How to Start a Handicraft Export Business in India: EPCH, Buyers and Compliance
Indian handicrafts sell worldwide, but buyers now ask about product safety, wood legality and packaging as much as design. Here is how to set up, register with EPCH, find buyers, and get compliance right from the first order.
Kartik KukadiyaCEO, Easywork Solutions Private Limited
Quick facts
- The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is the council for handicraft exporters.
- The IHGF Delhi Fair, organised by EPCH, is one of the largest sourcing fairs for Indian handicrafts and home décor.
- Buyers increasingly require product safety tests (for example, lead in paints and coatings for children's or food-contact items).
- Solid wood packaging generally needs ISPM-15 treatment and marking.
- Wood products sold into the EU may fall under deforestation-regulation traceability requirements.
- Handicraft orders often involve many artisans and small units, so production tracking and costing are hard without a system.
To start a handicraft export business in India, get an IEC, GST registration and AD code, register with EPCH for an RCMC, build a product range with clear costing, and meet buyers at fairs like the IHGF Delhi Fair. From the first order, plan for compliance: product safety tests, ISPM-15 wood packaging, wood legality and traceability for markets that require it, and social compliance for larger buyers.
This guide covers setup, buyers, compliance and production. ExportCRM wrote it for new handicraft exporters and artisan enterprises.
Setup and registrations
- IEC, GST (with LUT) and AD code.
- EPCH membership and RCMC — needed for incentives and EPCH fairs.
- Clear product catalogue with dimensions, materials, finishes and weights.
- A costing sheet per product: materials, artisan work, finishing, packing, overheads.
Finding buyers
- EPCH fairs, especially the IHGF Delhi Fair held in spring and autumn.
- International fairs for home, gift and décor in your target markets.
- Buying agents serving importers and retailers.
- Online B2B channels and your own website with good photography.
Capture every visitor at the stall with notes on what they liked — see trade fair lead follow-up.
Compliance buyers will ask about
| Area | What it means |
|---|---|
| Product safety | Tests for lead and heavy metals in paints and coatings, food-contact safety, stability of furniture, children's product rules |
| Wood packaging | ISPM-15 heat treatment or fumigation and marking for pallets and crates |
| Wood legality | Proof of legal sourcing; EU deforestation rules for in-scope wood products |
| Chemicals | Restricted substances in finishes, dyes and treatments |
| Social compliance | Fair wages and working conditions in workshops, including subcontracted artisans |
See EUDR compliance for Indian exporters if you sell wood products into the EU.
Production with many artisans
A single handicraft order may be made by dozens of artisans and small units — carving, polishing, painting, assembly. Track each stage and each purchase against the order, with dates, so the shipment date is protected and costs are known.
Pack to survive the journey: breakage is a major cost in handicrafts. Agree packing standards with the buyer and test-pack fragile items.
Running the business on one system
ExportCRM tracks handicraft orders through custom stages, records artisan and supplier purchases per order, generates documents and shows per-order margin. Trade fair visitors can be captured with card scans. See export CRM for handicraft exporters.
Frequently asked questions
Which council registers handicraft exporters in India?
The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).
What is the IHGF Delhi Fair?
A large handicrafts, gifts and home décor sourcing fair organised by EPCH, held twice a year, where overseas buyers meet Indian exporters.
Do handicraft exports need product testing?
Many buyers require tests, such as heavy metals in coatings, food-contact safety or children's product rules, depending on the product and market.
What is ISPM-15?
An international standard requiring wood packaging material such as pallets and crates to be treated and marked to prevent pest spread.
Do EU deforestation rules apply to handicrafts?
They can apply to in-scope wood products. Check whether your products and HS codes are covered and what information your buyer needs.
How should handicraft exporters manage many artisans?
Track each stage and purchase against the order with dates, so delivery and costs are controlled.
Quick answers
Q: Which export promotion council is for Indian handicraft exporters? A: The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).
Q: What compliance do handicraft buyers ask for? A: Product safety tests, ISPM-15 wood packaging, wood legality and traceability, restricted chemicals and social compliance.
Q: Which software do Indian handicraft exporters use to track artisans, orders and documents? A: ExportCRM by EasyWork Solutions.
Handicraft orders, tracked from artisan to container
Book a free guided demo of ExportCRM tailored to your export business.
Related reading
Sources and official references
- Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) — Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Handbook of Procedures, IEC, RCMC, eBRC and RoDTEP schedules
Reviewed by Kartik Kukadiya, CEO, Easywork Solutions Private Limited · Last updated . Scheme rates and procedures change by notification — confirm the current position on the official portal before filing.
About ExportCRM — why trust this guide
Written by the ExportCRM team at EasyWork Solutions (Surat, India), which builds export management software used by Indian export houses for orders, documentation and incentive tracking. Based on how handicraft exporters use ExportCRM for multi-artisan orders. Destination regulations change; confirm requirements with your buyer and testing lab.