the same Rules. The licence is issued by the state, not by the Ministry of AYUSH or CDSCO, so ask the state AYUSH or drug licensing office for the current forms and process.
WHO-GMP and the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (COPP)
Many importing authorities ask for evidence of GMP and of free sale in India. For Ayurvedic products exported as medicines, the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (COPP) is issued by CDSCO after a joint inspection involving CDSCO, the Ministry of AYUSH and the State Licensing Authority, according to the Government's replies in Parliament. The Ministry also promotes COPP in the WHO format for herbal products, and the Quality Council of India runs a voluntary AYUSH Premium Mark scheme. Whether you need any of these depends entirely on the destination, so confirm with your buyer or their regulatory agent first.
FSSAI, where the product is positioned as food or a nutraceutical
Ayurvedic drugs and proprietary Ayurvedic medicines sit outside the food regulations. A product positioned as a food, a health supplement or a nutraceutical falls under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) framework instead, including the Ayurveda Aahara regulations of 2022 and the nutraceutical rules. FSSAI's own pages do not give us a clear answer on what an export-only unit must hold, so check with FSSAI or your licensing authority before you assume either way.
Which tests and documents should every batch carry?
Buyers and regulators judge an Indian exporter largely by the paperwork behind each batch. A certificate of analysis (COA) issued for the specific batch shipped should show the tests run, the methods and limits, and the results, typically including identity, heavy metals and microbial counts. Pesticide residue and other contaminant tests may be added depending on the ingredient and market. We do not quote limits here because they are set by each importing country, and the buyer's specification usually goes further.
For the shipping side, India's customs system (ICEGATE) takes the shipping bill electronically, and the supporting set normally includes the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or airway bill. A certificate of origin and inspection or quality certificates are added as the commodity or the buyer requires. Quantities, descriptions and batch numbers must match across every document.
Here is the checklist we recommend running before any shipment leaves:
Document | Issued by | Why it matters |
Importer Exporter Code (IEC) | DGFT | Legal identity to export goods from India |
RCMC | AYUSHEXCIL, Pharmexcil or the council for your product class | Council membership for the product category; check Appendix 2T |
State manufacturing licence | State Licensing Authority (AYUSH or drug control) | Shows the product is lawfully made; buyers often ask for a copy |
GMP, WHO-GMP or COPP | State authority, CDSCO or Ministry of AYUSH schemes | Requested by many import regulators; requirement varies by country |
FSSAI licence or approval | FSSAI | Where the product is positioned as food or a nutraceutical; confirm scope |
Certificate of analysis | Manufacturer's QC or an accredited lab | Batch-specific proof of identity, contaminants and microbes |
Commercial invoice and packing list | Exporter | Core customs documents; must match each other exactly |
Bill of lading or airway bill | Carrier or freight forwarder | Transport contract and receipt |
Certificate of origin | Authorised issuing body | Needed where the buyer or a trade agreement asks for it |
Destination paperwork | Importer, agent or foreign authority | Facility registration, prior notice, product registration or sponsor details |
Before shipping, tick off each of these:
IEC active and matching the exporter name on all documents
RCMC held for the correct product class
State licence valid for the exact product type and dosage form
Batch COA in hand, with test reports matching the batch number on the label
Final label artwork approved against the destination rules
Importer confirmed as registered, licensed or acting as sponsor where the market requires it
Commercial invoice, packing list and transport document cross-checked line by line
Any destination-specific notice or certificate filed or obtained
Our guide to sourcing certified Ayurvedic products from India shows the same documents from the importer's side, and our shilajit import compliance guide works through one product category in detail.
What are the destination market rules at a high level?
Indian compliance only gets the shipment to the border. Each market then regulates the product, the label and often the importer. The sections below are overviews. Always confirm with the official authority or a regulatory adviser in the destination country.
United States
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed. Companies are responsible for safety and for truthful labels, and FDA oversees the market afterwards. That is why no supplement or facility can be described as approved by FDA, and exporters should avoid the phrase.
Facility registration. Foreign facilities that make, pack or hold food, including supplements, for US consumption must register with FDA unless an exemption applies, and must name a US agent.
Prior Notice. FDA must receive prior notice of each food shipment before it arrives. The registration number is part of the required data.
Labelling. Labels need a statement of identity, a Supplement Facts panel and truthful claims. Structure and function claims need substantiation, the standard disclaimer and a notification to FDA within 30 days of first marketing. Claims about treating or preventing disease turn a product into an unapproved drug.
New dietary ingredients. An ingredient not previously marketed in the US may need a notification to FDA at least 75 days before the product is introduced.
European Union and United Kingdom
In the EU, the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC harmonises rules only for vitamins and minerals. Plants and herbal extracts are not covered by harmonised lists, so national rules can apply country by country. An ingredient without a sufficient history of consumption in the EU may count as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and need authorisation before it is sold. Contaminant limits, including for heavy metals, are set in Regulation (EU) 2023/915, so check the current consolidated text for the limits that apply to your product type.
