What documents come with a pharma export from India?
Towada Products · New Delhi, India · Updated October 2026
A pharmaceutical export shipment from India normally travels with a commercial invoice, a packing list and a transport document (a courier waybill or an air waybill). Buyers commonly also ask for a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for each batch and, where the destination country requires them, a certificate of origin and a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP). The exact set depends on the destination country and the product.
What is on the commercial invoice?
The commercial invoice names the seller and the buyer or consignee and lists each product with its description, quantity, unit price and total value. It states the currency and the delivery term (Incoterm). Customs in the destination country uses it to assess duties and taxes. For medicines it commonly also shows batch numbers and manufacturing and expiry dates.
What is a packing list?
The packing list shows how the consignment is packed: the number of cartons, the contents of each carton, and the net weight, gross weight and dimensions. Customs officers and warehouse staff use it to check the shipment without opening every carton.
What is a Certificate of Analysis (COA)?
A Certificate of Analysis is issued by the manufacturer's quality control department for one specific batch. It lists the tests carried out on that batch, the specification for each test and the result. The batch number on the COA should match the batch number printed on the packs.
What is a CoPP and when is it needed?
A Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) is a certificate in the format recommended by the World Health Organization. In India it is issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for a specific product made at a specific manufacturing site. Importers mainly need it when registering a product with their national medicines regulator.
A CoPP is not issued for every product and is not required for every shipment, which is why suppliers describe it as available "where applicable".
What is a certificate of origin?
A certificate of origin states the country where the goods were manufactured. In India it is issued by authorised agencies such as chambers of commerce. Some customs authorities require it for all imports, and it is needed to claim reduced duty under a trade agreement.
What is the air waybill or courier waybill?
The waybill is the transport document issued by the airline, freight forwarder or courier. It carries the tracking number and names the shipper and consignee. For air cargo, the consignee or customs broker needs the air waybill to clear and collect the goods.
What other documents might an importer ask for?
Depending on the destination country and product, importers may also ask for:
- a copy of the manufacturer's manufacturing licence
- the manufacturer's GMP certificate
- a free sale certificate
- an insurance certificate
- legalisation or attestation of documents by a chamber of commerce or embassy
Ask your regulator or customs broker for the list that applies to your country before ordering.
Which documents does Towada Products provide?
Towada Products arranges export documentation for each shipment based on the destination country's requirements, including a CDSCO Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product where applicable. Tell us in your enquiry which documents your regulator and customs authority require, and we will confirm what applies to that product.
This page is general information for trade buyers such as importers, distributors, hospitals and institutions. Import rules differ by country and change over time. Confirm the current requirements with your national medicines regulator and customs authority before ordering.