On 15 June 2026, the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) issued revised guidance on export certificate issuance, tightening documentary requirements around supplier traceability and batch-level provenance for all processed food shipments. The new framework, effective from 15 July 2026, mandates that exporters file a Supplier Verification Certificate (SVC) and a Batch Traceability Schedule (BTS) alongside the existing APEDA Certificate of Origin.
Exporters who have not integrated this documentation into their pre-shipment workflow by mid-July face port holds, buyer non-compliance claims, and potential temporary export suspension for repeat lapses. This shift reflects buyer-country demand (particularly in the EU and UK post-Brexit) and closes a compliance gap that has left many mid-sized processors vulnerable to rejection-in-transit claims.
Market signals
APEDA now requires an SVC for every export shipment, listing the name, FSSAI registration number, and Udyam classification of every raw-material or component supplier. The SVC must be filed in Form APD-EXP/SVC (newly notified 10 June 2026) at least 10 working days before intended port exit. Processors sourcing from more than three suppliers per product SKU must submit a separate SVC for each ingredient tier. Failure to file or discrepancies between the SVC and the vessel's Bill of Lading trigger an automatic "pending verification" hold; APEDA then conducts a back-check with listed suppliers (typically 5–7 days), during which the shipment cannot clear the port. For a 20-tonne export consignment, port storage and demurrage costs typically run ₹8,000–₹15,000 per day.
The BTS (Form APD-EXP/BTS, issued 12 June 2026) requires processors to map each production batch to its raw materials by lot number, manufacturing date, and lot-expiry date. For a snack or beverage exporter, this means cross-referencing the finished-product batch code with the upstream ingredient lot codes in a digital or certified hard-copy ledger submitted to APEDA. The BTS must align with the processor's FSSAI-notified production hygiene record (Schedule 4 compliance under FSSAI Act 2006). Exporters using commodity inputs without lot-coded invoices (common in smaller suppliers) must now either enforce lot-level coding upstream or conduct in-house segregation and relabelling — a cost and process-design issue. One mid-sized spice exporter reported requiring ₹2.5 lakh in ERP system reconfiguration to auto-generate compliant BTS schedules.
APEDA has integrated the new SVC/BTS filing system with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ICEGATE portal and port authorities' cargo release systems. As of 1 July 2026, a shipment will not receive an "out-of-charge" release order from port customs unless APEDA confirms receipt and preliminary validation of the SVC/BTS within the 10-working-day window. Exporters filing these documents fewer than 5 working days before intended departure risk automatic short-listing for physical inspection, which can delay clearance by 2–3 additional days. Repeat non-compliance (defined as 2 failures within 12 months) triggers a 30-day export pause and mandatory compliance audit by APEDA officers.
The SVC/BTS regime
Frequently asked questions
From 15 July 2026, APEDA mandates filing a Supplier Verification Certificate (SVC) and Batch Traceability Schedule (BTS) alongside the Certificate of Origin for all processed food exports. The SVC must list all raw-material suppliers' FSSAI registration and Udyam classification.
Exporters who fail to file the SVC at least 10 working days before port exit face automatic shipment holds, demurrage charges (₹8,000–₹15,000/day), buyer non-compliance claims, and potential temporary export suspension for repeat lapses.
All food processors exporting to APEDA-regulated destinations must file an SVC for every shipment. Processors with more than three suppliers per product SKU must submit a separate SVC for each ingredient tier.