DGFT Modifies the Policy on Meat and Meet products export: What should Exporters know?
New Requirements become effective October 29, 2025.
India has made a major change in its export policy of chilled and frozen meat and meat products through the announcement of a major amendment to the same by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). The government has also come up with an additional compulsory measure that all those involved in the export business in this field will be impacted through the issuance of a new requirement, Notification No. 42/2025-26, dated October 14, 2025 [1]. The new conditions take effect on October 29, 2025 with businesses having a transition period to prepare against the new conditions.
This amendment brings in what is referred to as Export Policy Condition 9 within Chapter-2, Schedule-II of Chapter 2022 ITC (HS) code classification system. The change is a significant alteration of Indian regulation of the export of such essential agricultural products and the condition of export authorization on contributions to a national development fund.
What is the New Requirement?
The amended export policy means that the exporters of the chilled and frozen meat products can no longer export their products easily. In their turn, they have now to demonstrate evidence of remittance to the Meat Export Development Fund (MEDF), which is run and controlled by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) [2].
Consider it this way, until a shipment of meat is made to leave India, the exporter should be able to prove that they have contributed to this development fund financially. This is not optional. It is an obligatory fact, which should be fulfilled to receive the export permission. Non-observance of this requirement can lead to denial of export, penalties and other enforcement measures.
The MEDF is a nationwide project sponsored by APEDA to build up and fortify the Indian meat export sector. The government is developing a long term sustainable mechanism through linking exports with contribution to finance industry development, research, quality improvement and market promotion activities that benefit all the exporters in the long run.
Which Products Are Affected?
The new demand concerns types of meat products that are determined by their ITC (HS) codes. This is the international system of classification of customs and trade. The new condition includes the following products [3]:
The main part of this requirement is made of bovine meat products. In particular, the following is covered: fresh and chilled boneless meat of bovine animals (ITC code 02013000), frozen boneless meat of bovine animals (ITC code 02023000). There are also different types of edible offal of bovines animals, which are also included in the requirement [4].
Edible offal is those organs and other portions of animals that are consumed by humans. The new policy also provides that fresh or chilled edible offal of bovine animals (ITC code 02061000), frozen tongues (ITC code 02062100), frozen livers (ITC code 02062200), and other frozen offal products (ITC code 02062900) must be accompanied with evidence of MEDF contribution before export [5].
It should be mentioned that this requirement is limited to boneless meat products and some groups of offal. Before exporters can make shipments, they should ensure that the certain goods they have are within these codes.
Why Has the Government Made This Change?
The amendment shows the intentions of the government to control and to grow India meat export industry in a systematic way [6]. The Indian is among the largest exporters of meat products in the world, and this is an important part of the economy. The MEDF system guarantees that such growth is facilitated by special investment in the industry.
This policy has various functions. First, it establishes a formal means of financing industry projects, and does not entirely depend on government budgets. Second, it makes exporters invest in the sector which they are enjoying. Third, it assists in sustaining the quality standards, new market development, and investment in the research and development of the meat export industry.
The requirement also shows the desire of India to practice regulated and transparent trade. Through this connection between exports and a development fund, the government will be able to monitor and control the export business which will eventually allow the sector to develop at a sustainable rate and at the same time ensure that the sector meets international quality requirements.
Implementation Schedule.
It was announced on October 14, 2025, and gives a grace period during which it will be fully implemented. Exporters will be required to learn and be ready to meet the new requirements until October 29, 2025. This 15 days period is meant to give the businesses time to learn the new regulations and prepare the arrangements with APEDA necessary and make sure that they can meet the remittance with the requirement of proof [7].
The new condition will come into play after October 29, 2025, to all shipments of the affected meat products. Any goods export that fails to provide evidence of MEDF remittance can be rejected or detained at the port, causing wastage of time and money to exporters.
What Do Exporters Need to Do?
The exporters of chilled and frozen meat products ought to act before long in order to make sure that there is compliance. To begin with, they are to confirm the presence of their particular products among the ITC codes covered by the notification. Most exporters will not be influenced assuming that they export other forms of meat or other forms of meat products.
