Made in Pakistan · Seller guide

Compliance checklist for Pakistani exporters, by product

Which product rules apply when you sell food, cosmetics, supplements, children's items, lamps, knives, protective gear, gems, wood, leather or textiles from Pakistan to the US, EU and UK, with what to do about each. Checked against official sources as of November 2026; not legal advice.

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By the Mistri Tech team · Checked 1 November 2026

Not legal advice. This checklist shows which rules commonly apply to products sold abroad from Pakistan, as we found them on 1 November 2026. Rules depend on the exact product, its tariff code and the destination country, and they change. Use it as a list of questions, then confirm with the authority, the platform, a customs broker or a testing lab before you sell.

The checklist by product type

Product type	Markets	Rules to know (as of November 2026)	What to do
Food: dry fruits, nuts, dates, sweets, edible salt, morels	US	FDA food facility registration (renewed every two years) and Prior Notice for every commercial shipment, including courier and post. FDA's no-Prior-Notice policy covers only personal gifts from individuals. English labels with ingredients, allergens and net weight.	Register the producing or packing facility with FDA, file Prior Notice (or have your courier or broker do it), label correctly, avoid health claims.
Food (continued)	EU, UK	EU and UK contaminant limits apply, including aflatoxins in nuts and dried fruit and pesticide residues. Organic claims need certification.	Test lots for aflatoxins and pesticides before export; keep lab reports; only say "organic" with a certificate.
Spice mixes and rice	EU, UK	EU: Pakistani spice mixes (aflatoxins) and rice (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, pesticide residues) are listed for increased border checks under Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, as amended on 9 June 2026. GB: spice mixes from Pakistan were moved to special conditions (official certificate and lab results) in 2024, and Pakistani rice was added in July 2026. Importers pre-notify through IPAFFS in GB.	Sell through an importer who handles border checks, or avoid single parcels of spice mixes to the EU and UK. Budget for lab testing and certificates.
Honey	EU	Honey can enter the EU only from countries listed for honey in Regulation (EU) 2021/405, which requires an approved residue monitoring plan. We could not confirm that Pakistan is listed.	Treat the EU as closed for Pakistani honey until the authorities confirm a listing. In the US, honey is food: FDA registration and Prior Notice apply.
Fresh mangoes	US	APHIS rules from 2010 require irradiation at a minimum of 400 gray, in Pakistan under joint inspection or at an approved US facility, plus a phytosanitary certificate. Commercial consignments only.	Not a parcel business. Work with an established exporter; mango pre-orders suit UK and Gulf diaspora buyers through importers.
Cosmetics: oils, scrubs, attar, soaps with skin claims	US	MoCRA: safety substantiation, serious adverse event reporting, facility registration and product listing (small businesses under $1 million average annual US sales are exempt from registration and listing except for certain higher-risk products), and labelling rules.	Keep a safety file and INCI ingredient list, put a US contact on the label, make cosmetic claims only.
Cosmetics (continued)	EU, UK	EU: a Responsible Person based in the EU, a cosmetic product safety report and CPNP notification before sale. UK: a UK Responsible Person and SCPN notification. Alcohol-based perfume is dangerous goods for shipping.	Appoint a Responsible Person service, get a safety assessment, or sell raw ingredients to brands instead of finished cosmetics.
Henna and kohl (surma)	US, others	FDA approves henna only as a hair dye. Henna for skin (mehndi cones) is unapproved for that use and is on FDA Import Alert 53-19 for detention without examination. Kohl and surma are not approved colour additives in the US and carry a lead-poisoning warning.	Sell henna to the US only as a labelled hair-dye kit; sell cones to other markets under their cosmetics rules. Do not sell surma or kohl abroad.
Supplements: shilajit, herbal products	US, EU, UK	US: dietary supplement rules (DSHEA), manufacturing practice rules, no disease or cure claims, plus FDA facility registration and Prior Notice. Amazon requires third-party verification for supplements. A 2025 peer-reviewed study found thallium in raw shilajit and in shilajit supplements. EU: check novel-food status and national supplement rules.	Test every batch for lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and thallium at an accredited lab and keep certificates of analysis. Make no health claims. Expect the highest compliance cost in this guide.
Children's products: toys, kids' clothing and shoes, baby textiles	US, EU, UK	US CPSIA: third-party testing by a CPSC-accepted lab, a Children's Product Certificate, tracking labels, lead content of 100 ppm or less (90 ppm in paint), and toy standard ASTM F963. EU: toy safety and EN 71 tests with CE marking. UK: equivalent rules with UKCA or CE marking.	Budget for lab tests before launch, or start with adult products. Check beads, sequins and zari trims for lead.
