Buyer's Guide
How to Verify an Indian Supplier's Export Credentials Before You Pay
Registration claims are only useful if you actually verify them. Most of the credentials relevant to Indian export are independently checkable through official government resources — here's what to check and how.
Written by Raju Y.
- 2 min
- Reading time
- 5
- Sections
- 3
- Questions answered
- 15 Sept 2026
- Last reviewed
In this guide
At a glance
A Simple Sequence to Follow
- 1
Request the specific registration numbers
IEC, APEDA, FSSAI, GST — relevant to your product category
- 2
Cross-check them yourself
Against the official portal, not a screenshot or PDF
- 3
Request a sample before any commercial commitment
- 4
For larger first orders, consider an independent pre-shipment inspection
IEC (Import Export Code)
An IEC, issued by India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), is required for any business conducting cross-border trade from India. Ask for the IEC number and confirm it corresponds to the legal entity you're actually contracting with — not just a trade name used on marketing materials.
APEDA and FSSAI
Where relevant to the product category, these can be verified through their respective official portals using the registration or license number the supplier provides. See our APEDA vs FSSAI guide for what each one actually covers and doesn't.
GST Registration
India's GST (Goods & Services Tax) registration number follows a checkable format and is publicly verifiable through the GST portal. A legitimate, actively operating business should be able to provide this without hesitation.
What's Harder to Verify Remotely
Physical facility conditions, actual production capacity, and day-to-day quality control practices are much harder to confirm from documentation alone. For a first order of meaningful size, a third-party pre-shipment inspection (an independent inspector checking the goods before they're shipped) is a reasonable additional step if the order value justifies the cost — and a supplier confident in their product typically has no objection to it.
A Simple Sequence to Follow
- Request the specific registration numbers relevant to your product category
- Cross-check them against the relevant official portal yourself, rather than trusting a screenshot or PDF alone
- Request a sample before any commercial commitment
- For larger first orders, consider an independent pre-shipment inspection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an IEC?
An Import Export Code issued by India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade, required for any business trading across borders from India. Confirm the number corresponds to the legal entity you're contracting with, not just a trade name on marketing materials.
Which Indian exporter credentials can I verify online?
The IEC, APEDA and FSSAI registrations through their official portals, and the GST registration number through the GST portal. Cross-check the numbers yourself rather than trusting a screenshot or PDF.
What can't be verified from documents alone?
Physical facility conditions, actual production capacity and day-to-day quality control. For a first order of meaningful size, an independent pre-shipment inspection is a reasonable extra step, and a supplier confident in their product typically has no objection to it.
This guide is general orientation for buyers, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Requirements change and vary by product, origin and importer type — confirm current rules with your own customs broker or compliance contact before relying on anything here for an actual shipment.
Related Reading
Compliance Reference
APEDA vs FSSAI Explained
A plain-language explanation of APEDA and FSSAI registration — what each covers, why a supplier needs both, and how to verify them yourself before you order.
Read guide →Buyer's Guide
Red Flags When Evaluating an Indian Spice Exporter
Warning signs worth taking seriously when vetting an Indian spice or agri export supplier — before you commit to a sample or a first order.
Read guide →Buyer's Guide
Pre-Shipment Inspection: What It Is and When to Request One
What a pre-shipment inspection actually checks, who typically arranges and pays for one, and when it's worth adding to a spice or agri export order.
Read guide →Get Started
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