The India brief
A factual look at registration, sales channels and the decisions that affect your launch.
Get your brand’s India brief
Tell us about your brand to receive a short, practical document on your legal and commercial route into India.
- Where the brand stands in India today
- Applicable duty and tax at the border
- Regulatory requirements and relevant government bodies
- Suitable sales channels and expected margin splits
- Retail pricing relative to Indian competitors
- Specific risks that could delay entry
Category requirements
Each category has its own regulator, registration and duty. Compare Australian, New Zealand and other goods below.
| Category | Regulator and registration | Standard duty | New Zealand goods | Australian goods | GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body, hand and baby washes | CDSCO import registration | 11% | 0% | 0% | 18% |
| Oils, balms, scrubs and serums | CDSCO import registration | 22% | 0% | 0% | 18% |
| Face cream, body lotion and moisturiser | CDSCO import registration | 22% | 22% | 0% | 18% |
| Shampoo | CDSCO import registration | 22% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
| Toothpaste | CDSCO import registration | 22% | 22% | 22% | 5% |
| Baby nappies | BIS licence, held by the factory | 11% | 8.8%0% by 2030 | 11% | 5% |
| Prebiotic sodas and low-sugar soft drinks | FSSAI importer licenceProduct approval where no Indian standard exists | 33% | 29.7%0% by 2035 | 33% | 40% |
| Kombucha and other functional drinks | FSSAI importer licenceProduct approval where no Indian standard exists | 33% | 33% | 33% | 40% |
| Electrolyte, hydration and other drink mix powders | FSSAI importer licenceProduct approval where no Indian standard exists | 55% | 52.25%27.5% by 2035 | 55% | 5% |
| Chocolate | FSSAI importer licence | 33% | 29.7%0% by 2035 | Falling0% from 2028 | 5% |
| Sweet biscuits | FSSAI importer licence | 33% | 33% | 33% | 5% |
- CDSCO, cosmetics
- US$1,000 per category, US$500 per manufacturing site, US$50 per variant. Six to nine months.
- FSSAI, food and drink
- Importer licence Rs 7,500 a year. Rs 50,000 per product where approval is needed. Every shipment is sampled at the port.
- Trade mark
- Rs 9,000 per class, filed online.
- Import code
- Rs 500, once.
- Beauty and personal care in India
- About US$27 billion in 2026, forecast to reach US$39 billion by 2030.
- Functional drinks in India
- US$5 billion to US$7 billion in 2025, depending on the publisher.
Official rates and fees, read 13 November 2026. Estimates only, not customs, tax or legal advice; the product’s customs classification decides the rate, and reduced rates need proof of origin. Standard duty is basic customs duty plus a 10% surcharge on that duty. GST on drinks was re-worded from 1 May 2026; confirm the line before pricing. Sources: India’s tariff schedules in the India New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and the India Australia ECTA; GST rates from the GST Council’s September 2025 changes; fees from CDSCO, FSSAI and the Trade Marks Registry; market size from the Flipkart GlamUp Annual Beauty Trends Report 2026 and, for drinks, BlueWeave and IMARC.
Market Entry Cost Calculator
See what entering India costs and how you save when infrastructure already exists.
Already in place at Kiwiyāna
- Company in India
- Import code
- GST registration
- Plastic packaging registration
- Warehousing and customs clearance based in Mumbai
- Amazon orders ship from six warehouses to reach 95% of PIN codes in 24 hours
- Marketplace seller accounts
- Completed CDSCO registration for initial products sets the template for your range
Our work is done when the brand is registered, stocked and selling in India.
What channels take
Compare indicative ranges for the share of the price typically taken by each Indian sales channel.
| Channel | What it takes | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon India | Referral fee of 0% up to Rs 1,000 on washes, hair care, drinks and nappies, then 8 to 10% above. Face cream and sunscreen: 0% up to Rs 500, 9% to Rs 1,000, 9.5% above. Closing, packing and delivery fees are extra, with 18% GST on all fees. | Published fees, read 13 November 2026 |
| Flipkart | No commission on products priced under Rs 1,000. | Reported 2026 |
| The brand’s own India store | Payment gateway of 2% of each sale, plus GST on the fee. | Published pricing, read 13 November 2026 |
| Beauty retailers | They buy stock and take a retail margin agreed brand by brand. | Not published |
| Quick commerce | Commission rises with the selling price. | Rate cards sit inside the seller account |
Sources: Amazon India’s fee page; Angel One on Flipkart; Razorpay’s pricing page.
Common entry risks
An ingredient, a claim, a channel, a price or a story can change the plan.
Registration delays
Check ingredients and claims before submitting products for registration.
Channel costs
Account for channel costs when assessing the selling price.
The wrong first channel
Compare channels before choosing where the brand first sells.
Price
Check whether the proposed price fits the buyers the brand wants to reach.
Story
Adapt the brand’s story for Indian buyers without changing its facts.
Possible fits
These Australian and New Zealand brands look suited to India. Most have no official presence there yet. None is presented as a client.
Beauty and body
- AesopResellers onlySkin, hair and body care · Australia
- ecostoreNo Indian seller foundPlant-based home, body and baby care · New Zealand
- Frank BodyResellers onlyCoffee body scrubs, body washes and lotions · Australia
- HismileResellers onlyTeeth whitening and flavoured toothpastes · Australia
- MooGooResellers onlySensitive-skin creams and washes for all ages · Australia
- TrilogyNo Indian seller foundRosehip oil and natural skin care · New Zealand
- Triumph & DisasterResellers onlyGrooming for men · New Zealand
- TronqueNo Indian seller foundLeave-on body treatments · New Zealand
Mother and baby
- Bare MumNo Indian seller foundPostpartum recovery and breastfeeding care · Australia
- BunjieNo Indian seller foundBaby skincare, wipes and nappies · Australia
- GAIA Skin NaturalsNo Indian seller foundBaby and kids skincare · Australia
- Made4BabyResellers onlyBaby and kids skincare · New Zealand
- Pure MamaNo Indian seller foundPregnancy and postpartum body care · New Zealand
- Tui BalmsNo Indian seller foundBeeswax balms for babies and massage · New Zealand
- Viva La VulvaNo Indian seller foundPostpartum recovery care · New Zealand
Drinks
- bobbyNo Indian seller foundLow-sugar prebiotic soft drinks · Australia
- HOPRNo Indian seller foundSparkling hop water, no alcohol · Australia
- HyroNo Indian seller foundZero-sugar electrolyte drink mixes · Australia
- LVL UPNo Indian seller foundElectrolyte sachets and sports drinks · Australia
- MoodiNo Indian seller foundPrebiotic and probiotic sodas and blends · New Zealand
- Posca HydrateNo Indian seller foundSparkling hydration soda with electrolytes · Australia
- RemedyResellers onlyNo-sugar kombucha and prebiotic soda · Australia
- Shine+No Indian seller foundZero-sugar energy and hydration drinks · Australia
- SodiiNo Indian seller foundZero-sugar electrolyte mix · Australia
Indian marketplaces and retailers searched on 11 and 13 November 2026. Brand names belong to their owners.
Your route into India
You make the product. We take care of the work, one clear step at a time.
- FormCompany formation in India, trade marks
- RegisterCDSCO registration for cosmetics, FSSAI registration for food, tax and import registrations, product labelling compliance
- DistributeAmazon India with Prime, the brand’s own India online store, marketplace and retail partners, warehousing and delivery
- MarketPress, creators, paid advertising, social content, customer emails
- OperationsCustomer service, reporting back to the brand
Request your brief
Answer seven short questions to help us evaluate your brand’s fit for India.