India initiates sustainability certification framework for exports to meet EU, UK compliance norms

New Delhi: India has initiated a programme to develop sustainability certification standards for export products, an official said, as it seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of its exports amid stricter sustainability compliance norms in developed markets.

As part of the exercise, the commerce and industry ministry has requested information from export-oriented sectors about products that may soon need proof of sustainability, the person said.

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The ministry is also seeking information on data points, methodologies and verification processes that should be included in an Indian sustainability certification framework to ensure its acceptance in foreign markets.

Although there is no single universally accepted "sustainability certificate," and sustainability compliance is shown through sector-specific certifications, traceability, emissions reporting, and independent audits, consumers are increasingly seeking ethically and sustainably produced goods.

In the EU, for instance, Indian exports must meet the EU Deforestation Regulation and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation-norms that seek supply chain transparency.

The official cited earlier said, "The effort is to prioritise sectors which are most likely to encounter sustainability-linked requirements based on prevailing global practices and come out with credible certification standards. The goal is to generate verifiable data."

Besides improving the quality of manufactured items, the move will 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 the goods that India exports, according to government data.

An industry official said, "There are no Indian standards for many products, and if there are, they are inferior to their Western counterparts."

India has inked a trade deal with the UK, concluded talks for one with the EU, and is negotiating trade agreements with the US and Canada. Both the UK and the EU are developing carbon border adjustment mechanisms.

"The exercise has just started and states will also be roped in," said the official cited earlier.

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The government's initiative in this regard is crucial as regulatory approaches differ across countries, though 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 details on products and destination markets where sustainability-linked certificates or documentary evidence are already mandated or commonly required.