An inspection before the goods leave India is the cheapest insurance a buyer can buy. It finds problems while the supplier can still fix them, and it gives you an objective report before you release the balance payment. Here is how inspections work, what an AQL is, and how to set one up.
Book an independent inspection when production is complete and at least 80% of the goods are packed. The inspector draws a random sample using the AQL tables (ISO 2859-1), checks it against your approved sample and specification, and counts critical, major and minor defects. If the defects are within the agreed AQL limits, the lot passes and you pay the balance. For important orders add a during-production inspection and a container loading check.
The four inspection stages
| Stage | When | What it checks |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-production (PPI) | Before production starts | Raw materials, components, the approved sample |
| During production (DUPRO) | About 20 to 60% complete | Early defects while they can still be corrected |
| Pre-shipment (PSI) | 100% produced, at least 80% packed | Quantity, quality, packing and marking on a random sample |
| Container loading check (CLC) | During stuffing | Correct goods and quantity loaded, container condition, seal number |
For a first order, a PSI is the minimum. For large, seasonal or branded orders, add a DUPRO and a CLC.
How AQL sampling works
AQL means acceptance quality limit. Instead of checking every piece, the inspector draws a random sample whose size depends on the lot size and the inspection level, usually General Level II. Defects are classed as critical (unsafe or illegal), major (the product would likely be returned) or minor (small deviations). A typical consumer-goods standard is 0 critical, 2.5 major and 4.0 minor: the tables give the maximum number of defects allowed in the sample for the lot to pass. Agree the AQL in your purchase order, not after the inspection.
What the inspector checks
- Quantity produced and packed against the order.
- Visual quality against the approved sample.
- Measurements and weights against the specification.
- Function and safety tests for the product type.
- Packing and marking: carton marks, labels, barcodes, country of origin, carton drop test.
- Product-specific checks: moisture and foreign matter for grains and spices, colour fastness for textiles, stitching for garments.
Lab testing and official certificates
Some checks need a laboratory: pesticide residues and aflatoxin in food, heavy metals, azo dyes in textiles, or electrical safety. Ask for a test report from an accredited lab (NABL in India), and agree who pays. Some Indian exports also need official certificates: the Export Inspection Council certifies products such as seafood, honey, egg and milk products for markets that require it, and plant products need a phytosanitary certificate from India's plant quarantine authority. See the phytosanitary certificate guide.
Who to hire and who pays
International agencies such as SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek and TÜV have offices across India, and many smaller independent firms work well for single orders. The buyer usually books and pays for the inspection so that the inspector works for the buyer. Agree in the purchase order that if goods fail, the supplier pays for the re-inspection.
If the goods fail
Do not release the balance. Share the report with the supplier and agree a fix: rework or sorting, replacement, or a price adjustment for minor issues. Then book a re-inspection. A clear purchase order with the specification, the approved sample and the AQL makes this conversation short.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pre-shipment inspection?
An independent check of the finished, packed goods before they leave the supplier, using a random sample, to confirm quantity, quality, packing and marking before the buyer pays the balance.
What does AQL 2.5 mean?
It means that, for major defects, the lot is accepted if the number of defective units in the sample stays within the limit the ISO 2859-1 tables set for AQL 2.5 at that sample size.
When should the inspection be done?
When production is complete and at least 80% of the goods are packed, so the inspector can see finished, packed goods.
Who pays for inspection when importing from India?
The buyer usually books and pays, so the inspector works for the buyer. The purchase order can say that the supplier pays for any re-inspection after a failure.
Sourcing from India? Post your requirement
Tell us the product, quantity and destination. Our team checks suppliers before introducing them, and each requirement goes to at most 5 suppliers so you get focused quotes, not a flood.
Post your requirement →Sourcing guides by country
Duties, documents and local rules for buyers importing from India into your market.
