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Indian exporters dealing in prepared culture media need to check an important change in the country's export policy. On 12 October 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued Notification No. 44/2026-27, amending the export conditions for prepared culture media classified under ITC(HS) Code 38210000.
The amendment does not restrict the export of these products. Prepared culture media remain under the Free export policy. What has changed is the provision for issuing a Shipment Clearance Certificate and a Health Certificate when the importing country asks for such documentation.
Under the amended condition, CAPEXIL is responsible for issuing a consignment-wise Shipment Clearance Certificate. A Health Certificate, wherever required or mandated by the importing country, is to be issued jointly by CAPEXIL and the Regional Animal Quarantine Officer identified in the notification.
For manufacturers, merchant exporters and businesses supplying laboratories overseas, this means that export documentation needs closer attention when certification is required. The product's HS code, plant particulars, invoice information and shipment details must be accurate.
For organizations who are looking for DGFT export compliances, it is very important to first analyze whether the modified conditions are applicable to their goods and destination country. The notification becomes operative instantly and no transition period is prescribed.
The notification has been issued by the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It amends the export policy entry for prepared culture media in Chapter 38 of Schedule II of ITC(HS) 2022.
The notification makes one point particularly clear: the export policy continues to be Free. Exporters should therefore not confuse the revised documentation arrangement with a restriction on the export of prepared culture media.
Prepared culture media are specially prepared substances used in laboratories to grow, develop or maintain microorganisms and cells.
They provide the nutrients and conditions needed for laboratory cultures. Depending on their formulation, culture media may be used for microorganisms, including viruses in suitable host-cell systems, or for plant, human and animal cells.
Such products are used in microbiology, biotechnology, research and laboratory testing.
Which Products Are Covered?
The description in DGFT Notification No. 44/2026-27 covers:
Prepared Culture Media for Development or Maintenance of Micro-organisms (including viruses and the like) or of Plant, Human or Animal Cells.
For exporters, the important point is that the notification applies to products falling under the specified tariff classification. It does not automatically cover every product used in a laboratory.
For instance, laboratory instruments, general chemicals and testing equipment should not be assumed to fall under the same HS code merely because they are used alongside culture media.
Why Does the HS Code Matter for Exports?
The ITC(HS) code helps identify the export policy applicable to a product.
An incorrect classification may lead a business to examine the wrong policy conditions or prepare documents using inconsistent product descriptions.
Manufacturers and exporters should pay attention to three areas:
Correct classification is particularly useful when an importing country asks for a certificate tied to the product being shipped.
India's export policy is governed by the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, along with the Foreign Trade Policy and product-specific import and export classifications.
The prepared culture media amendment has been issued under this existing framework. It is a change to an export policy condition, not a separate law introducing a new licensing system.
Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992
The notification refers to Section 3 read with Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.
Section 3 empowers the Central Government to make provisions regulating imports and exports. Section 5 provides for the formulation and amendment of foreign trade policy.
These provisions form part of the legal basis for revising product-specific trade conditions.
Foreign Trade Policy 2023
The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 provides the broader policy framework for India's international trade.
DGFT Notification No. 44/2026-27 refers specifically to paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01 of the policy, as amended from time to time.
Exporters must consider the applicable foreign trade policy provisions alongside the particular export conditions attached to their products.
Schedule II of ITC(HS) 2022
Schedule II contains export policy classifications for different goods.
The products are identified through ITC(HS) codes, allowing businesses to determine whether a product is Free, Restricted, Prohibited or subject to other applicable policy conditions.
Prepared culture media under Code 38210000 fall within Chapter 38.
The notification retains their Free classification while revising the conditions concerning certificate issuance.
The amendment deals with the documents that may be needed when prepared culture media are exported to a country requiring shipment clearance or health certification.
Previously, the policy entry shown in the notification classified the goods as Free. The revised entry continues that classification and adds a specific certificate-issuance arrangement.
The change can be understood through three main points.