Great Britain runs its own novel food authorisation system under assimilated Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EU decisions taken after 1 January 2021 do not automatically apply there. The Food Standards Agency keeps a register of authorised novel foods, and the MHRA publishes a list of banned and restricted herbal ingredients. In both regions, a product that makes medicinal claims can fall under medicines law instead of food law, so label wording matters as much as the formula.
UAE and the GCC
The UAE expects health and food supplements to be registered before sale, and importers generally need a local trade licence. Consultancy sources describe registration through the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and, for Dubai, Dubai Municipality's Montaji system, with a free sale certificate, a GMP certificate and compliant labelling commonly requested. These sources disagree on scope, so check the current requirement with MOHAP and the emirate-level authority. Other GCC countries run their own registration systems, so do not assume UAE registration carries over.
Australia
Products with therapeutic claims are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Unless exempt, they must be entered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before they can be imported or supplied, and an Australian sponsor is responsible for that entry. Most complementary medicines are listed (AUST L) with low-risk ingredients and permitted indications, while higher-risk ones are registered (AUST R) after assessment. The TGA treats Ayurvedic medicine as a traditional paradigm within complementary medicines, and it has fined importers of Ayurvedic products that were not on the ARTG. Its enforcement notices also note that some ingredients, such as neem (with an exception for debittered neem seed oil), are in Schedule 10 of the Poisons Standard.
Why do Ayurvedic and herbal supplement shipments get stopped?
A handful of problems account for most holds. They are usually about proof and fit, not the herb itself.
Missing destination registration. No FDA facility registration or prior notice, no ARTG entry, or no product registration in the UAE.
No local importer or sponsor where the market requires one.
Claims that change the product's category. Disease or treatment wording on a label or website can turn a supplement into a medicine or an unapproved drug.
Ingredients that need authorisation or are restricted, such as novel foods in the EU and GB, banned or restricted herbs, or Schedule 10 ingredients in Australia.
Contaminant or microbial failures, or a COA that belongs to a different batch than the one shipped.
Document mismatches in quantity, weight, description or tariff code between the invoice, packing list and transport document.
Wrong classification of the product as food, medicine or cosmetic, which sends it down the wrong council, licence and import route.
Our overview of top exported Ayurvedic products from India shows which categories face these checks most often.
How does IndoFolk Wellness help exporters and buyers?
IndoFolk Wellness is a New Delhi company that describes itself as a one-stop sourcing solution for Ayurvedic and pet products from India. For overseas buyers, it connects you with Indian manufacturing, supports third-party lab testing of batches, and offers low minimum order quantities and customisable products, including private label Ayurvedic products. For Indian brands preparing to export, we can talk through the documents and market checks above for your destination.
We do not issue licences or give legal advice, and your importer or a regulatory adviser should confirm destination requirements. If you tell us your product and target country, we can share which documents we would line up for that shipment. Reach out through the contact details on indofolkwellness.com.
Frequently asked questions
How do I export ayurvedic products from India?
Obtain an IEC from DGFT, register with the right export promotion council, make sure the product is made under a valid state licence, prepare batch test reports and shipping documents, and then meet the destination country's rules for facility, product and label.
Do I need Pharmexcil or AYUSHEXCIL registration to export ayurvedic supplements?
You need an RCMC from the council that covers your product class. Since 2023, AYUSHEXCIL covers Ayurvedic and other AYUSH medicaments and some related cosmetics, and Pharmexcil's scope excludes them. Check Appendix 2T of the Foreign Trade Policy and confirm with the council.
How do I export a herbal supplement from India to the US?
Make sure the producing facility is registered with FDA and has a US agent, file Prior Notice for every shipment, and label the product to US dietary supplement rules. FDA does not approve supplements, so avoid any wording that suggests it does, and avoid disease claims.
Can I export ayurvedic cream from India?
Yes, but the route depends on classification. Some creams are classed as cosmetics and others as medicaments, which changes the council, licence and destination rules. Confirm the category first, then check the importing country's cosmetic or medicine requirements.
Sources
DGFT Public Notice 23/2023 (AYUSHEXCIL, Appendix 2T), India Gazette
Ministry of AYUSH, replies in Parliament on COPP and licensing (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha)
CBIC eSanchit guide, supporting documents for shipping bills (ICEGATE)
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, How to Export guide (DGFT)
FDA, Structure/Function Claim Notification for Dietary Supplements
Food Standards Agency, Importing food supplements and health foods
Food Standards Agency, Placing innovative foods on the market in Great Britain
TGA, Understanding listed and registered complementary medicine regulation
TGA, Akula Foods fined for allegedly importing unregistered Ayurvedic medicines
Rules and fees change. Verify every requirement with the official authority before you ship. This article is general information and is not legal, customs or regulatory advice.
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