01 Establish the Indian exporter Build one consistent legal, banking, tax and customs identity.
Choose and register the Indian exporting entityRequired Finalize proprietorship, partnership, LLP or company; keep PAN, registered address, ownership and authorized-signatory records consistent across every portal. Open the export banking setupRequired Use a current account with an Authorized Dealer bank. Confirm the AD code registration process for every customs port used and agree how export proceeds and e-BRC records will be handled. Obtain and maintain the DGFT Importer-Exporter CodeRequired IEC is the core business identification number for exports from India. Confirm annual details and any required updates directly in the DGFT portal. Confirm GST and zero-rated export treatmentVerify Have a chartered accountant decide GST registration, LUT/bond, invoice wording, refund route and recordkeeping for Coast2Valley’s entity and shipment model. Classify every SKURequired Obtain the correct Indian ITC(HS) code and destination HS/tariff code for each product, format and pack size. Do not copy a competitor’s code.
02 Obtain product registrations Commodity authorities and premises requirements differ across the collection.
Food premises and FSSAI licensingRequired Confirm the correct FSSAI licence for every site that manufactures, processes, stores, relabels or packs food. Supplier licences do not automatically cover Coast2Valley’s own activities. Araku coffee — Coffee Board registration and shipment permitsRequired Register as a coffee exporter and obtain the Coffee Board export permit (Form-C) and ICO Certificate of Origin as applicable for each coffee export. Guntur chilli and masalas — Spices Board CRESRequired Obtain the Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices. CRES is treated as the RCMC for spice exports; confirm brand/consumer-pack requirements and testing with the Board. Andhra honey — APEDA e-RCMCRequired Honey is an APEDA scheduled product. Apply for APEDA e-RCMC after IEC and confirm current consignment testing, traceability and certificate requirements for the destination. Handicrafts — material-by-material reviewConditional List every wood, bamboo, palm, seed, fibre, paint, leather or animal-derived component. Check export policy and destination biosecurity rules; obtain phytosanitary, fumigation or treatment evidence when the exact material requires it. Claims and certificationsConditional Use organic, GI, fair-trade, single-origin, raw, natural or similar claims only when documented and accepted in the destination market. Keep certificates and chain-of-custody records.
03 Build the product compliance file Evidence must follow each SKU and lot—not just the brand.
Approved supplier and maker fileRequired Contracts, identity, registrations, farm/facility location, ingredient or material declarations, allergen statement and change-notification responsibility. Written product specificationRequired SKU name, formulation/materials, grade, physical and chemical limits, microbiological limits, moisture, contaminants, residues, pack size, storage and intended use. Batch traceability and recall planRequired Create a lot code linking incoming material, production/packing date, test result, quantities, customer/importer and shipment. Be able to trace one step back and one step forward quickly. Accredited laboratory planRequired Set destination-appropriate tests by product and risk: authenticity/adulteration, pesticide residues, mycotoxins, heavy metals, microbiology and other limits. Do not use one generic panel for every SKU. Shelf-life validationRequired Support best-before dates with stability evidence for the actual formulation, barrier packaging, climate and shipping conditions. Packaging validationRequired Use food-contact compliant primary packaging, tamper evidence where appropriate, transport-strength cartons and moisture/pest controls. Any solid-wood transport packaging should meet ISPM 15 requirements.