1. Prepared Culture Media Exports Remain Free
The government has not placed prepared culture media under the Restricted or Prohibited export categories through this notification.
Indian businesses can continue exporting covered goods under the Free policy classification, subject to other applicable requirements.
No separate DGFT export licence requirement has been introduced by this amendment.
2. CAPEXIL Can Issue Shipment Clearance Certificates
The revised condition provides for CAPEXIL to issue Shipment Clearance Certificates on a consignment-wise basis under the applicable importing-country requirement.
The certificate identifies the exporter, manufacturing plant and relevant export shipment.
Information such as the exporter's name, IEC number, plant approval number, product quantity, invoice particulars and destination must be included.
3. Health Certification Has a Specified Issuing Arrangement
The notification also provides for a Health Certificate to be issued jointly by CAPEXIL and the Regional Animal Quarantine Officer, wherever required or mandated by the importing country.
The certificate contains details concerning the product, HS code, packaging, origin, destination, vessel, departure date and relevant health requirements.
The notification describes the exporter providing this Health Certificate to the buyer after shipment.
The important distinction is that the notification provides a certificate-issuance arrangement; it does not say that both certificates must accompany every prepared culture media export.
The change is easier to understand by comparing the earlier export policy entry with the amended position.
The comparison shows that the underlying export classification has not changed.
The new condition addresses how exporters may obtain documentation requested by an importing country.
The notification does not establish that no certification requirements existed previously under other laws or destination-country regulations. It only confirms the amendment made to this particular DGFT export policy entry.
The amended conditions apply to exports of prepared culture media falling under ITC(HS) Code 38210000.
However, the certification arrangement becomes relevant depending on the requirements of the importing country.
Manufacturers Exporting Prepared Culture Media
Indian manufacturers supplying prepared culture media overseas should check whether their export destinations require shipment clearance or health certification.
Where these documents are needed, accurate product and manufacturing plant particulars become especially important.
A manufacturer should ensure that the details supplied for certification correspond with the actual goods being exported.
Merchant Exporters
Merchant exporters may purchase prepared culture media from manufacturers and sell them to international buyers.
In these cases, the exporter may need to obtain accurate plant and product details from the manufacturer for the relevant certification documentation.
The notification identifies the plant approval number and registered plant address among the Shipment Clearance Certificate particulars.
MSME Exporters
MSME exporters are not given a separate compliance category under this notification.
Nevertheless, smaller businesses may find destination-specific certificate requirements more demanding when they have limited documentation staff.
Checking the requirements before shipment can help avoid unnecessary preparation and confusion.
Businesses Exporting to Countries With Health Certification Conditions
This is the group for which the amendment may have the most immediate practical relevance.
Where an importing country requires a Health Certificate or Shipment Clearance Certificate, the exporter should understand the arrangement specified by DGFT.
The notification does not give a country-wise list, so exporters should verify the conditions applicable to their intended destination.
Yes. Prepared culture media under ITC(HS) Code 38210000 remain Free for export from India.
There is no change to Restricted or Prohibited status under Notification No. 44/2026-27.
However, the Free classification must be understood alongside other applicable trade conditions.
A product being Free under India's export policy does not mean the importing country cannot require additional documentation.
An overseas authority may have its own requirements concerning product information, health certification or shipment records.
The amended DGFT condition addresses how the specified certificates can be issued when the importing country requires them.
For Indian exporters, the practical question is therefore not simply whether the product can be exported. It is also whether the destination country requires additional documents for the particular shipment.
One point exporters must get right is that the notification does not make both certificates compulsory for every prepared culture media shipment.
The revised condition is linked to what the importing country requires. If the destination country insists on a Shipment Clearance Certificate or Health Certificate, the arrangement mentioned in the DGFT notification becomes relevant.
What Should Exporters Check Before Shipping?
Before dispatching prepared culture media, the exporter should check the documentary conditions applicable to the destination.
Three questions deserve particular attention:
Does the importing country require a Shipment Clearance Certificate? Where such certification is required, the amended condition identifies CAPEXIL as the issuing body.
