September 19, 2026
The temporary exemption from mandatory EIC/EIA inspection certificates for basmati and non-basmati rice shipments to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein expires October 1, 2026 — here's what exporters should prepare.
A Certificate of Inspection from the Export Inspection Council/Export Inspection Agency (EIC/EIA) has long been mandatory for rice shipments to the EU and UK. In April 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) granted a six-month exemption from this requirement for shipments to four non-EU European markets: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. That waiver ends on October 1, 2026.
Inspection involves sampling and clearance — it is not a last-minute step. Any shipment to the affected countries clearing customs on or after October 1 will need the certificate, and missing it can delay clearance at the destination.
This comes alongside a stronger year for Indian agri-exports to Western markets — the India-US trade agreement in 2026 cut tariffs on a wide range of agricultural goods, with rice among the categories retaining protected, duty-favourable access.
If you're exporting Basmati or Non-Basmati rice to any of the affected countries, now is the time to get your inspection paperwork in order — well ahead of October 1, 2026.
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