04 Prepare every shipment document Descriptions, codes, quantities and parties must reconcile across the file.
Commercial invoiceRequired Seller and buyer/importer details, accurate product description, HS code, quantity, unit and total value, currency, Incoterm, origin, payment terms and references. Packing listRequired Package count, marks, contents, lot codes, net and gross weights, dimensions and link to the commercial invoice. Shipping bill and transport documentRequired File the Indian Customs shipping bill/bill of export and obtain the carrier’s bill of lading or airway bill. Reconcile descriptions and quantities across all documents. Certificate of originConditional Obtain preferential or non-preferential origin documentation when required by the buyer, customs treatment, letter of credit or commodity authority. Commodity and sanitary evidenceConditional Attach Coffee Board permit/ICO origin, health/sanitary, phytosanitary, fumigation/treatment, APEDA/Spices Board documents and certificate of analysis only where the SKU/destination requires them. Insurance and commercial contractRequired Keep purchase order or signed supply contract, agreed Incoterm, cargo insurance allocation, claims procedure, payment instrument and inspection terms. Bank and tax closure fileRequired After shipment, retain customs and transport proof, bank realization/e-BRC records, GST evidence and the complete document set for the statutory retention period confirmed by advisors.
05 Canada market gate The Canadian importer owns key border and food obligations; the exporter must supply the evidence.
Appoint the Canadian importer of recordRequired The importer needs a Canadian business number and RM import-export account, correct customs classification, valuation and proof of origin. Agree responsibilities in writing with the importer and broker. Validate each food in CFIA AIRSRequired Before every first shipment or material change, use the Automated Import Reference System to confirm the HS code, OGD extension, admissibility and commodity-specific requirements. Safe Food for Canadians licenceRequired The Canadian food importer must hold a valid SFC licence covering the correct food commodity at the time of import. The overseas producer does not substitute for that licence. Preventive controls and traceabilityRequired Give the importer the hazard, supplier, test, process, recall and lot-traceability evidence needed for its preventive control plan and SFCR obligations. Approve the Canadian retail labelRequired Check English/French mandatory information, common name, net quantity, ingredients, allergens/gluten/sulphites, Nutrition Facts table, importer/foreign business identification, lot/date/storage and applicable front-of-pack rules. Honey-specific Canadian reviewRequired Confirm the Canadian standard of identity, grade/pack rules and imported-honey labelling, including the required Product of / produit de country-of-origin statement. Handicraft admissibilityConditional Use the Canadian tariff and CFIA AIRS for plant, wood, seed, fibre or animal-origin components. Confirm pest, treatment and species restrictions before production—not at the border.
06 Australia market gate Biosecurity comes first, followed by food safety and label compliance.
Appoint the Australian importer and brokerRequired Agree importer, ABN/business details, customs declaration, tariff classification, valuation, GST/duty, permits and broker authority before booking freight. Run a BICON case for every SKU and materialRequired Answer BICON’s product, processing, origin, end-use and packaging questions exactly. Save the resulting case, permit/treatment requirements and required declarations or certificates. Meet the Australia New Zealand Food Standards CodeRequired The Australian importer must ensure the food is permitted and compliant with composition, additives, contaminants and food safety requirements. Approve the Australian retail labelRequired Validate food name, lot identification, supplier contact in Australia/New Zealand, ingredients, plain-English allergens, date/storage directions, Nutrition Information Panel and country-of-origin labelling. Prepare for border inspection and testingConditional Imported food may be referred under IFIS for visual label inspection, sampling and laboratory testing. Keep goods on hold until officially released. Treat natural-material handicrafts as biosecurity-sensitiveConditional Wood, bamboo, palm, plant fibre, seeds, bark and animal material may require permits, treatment or supporting documents. Follow the exact BICON case and ISPM 15 rules for solid-wood packaging.
07 Do not ship until… A short final gate prevents expensive rework, holds and destruction.
Written importer and customs-broker approvalRequired Importer and broker confirm the exact SKU, HS code, origin, formulation/materials, label, permits, certificates and arrival process in writing. Final label sign-offRequired A qualified destination-market label reviewer approves the production artwork before printing commercial quantities. Landed-cost and Incoterm approvalRequired Include product, testing, certification, inland freight, export clearance, international freight, insurance, duty, tax, brokerage, inspection, storage and failure/rework risk. Trial shipment firstRequired Use a controlled commercial pilot with complete documents and representative packaging before scaling purchase orders. Release decision recordedRequired Name one accountable person who signs a dated go/no-go checklist and archives the approved product, label, test and shipment versions.
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