Is a Health Certificate also required? If it is, the notification provides for joint issuance by CAPEXIL and the designated Regional Animal Quarantine Officer.
What information does the overseas buyer need? The exporter should confirm that the product description, origin, HS code and shipment particulars match the applicable importing-country requirements.
This verification can help businesses avoid preparing unnecessary documents or overlooking those actually required for a shipment.
Are Both Certificates Mandatory for Every Export?
No blanket requirement of that nature is stated in Notification No. 44/2026-27.
The notification addresses certificate issuance where the importing country insists on the relevant documentation.
However, exporters should not assume that a certificate is unnecessary merely because the product is classified as Free under India's export policy.
India's export classification and the destination country's import conditions must be considered separately.
Can Prepared Culture Media Be Exported Without a Health Certificate?
Where the importing country does not require the specified Health Certificate, this notification does not independently create a universal obligation to obtain one for every shipment.
That does not remove any separate health, customs, biosecurity or other requirements that may apply under verified laws.
An exporter should therefore confirm the actual destination requirements rather than treating the certificate as automatically necessary or unnecessary.
Shipment Clearance Certificate Requirements for Prepared Culture Media Exports
The Shipment Clearance Certificate is one of the two documents specifically addressed in the DGFT amendment.
According to the notification, CAPEXIL is to issue this certificate on a consignment-wise basis under the applicable certification arrangement.
The certificate records information about the exporter, manufacturing plant, product and shipment.
What Is a Shipment Clearance Certificate?
For the purpose of this amendment, a Shipment Clearance Certificate is a document identifying a particular export consignment and its relevant commercial and plant-related particulars.
It helps connect the certification with a defined shipment rather than providing a general clearance covering every future export by the business.
Who Issues the Certificate?
CAPEXIL, the Chemicals and Allied Products Export Promotion Council, is identified as the issuing authority.
CAPEXIL is an export promotion council established under the Ministry of Commerce framework for chemical and allied product exports. Its official resources also describe certification work in particular product sectors.
The exact administrative process for prepared culture media under the new notification should be confirmed with CAPEXIL.
Details Required for the Shipment Clearance Certificate
The notification lists several particulars that the certificate must contain.
Why Does the Plant Approval Number Matter?
The notification expressly identifies a Plant Approval Number among the Shipment Clearance Certificate details.
This means exporters need to check the relevance and availability of that identifier when preparing information for the certificate.
However, the notification does not explain a new plant-approval application procedure for all prepared culture media manufacturers.
CAPEXIL operates plant-approval arrangements in certain product sectors, but those arrangements should not automatically be applied to prepared culture media without confirmation.
Manufacturers should seek clarification from the appropriate issuing authority where the plant-approval position is uncertain.
What Does Consignment-Wise Certification Mean?
Consignment-wise issuance means the certificate is connected to a specific export shipment.
That shipment will have its own quantity, invoice information, loading port and destination.
An exporter sending separate consignments should not assume that one certificate automatically covers all of them.
The notification does not prescribe a fixed processing time, application format or certificate validity period for this product category.
The Health Certificate serves a different purpose from the Shipment Clearance Certificate.
While the shipment clearance document identifies the exporter and consignment, the Health Certificate addresses product and shipment particulars together with the relevant health conditions.
The certificate becomes relevant where it is required or mandated by the importing country.
What Information Must the Health Certificate Contain?
The notification identifies the following details:
These details help establish the relationship between the certificate and the exported consignment.
Who Is Responsible for Issuing the Health Certificate?
The DGFT notification provides for joint issuance by CAPEXIL and the Regional Animal Quarantine Officer, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
This is the authority description used in the notification.
The certificate is not described as being issued by CAPEXIL alone.
When Must the Health Certificate Be Provided?
The notification states that after shipment is made, the exporter shall provide the Health Certificate to the buyer on a consignment-wise basis under the specified arrangement.
The mention of vessel details and departure date is consistent with the document being linked to an actual shipment.