Second, exporters are supposed to address APEDA directly to get to know how to remit the necessary funds to the MEDF and what documents can be considered as evidence of remittance. APEDA has power to deal with this fund and will offer guidelines on how it shall be done, the mode of payment, amount and documentation requirements [8].
Thirdly, the exporters need to make sure that their supply chain management systems are able to record and capture evidence of MEDF remittance at every shipment. Such documentation will be required to be handed to the customs authorities or as part of export declarations.
Fourth, exporters are advised to reconsider their existing export licenses and permissions to ascertain that they are aware of any other conditions in the export policy that might be in operation. The DGFT notification could have also brought about changes in other conditions and the exporters must have full knowledge.
Implication on the Meat Export Industry.
The effect of this amendment on different exporting businesses will be different based on the size and nature of the business. The MEDF contribution will be a cost of business to big exporters with large volumes, so this has to be incorporated into the pricing of exports, and the profit margins.
To small and medium exporters, the requirement will be an extra compliance cost and an extra administrative layer to the export business. Nevertheless, the long-term positive effects of the development of industries with the help of MEDF can generate the benefits in terms of the improvement of the market accessibility, quality standards, and international popularity.
At the industry level, the establishment of a special development fund that focuses on meat export would help India to improve its competitiveness in the international market. The MEDF can assist the Indian meat exporters to maintain and increase their market share across the globe by investing in quality improvement, research, technology and market development.
Adherence and Records
The exporters have to keep proper documentation of their MEDF remittances and acquire formal evidence of payment by APEDA. This documentation must be stored with the records of exports and be availed to the customs whenever requested.
During the time of export, the export declaration should be accompanied by documentation showing that it is remittance by MEDF. This submission should be exactly in which format and process should be explained by APEDA and the Customs authorities. Exporters are also urged to liaise with their customs brokers and APEDA representatives so as to know the requirements of the procedures [9].
Failure to satisfy this may mean that export shipments are detained, rejected or held pending resolution. In extreme instances, recurring lack of compliance might impact the export license of the exporter or the reputation of the exporter to the APEDA and the custom department.
Looking Forward
This amendment is a step towards a success in the policy of agricultural export in India. It is an indicator of the government desire in setting up systematic, controlled export regimes on leading products that earn the country large amounts of foreign exchange.
The exporters in the meat industry should see this need not as a cost that they have to comply with but as part of the wider approach that India has to pursue to consolidate its agricultural export power in the global market. The MEDF investment will be aimed at making the sector more competitive and sustainable in the long-term.
The companies are to remain updated with any additional amendments, guidelines or circulars of either the APEDA or the DGFT which might give some clarification on the specifics of implementation. Constant contact with the industry association, custom brokers and APEDA will make the exporters stay on track and efficient in their operations.
Conclusion
The amendment to the export policy of the chilled and frozen meat and meat product by the DGFT enforces a new mandatory requirement that begins October 29, 2025. The exporters of particular bovine meat products and offal are now required to submit evidence to remittance to the Meat Export Development Fund managed by APEDA to be shipped.
Although this is another compliance need, it is an indication of the government initiative to provide regulated, structured, and sustainable growth in the Indian meat export market. The immediate action to be undertaken by exporters is to know whether their products are impacted, put in place compliance procedures with APEDA and make sure that their export business can meet the new documentation and remittance requirements.
Proactive measures that are taken now during the transition period will enable the exporters to implement this new requirement without difficulties and the businesses in the export sector will not be forced to halt their operations due to this new requirement.
References and Citations
[1] DGFT Notification No. 42/2025-26, dated October 14, 2025, Directorate General of Foreign Trade
[2] Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) – Meat Export Development Fund
[3] ITC (HS) Codes 0201, 0202, 0206 – Classification of bovine meat and offal products
[4] ITC (HS) Code 02013000 – Boneless meat of bovine animals, fresh and chilled
[5] ITC (HS) Codes 02023000, 02061000, 02062100, 02062200, 02062900 – Frozen and offal products
[6] Government of India – Foreign Trade Policy framework and objectives
[7] Notification implementation timeline – Transition period until October 29, 2025
[8] APEDA guidance on MEDF remittance and proof documentation
[9] Customs procedures for proof of MEDF remittance submission
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