The Export Inspection Council (EIC) was set up by the Government of India under Section 3 of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 (22 of 1963), in order to ensure sound development of export trade of India through Quality Control and Inspection and for matters connected thereof.
EIC is an advisory body to the Central Government, which is empowered under the Act to:
. Notify commodities which will be subject to quality control and/ or inspection prior to export,
. Establish standards of quality for such notified commodities, and
. Specify the type of quality control and / or inspection to be applied to such commodities.
Besides its advisory role, the Export Inspection Council, also exercises technical and administrative control over the five Export Inspection Agencies (EIAs), one each at Channai, Delhi, Kochi, Kolkata and Mumbai established by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, under Section 7 of the Act for the purpose of implementing the various measures and policies formulated by the Export Inspection Council of India.
Export Inspection Council, either directly or through Export Inspection Agencies, its field organisation renders services in the areas of:
Certification of quality of export commodities through installation of quality assurance systems (In-process Quality Control and Self Certification) in the exporting units as well as consignment wise inspection.
Certification of quality of food items for export through installation of Food safety Management System in the food processing units.
Issue of Certificates of origin to exporters under various preferential tariff schemes for export products.