However, no exact number of days for submission is prescribed.
Exporters should confirm delivery and acceptance arrangements with the relevant parties before planning their shipment.
Does the Amendment Introduce Mandatory Product Testing?
The notification does not specify new laboratory test parameters, sampling methods or a universal testing procedure for prepared culture media.
It refers to health requirements associated with the importing country.
Where a destination country requires particular technical evidence, exporters should verify the applicable rules.
A new mandatory testing regime should not be inferred from the Health Certificate provision alone.
Role of CAPEXIL and the Regional Animal Quarantine Officer
The two issuing arrangements should be kept separate because they involve different responsibilities.
CAPEXIL's Role
Under the new policy condition, CAPEXIL is responsible for issuing the Shipment Clearance Certificate on a consignment-wise basis.
It is also one of the two authorities involved in issuing the Health Certificate.
For exporters, CAPEXIL is therefore a relevant institution for understanding the certificate arrangements described in the notification.
The Regional Animal Quarantine Officer participates in joint issuance of the Health Certificate wherever the importing country requires or mandates it.
The notification identifies the officer's role but does not provide a separate detailed inspection, laboratory approval or application process.
Businesses should verify operational procedures with the competent authorities.
Why Coordination Matters
An exporter may have to arrange accurate product information from the manufacturer, commercial details from the export team and shipment particulars from the logistics provider.
Where health certification is applicable, the correct information must also reach the relevant issuing authorities.
Maintaining clear communication can help prevent conflicting details from appearing in different records.
The documents are not interchangeable.
An overseas buyer asking for a Health Certificate is not necessarily requesting the same information contained in a Shipment Clearance Certificate.
Before preparing either document, the exporter should confirm exactly what the importing country requires.
The notification gives the information that must appear in the relevant certificates. It does not provide a complete supporting-document checklist for an online application.
Exporters should distinguish between the details expressly specified in the notification and the records that may be useful for preparing those details.
Exporter Identification Records
IEC particulars, business name and registered address should be accurate.
Where a business requires an IEC registration or an update independently of this amendment, professional Import Export Code registration services may be relevant.
Product and Manufacturing Particulars
The exporting business should check the nature of the prepared culture media, relevant quantity and plant information.
Merchant exporters may need to coordinate with manufacturers to obtain accurate plant and product particulars.
Commercial and Shipment Records
Invoice information, destination, loading port, packaging, origin and transport details may be needed to prepare the relevant certificate information.
This table is not a prescribed CAPEXIL application checklist. Exporters should confirm actual submission requirements with the issuing authority.
Notification No. 44/2026-27 was issued on 12 October 2026 and takes effect immediately.
The document does not provide a future commencement date, phased implementation schedule or separate transition period.
Businesses should not assume that a grace period has been provided.
At the same time, the immediate effective date does not make the certificates compulsory for destinations that do not require them under the applicable conditions.
The practical impact depends on the exporter, the product and the destination country.
A business exporting prepared culture media to a market that requires the specified certificates may need to review its documentation arrangements. An exporter supplying a destination that does not impose those conditions may face no direct certificate-related change from this notification.
Impact on Prepared Culture Media Manufacturers
Manufacturers exporting directly may need to ensure that plant and product information is accurate and available.
Where certification is required, their export teams should understand which details the issuing authority needs.
Impact on Merchant Exporters
Merchant exporters may depend on manufacturers for technical product descriptions and plant-related information.
They should avoid relying on incomplete product descriptions when preparing shipment information.
Impact on MSMEs
Small exporters may need to devote additional staff time to certification coordination where overseas requirements make it necessary.
However, the notification does not create a separate or stricter certification rule specifically for MSMEs.
Impact on Export Compliance Teams
Export compliance teams may need to check whether existing documentation procedures account for the new condition.
This could include reviewing internal product classification records and establishing a clear process for confirming destination-country requirements.
These are likely operational implications, not additional legal obligations established for each stakeholder.
