India is the largest exporter of chillies in the world. The Portuguese introduced chillies to the country in the late 15th century. A common cooking ingredient, chillies are used in both fresh and dried forms.
They belong to the genus Capsicum, a member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. From Bhut Jolokia to Guntur Chilli, India cultivates a wide variety of chillies. If you want to learn about the requirements for chilli export from India, go through this informative blog post!
India, being the largest producer of chillies in the world, is home to a flavourful range of chillies. Each chilli variety comes with its unique flavour, colour and heat level. Here is a table with some of the major chilli varieties that are widely exported by Indian exporters:
Chilli Variety |
Cultivation Area |
Scoville Heat Units |
Characteristics |
Guntur Sannam |
Andhra Pradesh |
35,000 - 40,000 |
Spicy, bright red |
Byadgi |
Karnataka |
8,000 - 15,000 |
Deep red, less spicy |
Kashmiri |
Jammu & Kashmir |
1,000 - 2,000 |
Mild heat, vibrant red color |
Teja |
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
50,000 - 170,000 |
Extremely hot, used in spicy dishes |
Dhani |
Manipur, Mizoram |
90,000 - 120,000 |
Small, very pungent |
Ramnad Mundu |
Tamil Nadu |
15,000 - 20,000 |
Round shape, moderate spice |
Jwala |
Gujarat |
25,000 - 30,000 |
Slender, spicy, high oil content |
Sankeshwari |
Maharashtra |
40,000 - 50,000 |
Highly pungent, deep red |
Bhot Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) |
Assam, Nagaland |
800,000 - 1,041,000 |
One of the hottest chillies |
Warangal Chappatta |
Telangana |
35,000 - 45,000 |
Wrinkled skin, high pungency |
Madhya Pradesh Chilli |
Madhya Pradesh |
30,000 - 40,000 |
Moderate heat, good for spice blends |
Salem Gundu |
Tamil Nadu |
20,000 - 30,000 |
Thick-skinned, deep red |
Bird’s Eye Chilli |
Northeast India |
100,000 - 225,000 |
Small, fiery hot |
Kanthari (White Chilli) |
Kerala |
50,000 - 100,000 |
Small, white, intensely spicy |
Naga Viper |
Northeast India |
900,000 - 1,382,118 |
Extremely pungent, hybrid variety |
To export chilli from India, you must fulfill certain legal and regulatory requirements, such as getting import export code from DGFT, spiceboard registration, etc. In this section, we have described each requirement for you:
To export chilli, you must register your company with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) in accordance with the Companies Act 2013. You can also establish a Limited Liability Partnership under the Limited Liability Partnership Act 2008.
To register your company with RoC, you must file an application on the official MCA portal using the prescribed form. Along with the application, you must file a draft of company incorporation documents, such as Memorandum of Association (MoA) and Articles of Association (AoA).
Once RoC approves your application, they will grant your business a Certificate of Incorporation. This certificate serves as a proof that your company has been registered in India as a legal business entity.
Additionally, you will also need to obtain a certificate of commencement of business from RoC. This document is essential. Without it, you cannot commence your business operations. Once you have the business commencement certificate, you can legally start your business operations, subject to obtaining other required permits.
To conduct an import or export business, you need to secure the Import Export Code (IEC). The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issues IEC. For businesses that engage in international trade, IEC is essential as it is a unique identification number mandatory for importing/exporting goods.
It facilitates smooth business transactions and streamlines the processes related to customs. You can obtain IEC by filing an application through the official DGFT portal. Once you secure IEC, it remains valid for lifetime and does not require any renewal. However, you must update it annually between April and June.
You need to get Spice Board registration, a.k.a Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES), for exporting spices from India. This is a mandatory requirement under the Spices Board Act.
Getting a CRES certificate from Spice Board of India ensures compliance with quality standards, and regulatory norms, and promotes the systematic growth of the spice sector. To apply for this certificate, you must visit the official Spices Board website, register online and then fill out the application form and upload all the required documents.
After this you must pay the prescribed application fee, and await verification. After approval, the Board will issue your business CRES certificate.
For all food businesses, including those dealing in trading of spices, registering with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandatory. FSSAI registration ensures that the food is safe for public consumption and complies with the quality standards of FSSAI.
To export chilli from India, you require FSSAI central license. You can apply for this license by visiting the official FoSCoS portal. Simply select “Exporter” as your business type, and fulfill the online application process, which includes filing necessary documents and license fee payment.
For businesses that are involved in exporting goods or services, it is mandatory to get registered under the GST system, irrespective of their annual turnover. This is because exports are considered zero-rated supplies.
This means that GST registration is a mandatory requirement for chilli exporters. You can obtain a valid GST registration via the official GST portal. For assistance, you can connect with Tax Consultants at Registrationwala.
When it comes to chilli production and export, India is a leader with nearly 50 chilli varieties. If you are planning to enter the global spice export market, you must comply with all the legal and regulatory requirements for conducting spice export business such as company registration, import export code, spice board registration, FSSAI license and GST registration. As long as you ensure compliance with these requirements, you can expand your reach in international markets and also maintain quality standards that enhance our nation’s reputation as a global leader in chilli exports.
Connect with Registrationwala for assistance in starting a chilli export business. We can help you in company registration, spiceboard registration, IEC registration, FSSAI and GST registrations. We will ensure you can conduct your international trade freely and in a legitimate manner!
Q1. Do I need Spice Board Registration for exporting chillies from India?
A. Yes, Spice Board Registration (CRES) is mandatory for chilli exports.
Q2. Is GST registration necessary for the chilli export business?
A. Yes, GST registration is required for exporting chillies from India.
Q3. Do I need an Import Export Code for exporting chillies?
A. Yes, an Import Export Code (IEC) issued by DGFT is mandatory.
Q4. Which country is the largest exporter of chillies?
A. India is the largest exporter of chillies globally.
Q5. Who introduced chillies in India?
A. The Portuguese introduced chillies to India in the late 15th century.
Q6. What is a Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices (CRES)?
A. CRES is a mandatory registration from the Spices Board for spice exporters.
Q7. Where is Bhoot Jolokia native to?
A. It is native to Northeast India, particularly the states of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh. It is also found in parts of Bangladesh and Bhutan.