**Policy Summary: Rejection of Indian Goods by Foreign Countries**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2737, answered on August 5, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry addressed concerns regarding the rejection of Indian goods by foreign countries due to quality and safety standards. The Ministry acknowledges that rejections occur due to non-tariff measures such as quality standards, phytosanitary standards, and packaging/labelling requirements imposed by importing nations.
The Government of India has implemented measures to enhance quality consciousness, including Quality Control Orders and alignment of standards with international benchmarks. These efforts have led to a 12.50% decline in the number of Indian products rejected by importing countries in June 2025, compared to June 2024.
Importing countries periodically issue regulations concerning residue limits and other food safety and health standards. The Government disseminates information regarding these regulations to Indian exporters to facilitate smooth export operations. Agencies like the Export Inspection Council, Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Commodity Boards, and Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) actively monitor rejection cases. These agencies implement corrective and preventive measures, including exporter capacity building, stricter pre-export controls, enhanced laboratory testing, and stakeholder sensitization. These actions aim to ensure compliance with importing country standards and minimize future occurrences of rejection.
Key Entities Referenced
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: A department under the MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, Government of India.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN: Member of Parliament who asked the question about rejected items.
SHRI JITIN PRASADA: The Minister of State in the MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY who answered the question.
Government of India: The governing body of the Republic of India, undertaking measures for quality consciousness.
Export Inspection Council: An agency involved in monitoring rejection cases and taking corrective measures.
Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority APEDA: An agency involved in monitoring rejection cases and taking corrective measures.
Marine Products Export Development Authority MPEDA: An agency involved in monitoring rejection cases and taking corrective measures.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2737
ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025
NUMBER OF ITEMS REJECTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES
2737. DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN:
Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased
to state:
(a) whether the Government has the data about the number of items that were
rejected by foreign countries for want of quality and consumption safety;
(b) If so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is aware of the number of foreign countries that have
rejected and banned Indian products for want of quality and safety; and
(d) If so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (b): Every country faces such issues of rejections due to various non-tariff
measures including quality, phytosanitary standards, packaging/labelling etc. imposed by
importing countries. However, over the years, Government of India has taken various
measures for quality consciousness including Quality Control Orders, alignment of
standards with international benchmark etc., thereby enhancing the global
competitiveness as a result of which the number of Indian products rejected by importing
countries have registered a decline of 12.50% in June 2025 compared that in June 2024.
(c) to (d): Importing countries keep issuing regulations from time to time regarding residue
limits for various products especially from the angle of food safety and health. Information
about such regulations is disseminated among the exporters in order to ensure smooth
flow of exports from India. The concerned agencies such as Export Inspection Council,
Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Marine
Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), other Commodity Boards, Export
Promotion Councils (EPCs) etc. monitor such rejection cases regularly and take
appropriate corrective and preventive measures including capacity building of exporters,
stricter pre-export controls, enhanced laboratory testing and stakeholder sensitisation to
ensure compliance with the standards of importing countries and to minimise such
occurrences in the future.
******