For exporters dealing with overseas buyers who require additional certification, the amendment provides greater clarity about the authorities involved and the information needed for the specified certificates.
1. Clearer Certificate-Issuing Arrangement
The notification identifies CAPEXIL as the authority for the Shipment Clearance Certificate and establishes the joint issuing arrangement for the Health Certificate.
This helps exporters determine which institution is responsible for each document.
2. Continued Free Export Policy
The government has retained the Free export classification for prepared culture media under ITC(HS) Code 38210000.
Exporters should therefore understand the amendment as a change to the policy conditions rather than a general restriction on the product.
3. Better Understanding of Export Documentation
The certificate provisions identify specific product, plant, exporter and shipment details.
This data will allow the companies to evaluate their documentation process and rectify the lack or discrepancy in the details.
4. Helps in Meeting the Certification Requirements of the Importing Country
In cases where an importing country needs these certificates, the notification has an issuance process under the Indian export policy.
This may prove helpful for the exporter to meet any documentary requirement but the acceptability depends upon the requirement of the importing country.
5. Helps in Planning Shipment Efficiently
Knowing the relevant authorities and certificate particulars may help exporters plan their documentation before dispatching goods.
These benefits should be viewed as potential practical advantages. The notification does not guarantee certificate approval, faster customs clearance or reduced export costs.
The amendment may also create practical questions for businesses exporting prepared culture media.
The extent of these challenges will depend on whether certification is required for the intended destination.
Understanding Different Countries' Requirements
A business supplying multiple overseas markets cannot assume that one country's documentary rules apply to every destination.
Where certification conditions differ, the exporter may need to check the applicable requirements separately.
Obtaining Accurate Plant Information
The Shipment Clearance Certificate contains the registered plant address and the Plant Approval Number.
It is necessary for merchant exporters and traders to liaise with the manufacturers regarding these details.
The notification does not specify a separate new plant-approval procedure for this product category.
Managing Certificate-Related Information
Shipment details may come from different departments or service providers.
For instance, the commercial team may hold invoice information while the logistics team handles vessel and departure particulars.
The exporter should make sure the details submitted for certification correspond to the actual consignment.
Additional Administrative Costs
Certification arrangements may involve document preparation, staff time and communication with the relevant authorities.
However, no specific certificate fee for prepared culture media is prescribed in Notification No. 44/2026-27.
CAPEXIL publishes a fee schedule for various services, including certain animal by-product certification activities. Those published charges should not automatically be treated as the applicable fees for prepared culture media under this amendment.
Exporters should obtain confirmation of any relevant charges directly from CAPEXIL.
A business can have a correctly classified product and still encounter documentation difficulties if the information supplied for a particular consignment is inconsistent.
The following risks deserve attention.
1. Assuming the amendment has restricted exports
The policy remains Free. The amendment should not be described as a general export ban or restriction.
2. Treating the certificates as universally mandatory
This is because the notification connects the certification system to the needs of the importing country.
3. Employing the wrong HS code
Classification under ITC(HS) Code 38210000 should be used in evaluating the product.
4. Failure to include plant information
The Shipment Clearance Certificate requires information on the registered plant address and Plant Approval Number.
5. Mistaking Shipment Clearance and Health Certificates
They contain different information and issuance systems.
6. The assumption that the processing time is constant
The notification gives no timeframe for the issuance of either of the certificates.
7. Disregarding needs of foreign buyers
Exporters should establish what documentation the importing country actually requires.
8. Relying on unverified certification procedures
Any application portal, fee, supporting-document list or administrative process should be confirmed with the relevant authority.
These are documentation and interpretation risks. The notification itself does not prescribe a new penalty schedule for them.
Exporters should assess whether the amended policy applies to their products and whether the intended destination requires certification.
The following actions provide a practical approach. They are not a government-prescribed application procedure.
Step 1: Confirm the Correct Product Classification
Check whether the goods fall under ITC(HS) Code 38210000.
Product classification should be based on the actual goods rather than a broad laboratory product category.