Electrical: salt, camel-skin and onyx lamps	US, EU, UK	Mains-powered lamps need safe, certified parts: UL or ETL listed cords and switches (US), CE marking (EU), UK plugs and UKCA or CE marking (UK). About 80,000 salt lamps were recalled in the US in 2017 for shock and fire risk.	Use USB or battery LEDs, sell shades without electrics, or fit certified cord sets made for the destination market.
Knives: kitchen, Damascus, hunting, blanks	UK, US, others	UK: knives can't be sold or delivered to under-18s; the Crime and Policing Act 2026 adds photo-ID checks at sale and at delivery, with dates set by secondary legislation (not confirmed as of November 2026). Some knife types are banned. US: federal and state limits on switchblades and some other types. Marketplaces have their own knife policies.	Check each country's rules and the platform's policy before listing; avoid banned types; use couriers that offer age-verified delivery.
Motorcycle and protective gear	EU, UK	To be sold as protective, motorcycle garments need EN 17092 certification and gloves EN 13594, through a notified body, with CE marking (UKCA or CE in the UK).	Certify the design, or sell as fashion leather without any protective claims.
Jewellery and gemstones	US, UK, EU, Pakistan	US FTC Jewelry Guides: disclose treatments (oiled emeralds, heated stones, dyed lapis) and back up origin claims. UK: silver items of 7.78 g or more must be hallmarked. EU: nickel-release limits. Pakistan: the National Gemstone Policy 2026-30 (approved July 2026) brings a gemstone business registry, minimum export price benchmarks and certification of export consignments; implementing details were pending as of November 2026.	Get lab reports, label treatments, hallmark silver for the UK, and register as required once the gemstone registry opens.
Wood: sheesham furniture, kitchenware, instruments	All markets, EU, US	CITES Appendix II covers all Dalbergia species, including sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo). Finished musical instruments, parts and accessories are exempt under annotation #15, reaffirmed at CITES CoP20 in December 2025; other sheesham goods may need a CITES export permit. EU Deforestation Regulation (wood is covered): applies from 30 December 2026 for most operators, with 30 June 2027 for some micro and small businesses. US Lacey Act: import declarations for plant products; furniture has been covered since December 2024.	Use non-Dalbergia woods (walnut, olive, kikar) for kitchenware and décor; for sheesham, ask Pakistan's CITES authority about permits; keep species and harvest-origin records for EU and US buyers.
Leather goods and footwear	EU, UK, US	EU and UK REACH: chromium VI in leather that touches skin must be below 3 mg/kg. EU footwear needs material labels for upper, lining and sole. Exotic skins can fall under CITES.	Test chrome-tanned lots for chromium VI or use vegetable-tanned leather; label materials; avoid protected species.
Textiles, shawls and clothing	US, EU, UK	US: labels with fibre content, country of origin and the seller's identity, plus care labels. The FTC does not recognise "pashmina" as a fibre name; label the real fibre (for example "100% cashmere"). The Wool Products Labeling Act has no tolerance on wool content. EU: only approved fibre names on labels. Fur trims need fur labelling.	Test fibre content, label honestly, use "pashmina" only as a style word alongside the true fibre.
Ceramics, brass and soapstone for food use	US, EU, UK	Lead and cadmium limits for food-contact ceramics and metals; the FDA detains pottery that leaches lead. Soapstone also needs an asbestos check.	Test glazes and metals before selling for food use, or label as decorative only where that is allowed.
Camel bone, horn and other animal parts	EU, UK	Animal by-product rules require bone and horn to be fully processed and correctly declared. Camel is not CITES-listed, but shahtoosh, ivory, markhor parts, turtle shell and protected corals and shells can't be traded.	Declare the real species, never use the word "ivory", and keep supplier records.
Vintage textiles and antiques	Pakistan	Older pieces can count as antiquities under Pakistani law and may not be exportable without permission.	Check age and export rules before listing old phulkari, Balochi panels or tribal silver.
Pakistani export side (all products)	Pakistan	Register with FBR for tax, keep export proceeds coming through official banking channels, and declare exports through customs (your courier usually files for parcels). Plants, fruit and some foods need phytosanitary or health certificates from Pakistan's authorities. TDAP offers exporter support and trade-fair programmes.	Get your tax registration in place, keep invoices and bank records, and ask your courier or freight forwarder which certificates your product needs.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

