Date of issue: 22 May 2025

Date of effect: Immediate

Reference Number: MAA 2025-11

Related MAA/IAN: N/A

Attention

• Industry bodies – Dairy Australia, Infant Nutrition Council, Dairy Export Industry Consultative Committee, Australian Food and Grocery Council
• Dairy Export Establishments
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Central and Regional offices

Purpose

This MAA is to inform exporters that infant nutrition products sold in India are no longer required to have the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification mark.

Key points

• On 18 October 2024, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published a notice confirming that the mandatory requirement for BIS certification for various food and food products, including infant nutrition products, had been lifted.
• In response, BIS removed its associated certification mark requirement on 14 November 2024, in line with the FSSAI's advice.
• As a result, exporters of these products are no longer required to comply with BIS's Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme, which incorporates an application fee and an in-country audit of the manufacturing facility.
• This regulatory change forms part of broader efforts by the Indian government to reduce regulatory barriers.
• Please note that exporters must still comply with all other applicable FSSAI requirements.

Micor

The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will be updated to reflect this market access advice. The department encourages users of Micor to subscribe to the Micor update service for a commodity-specific email that lists changes that have been made the preceding week.

Further information

Contact exportstandards@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.