Step 2: Review the DGFT Amendment
Read Notification No. 44/2026-27 and identify the certificate-related conditions.
Pay particular attention to the continued Free policy classification.
Step 3: Verify the Importing-Country Requirements
Confirm whether the destination country requires a Shipment Clearance Certificate, Health Certificate or another form of documentation.
Where necessary, seek clarification from the overseas buyer or competent authority.
Step 4: Prepare Accurate Export Information
Where the certificate arrangement applies, organise the relevant exporter, IEC, plant, product, quantity and shipment particulars.
Ensure that the information corresponds with the actual consignment.
Step 5: Confirm the Applicable Certification Procedure
Contact CAPEXIL or the other designated authority, as relevant, to establish the current process.
Do not assume that general certification procedures published for unrelated products also apply to prepared culture media.
Step 6: Review Documents Before Submission
Check that information such as invoice number, product description, port of loading, destination and transport particulars is accurate.
Step 7: Maintain Suitable Records
Maintain the relevant records and communications in accordance with the record-keeping requirements and policies of the business.
There is no retention period specified in the notice for these certificates.
Exporters can make their documentation arrangements more reliable by following a few practical measures.
None of these recommendations should be mistaken for a separate certification process newly prescribed by DGFT.
Businesses exporting prepared culture media may need help understanding the amended DGFT policy conditions, reviewing their product classification or arranging accurate export documentation.
Corpseed provides services related to DGFT licensing, Import Export Code registration and export regulatory matters.
For exporters affected by Notification No. 44/2026-27, the most relevant areas of assistance include the following.
DGFT Export Policy Applicability Assessment
Businesses need to establish whether their goods are covered by the notified ITC(HS) classification.
Corpseed's regulatory consulting support can assist exporters in reviewing the relevant policy entry and understanding the conditions attached to it.
Export Documentation Services
Where an overseas buyer requires certification, accurate documentation becomes important.
Export documentation support can help businesses review exporter identification, product descriptions, invoice particulars and shipment details.
Import Export Code Registration Services
An IEC is an important identification requirement for businesses engaged in India's import-export trade framework.
Corpseed offers Import Export Code registration services for businesses that need assistance obtaining or updating their IEC.
The prepared culture media amendment does not itself impose a new IEC registration requirement on existing exporters.
DGFT Licence and Regulatory Consulting
Businesses dealing with different product categories may need help distinguishing Free exports from goods that independently require export authorisation.
Corpseed's DGFT licence consultancy services can support relevant export licensing and regulatory matters where applicable.
However, exporters should not apply for a restricted export licence solely because prepared culture media are covered by Notification No. 44/2026-27.
CAPEXIL-Related Compliance Guidance
Where the importing country requires the specified certificates, exporters may need assistance understanding the relevant documentation and the role of CAPEXIL.
Corpseed can provide regulatory and documentation guidance within the scope of its services. The certificates themselves must be issued by the authorities specified in the notification.
International Trade Compliance Consulting
Exporting to different markets internationally means that companies may have different documentation. Export consulting will assist companies in examining the trade regulations applicable to India and issues related to destinations.
Ongoing Regulatory Compliance Support
Businesses engaged in regular international trade should review policy changes relevant to their products.
Corpseed's regulatory compliance services can assist with applicable policy interpretation and internal compliance planning.
Need assistance with prepared culture media export compliance? Corpseed's DGFT export compliance services can help manufacturers and exporters understand applicable policy conditions, review documentation and identify relevant regulatory requirements before planning their shipments.
DGFT Notification No. 44/2026-27 dated 12 October 2026 modifies the export policy conditions of prepared culture media, which are included in ITC (HS) Code 38210000.
The modification does not prohibit any exports. The commodity code continues to be Free, but the modified policy allows the issuance of Shipment Clearance Certificates and Health Certificates wherever required by the importing country.
The main points exporters should remember are:
Businesses should assess the specific requirements applicable to their export transactions rather than assuming that the amendment creates the same certification obligation for every shipment.
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