Packaging Compliance for US/UK Export: FDA, BRC, FSC Explained
Exporting from India to the US, UK, or UAE? Here's exactly which packaging certifications you need, what they cost, and how to build compliance in from the start.
India's export packaging requirements for food, pharma, and consumer goods going to the US, UK, and UAE are significantly more demanding than domestic requirements. Getting these wrong doesn't just mean a rejected shipment — it can mean your products being quarantined at the port, brand reputation damage, and in some cases, FDA import alerts that block your products for years.
FDA Requirements (US Market)
For any food, beverage, supplement, or pharmaceutical product exported to the United States, FDA packaging compliance is mandatory. Key requirements:
- →FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program): Your US importer must verify your packaging supplier meets FDA food safety standards. This means your packaging factory must be FDA-registered.
- →Nutrition/supplement labelling: Must follow 21 CFR Part 101 for food labelling — specific font sizes, placement, and mandatory disclosures
- →Material compliance: All food-contact packaging materials must comply with 21 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 174–186 for indirect food additives
- →No prohibited substances: BPA, phthalates, heavy metals in inks must be below FDA thresholds
- →Country of origin labelling: "Made in India" or equivalent must appear on primary packaging
BRC Packaging Standard (UK/Europe Market)
The BRC Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials is the dominant certification for packaging going into UK supermarkets, food manufacturers, and retailers. BRC AA or A grade is often a mandatory supplier requirement for major UK retailers (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose).
- →BRC Issue 6: Current version — covers management commitment, hazard analysis, site standards, product control, process control
- →Audit frequency: Annual third-party audit by a BRC-certified body
- →Food-grade packaging: Must demonstrate HACCP implementation and allergen control
- →Cost: Typically £3,000–8,000/year for audit + certification for an Indian packaging factory
FSC Certification (Sustainable Packaging)
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification is increasingly required for paper-based packaging going to European and UK buyers, and is a strong differentiator in US premium retail:
- →FSC 100%: Packaging made entirely from FSC-certified forests
- →FSC Mix: Packaging with a mix of FSC-certified and recycled material
- →FSC Recycled: Packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled material
- →Chain of custody: Your packaging supplier must maintain FSC chain-of-custody certification, not just your product
Important
FSC certification must be maintained by your packaging manufacturer, not just claimed on the box. Ask your packaging vendor for their FSC certificate number and verify it on info.fsc.org before printing the FSC logo on your packaging.
UAE Export Requirements
The UAE requires ESMA (Emirates Standards and Metrology Authority) compliance for food packaging, and MOIAT approval for certain product categories. Key requirements:
- →Arabic labelling: Mandatory for all products sold in UAE retail — at minimum, product name and key info must appear in Arabic
- →Halal certification: Required for food products — packaging must not reference non-halal content
- →Country of origin: Clear "Made in India" labelling required
- →Shelf life: Must be clearly stated in DD/MM/YYYY format
Building Compliance In From the Start
The cheapest compliance is the compliance you build into your original spec. Retrofitting packaging for an export market typically costs 2–4× more than getting it right initially — you need new artwork, new samples, new approvals, and potentially new materials.
Packworkz works with 20+ countries and can spec your packaging for multi-market compliance from day one. Our export packaging range includes BRC-certified factories for UK retail requirements, FDA-registered facilities for US food and supplement brands, and FSC-certified paper options for European sustainable packaging requirements.
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