Importing Urea, DAP, NPK, or Bio-stimulants? Secure your Importer Registration Certificate from the Central/State Agriculture Department and manage iFMS filings seamlessly.
Verify product compliance.
Under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the Government of India regulates the sale, price, and quality of fertilizers through the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985.
[Image of Fertilizer Supply Chain]Any person intending to import fertilizers for sale in India must obtain an Authorization Letter / Registration Certificate from the Controller of Fertilizers (Central/State). Additionally, all import transactions must be reported on the Integrated Fertiliser Management System (iFMS) for subsidy and movement tracking.
Listed in Schedule I of FCO. Includes Urea, DAP, MOP, SSP, and NPK complexes. Requires standard lab testing for quality compliance.
Specialty fertilizers used for drip irrigation (e.g., Potassium Nitrate, Calcium Nitrate). High purity standards apply.
New Mandate: Seaweed extracts, Amino acids, Humic acid. Requires provisional registration (Form G) and efficacy data.
Bio-fertilizers (Rhizobium, Azotobacter) and Organic Manures. Must meet strict heavy metal limits.
Zinc, Iron, Boron, etc. Mixtures of micronutrients require specific state-level approvals.
Fertilizers not listed in FCO Schedule I. Require special permission (Clause 20) for import, usually for R&D.
To obtain the Import Authorization (Form A1/A2), you must demonstrate the capability to store and test the material.
New rules require:
1. Heavy Metal Analysis
2. Toxicity Report
3. Efficacy Data from ICAR / State Agri Universities
File application with Directorate of Agriculture (State / Central) along with challan fee.
Agriculture Inspector visits the storage premises for verification.
Register on iFMS portal to obtain Importer ID (mandatory for customs).
License issued (Form A2). Valid for 3–5 years depending on state rules.
Full Consultancy
State-specific variation
*Govt fees vary by State (approx ₹ 1,500 – ₹ 5,000).
Fertiliser import is a 'Chemical Audit' by the government. CloudDesk ensures your technical specs match the Indian National Standards.
India only allows fertilisers that meet the exact specifications listed in the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO).CloudDesk performs a Pre-Import Lab Analysis of your product's chemical composition (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium levels) to ensure it doesn't get rejected and destroyed at the port for being "Non-Standard."
Major fertilisers like Urea can only be imported through STEs (like MMTC, STC, or IPL). For"Non-Urea" fertilisers (DAP, MOP, NPK), CloudDesk handles the Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM) and the necessary registrations with the DoF to ensure you are recognized as an authorized importer.
Every shipment of fertiliser is sampled by a Fertiliser Inspector at the port.CloudDesk’s on-ground team coordinates with the Central Fertiliser Quality Control and Training Institute (CFQC&TI) labs to fast-track testing, preventing heavy demurrage while waiting for "Pass" certificates.
In 2026, there is a massive push for Organic and Bio-fertilisers.CloudDesk manages the specialized registration forBio-stimulants and Organic Manures, which require different safety data sheets (SDS) and toxicological reports compared to chemical fertilisers.
No. You must be registered under the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO). You need a Certificate of Manufacture/Registration from the State Agriculture Department or the Central Government, depending on the type of fertiliser.
"• Urea: Restricted. Can only be imported through designated State Trading Enterprises. • Complex Fertilisers (DAP/MOP/NPK): Generally ""Free"" but subject to strict FCO specifications and mandatory registration with the Department of Fertilisers."
Yes. As per the 2021 amendment to the FCO, all bio-stimulants must be registered. You cannot import them as "Plant Growth Promoters" anymore without a valid FCO registration number.
It is declared "Non-Standard." You will be forced to either re-export the entire cargo at your own cost or it will be seized and destroyed. CloudDesk’s Technical Verification service is designed specifically to prevent this.
Yes. The FCO has strict limits on Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Arsenic (As). If your fertiliser exceeds these parts-per-million (PPM) limits, it is banned.
Most fertilisers attract a 5% Basic Customs Duty (BCD) and 5% GST. However, rates can vary for specialized organic fertilisers.
Generally, subsidies are paid to manufacturers/importers who are registered under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme. To claim this, you must have your own storage godowns and a point-of-sale (POS) tracking system. CloudDesk helps you set up the iFMS (Integrated Fertiliser Management System) for subsidy tracking.
(1) FCO Registration Certificate, (2) Analysis Report from the supplier, (3) Bill of Lading, (4) Commercial Invoice, and (5) Pre-shipment Inspection Certificate (for certain types).