IEC (Importer-Exporter Code)
The ten-digit code, issued by DGFT, without which no consignment can legally leave India.
Definition
The Importer-Exporter Code is a mandatory ten-digit registration issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), linked to the exporting entity's PAN. No shipment of any kind can clear Indian customs for export without a valid IEC.
Why It Matters
It's the first and most basic credential any legitimate Indian export business holds — a foundational, not differentiating, requirement.