India has taken a decisive step toward modernising its food import architecture with the full integration of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI), Food Import Clearance System (FICS) into the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) ICEGATE platform under the upgraded SWIFT 2.0 framework. The unified system, now live on a pilot basis across four key inland container depots, is expected to significantly strengthen and accelerate the country’s import-processing backbone.

The transition from the earlier SWIFT 1.0 model marks a major leap in digital governance. While the previous version digitised initial workflows, it left multiple clearance stages scattered across different systems, leading to redundancies and delays. SWIFT 2.0 closes this fragmentation with real-time data exchange, deeper workflow consolidation, and far greater automation, reducing human intervention at critical checkpoints. These enhancements are vital for a market in which even minor processing delays translate into cost escalations and weakened trade competitiveness.

The pilot rollout has been activated at ICD Dadri (INDER6), ICD Star Track (INSTT6), ICD Albatross (INAPL6), and ICD Patparganj (INPPG6). For the first time, food importers operating through these depots can obtain the FSSAI No Objection Certificate (NOC) directly through ICEGATE, eliminating the need for parallel submissions. This integration streamlines end-to-end clearance, compresses processing time, and brings India’s import operations closer to global best practices.

FSSAI has underscored that the new system will sharply reduce dwell time, enhance objectivity in risk assessment, and lower compliance burdens for businesses. By enabling a fully digital, traceable, and audit-ready process, SWIFT 2.0 reinforces the government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda and aligns seamlessly with the broader vision of Digital India.

Once the pilot phase is evaluated, the platform will be expanded nationwide to create a unified, technology-driven clearance regime for all food imports. Beyond improving operational efficiency, the regulator emphasised that this upgrade strengthens India’s commitment to safe, secure, and globally harmonised food trade, positioning the country as a more agile and reliable partner in international supply chains.