India initiates sustainability certification framework for exports to meet EU, UK compliance norms
As part of the exercise, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has requested information from export-oriented sectors on products that may soon need proof of sustainability, the person said.
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The ministry is also seeking information on the data points, methodologies and verification processes that need to be included to ensure acceptance of India’s sustainability certification framework in foreign markets.
Although there is no single universally accepted “sustainability certification” and compliance with sustainability is demonstrated through industry-specific certifications, traceability, emissions reporting and independent audits, consumers are increasingly looking for ethically and sustainably produced products.
For example, in the EU, Indian exports must meet the norms of the EU Deforestation Directive and the Ecological Design for Sustainable Products Directive, which aim at supply chain transparency.
ET Bureau“Our effort is to prioritize sectors most likely to face sustainability-related requirements, based on valid global practices, and to introduce reliable certification standards. The goal is to generate verifiable data,” the aforementioned official said.
The move will improve the quality of manufactured products as well as strengthen India’s capacity to comply with the regulations of its trading partners, the person said.
Europe and North America account for about 40% of India’s exports, according to government data.
“There are no Indian standards for many products and if there are, they are inferior to their Western counterparts,” said an industry official.
India has signed a trade agreement with the UK, completed negotiations with the EU and is negotiating trade agreements with the US and Canada. Both the UK and the EU are developing carbon border regulation mechanisms.
The previously mentioned official said, “The exercise has just started and the states will also get involved.”
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Government initiative in this regard is very important as regulatory approaches differ between countries; but common elements include traceability requirements, environmental performance disclosure, sustainable sourcing obligations, carbon accounting frameworks, organic and eco-label certifications and digital product information systems.
The ministry is also seeking detailed information on products and target markets for which sustainability-related certifications or documentary evidence are already mandatory or widely required.