Duties: no US duty-free small-parcel allowance; an extra 10% Section 301 duty on Pakistani goods from 24 July 2026; an EU duty of EUR 3 per item category on parcels up to EUR 150 from 1 July 2026. See duties, costs and risks.
EU food checks: the EU updated its list of high-risk foods on 9 June 2026; Pakistani spice mixes and rice are on it.
Gems: Pakistan approved the National Gemstone Policy 2026-30 in July 2026.
Wood: the EU Deforestation Regulation was postponed again and now applies from 30 December 2026; CITES CoP20 kept the instrument exemption for Dalbergia.
UK knives: the Crime and Policing Act 2026 adds photo-ID checks for online knife sales, with start dates still to be set.

Food and agricultural products

For the US, every commercial food shipment needs Prior Notice to FDA, and the facility that makes or packs it needs FDA registration. That applies to dry fruits, dates, sohan halwa, morels and edible Himalayan salt alike. For the EU and UK, the real risk is contaminants: aflatoxins in nuts, dried fruit and spice mixes, and pesticide residues. Lab test each lot. Honey to the EU depends on Pakistan being listed for honey, which we could not confirm, and fresh mangoes to the US need APHIS-approved irradiation. Start with the products in food and dry fruits that travel well, such as morels for chefs or dried fruit boxes, and sell through importers where border checks apply.

Cosmetics, henna and supplements

Natural oils, scrubs and attars are cosmetics: the US has MoCRA, and the EU and UK need a local Responsible Person and a safety assessment before you sell. Henna is the trap for Pakistani sellers in the US: FDA approves it only as hair dye, and henna for skin is detained at the border. Shilajit has the largest demand in the wellness category but the highest compliance cost: supplement rules, Amazon's testing requirement and heavy-metal testing that should include thallium. A lower-risk route is selling documented raw ingredients to brands. See natural wellness and beauty.

Lamps, knives, kids' items and protective gear

These are the categories where a cheap shortcut leads to recalls, seizures or closed shops. For lamps, USB or battery LEDs avoid most mains-wiring rules; see camel crafts and onyx, marble and salt. For knives, check each country and platform; see precision instruments. Children's products need lab testing before sale. Motorcycle leathers can only be called protective with EN 17092 certification; see leather goods and sports goods.

Gems, wood, leather and textiles

Gems: disclose treatments, prove origin and watch for the gemstone registry under the new national policy. See jewellery and gemstones.
Wood: sheesham is a Dalbergia species under CITES, so pick other woods for kitchenware and décor unless you have the permits. Finished musical instruments are exempt. See home décor and handicrafts.
Leather: chromium VI testing for the EU and UK, material labels for footwear. See footwear and headwear.
Textiles: honest fibre labels; "pashmina" is not a fibre. See shawls and handwoven textiles, embroidered clothing and home textiles.

Always, for every product

No copied brand designs, logos, characters or "replica" items. Register your own trademark early.
No protected wildlife materials.
No health or cure claims for food, cosmetics or supplements.
Read the platform's prohibited and restricted items policy for each category; platforms can be stricter than the law. See sales channels.
Keep supplier invoices, test reports and certificates together; marketplaces ask for them when a listing is flagged.

Low-risk categories such as religious and cultural items (non-food), embroidery and leather accessories are the easiest place to start. Use the compliance filter in the Niche Finder, price in testing costs with the profit calculator, and see the Made in Pakistan guide for more.

This page is general information, not legal, regulatory or customs advice. We checked the rules listed on 1 November 2026 against official and published sources where we could; items marked as not confirmed need checking with the relevant authority before you rely on them.

Sources

Checked 1 November 2026: FDA: Registration of food facilities; FDA guidance: What you need to know about Prior Notice of imported food shipments; FDA: Prior Notice policy for sending gifts to friends and family; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1206 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 (9 Jun 2026); UK SI 2024/119: GB high-risk food and feed controls (explanatory note); FSA: Importing high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin into Great Britain; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405: third countries for products of animal origin incl. honey; Federal Register 2010-21568: APHIS rule on importation of mangoes from Pakistan (27 Aug 2010); FDA: Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA); HPRA: Cosmetic Product Notification Portal (CPNP) and Responsible Person obligations; FDA: Temporary tattoos, henna/mehndi and black henna fact sheet; FDA: Kohl, kajal, al-kahal, surma: beware of lead poisoning; Kamgar et al., thallium in shilajit and shilajit-based supplements, BMC Chemistry 2025 (abstract); Nutraceuticals World: Amazon supplement policy requires third-party verification; EU Novel Food status catalogue; CPSC: Children's products, lead and testing (quick resource guide); CPSC: Sportex recalls salt rock lamps (2017); GOV.UK: Crime and Policing Act 2026 knife crime and crossbows factsheet (updated 30 Sep 2026); SATRA: EN 17092 motorcycle protective garments; Commission Regulation (EU) No 301/2014: chromium VI in leather; eCFR 16 CFR Part 23: FTC Guides for the jewelry, precious metals and pewter industries; GOV.UK: Hallmarking guidance summary; ProPakistani: Govt approves National Gemstone Policy (20 Jul 2026); Pearle*: CoP20 reinforces species protection while preserving the future of the musical sector (Dec 2025); EU Access2Markets: EUDR delay until December 2026 (28 Jan 2026); APHIS: Lacey Act Phase VII implementation; FTC: The Cachet of Cashmere, complying with the Wool Products Labeling Act; FDA: CPG Sec. 545.450 pottery (ceramics), lead contamination; GOV.UK: Import of bones, horns and hooves not for feed; TDAP: Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I need FDA registration to sell dry fruits to the US?

Yes, for commercial sales. The facility that makes or packs the food needs FDA food facility registration, and every commercial shipment needs Prior Notice, including courier and post. FDA's gift policy covers only personal gifts.

Can I sell henna cones to the US?

Not for skin use. FDA approves henna only as a hair dye, and henna for skin is on an FDA import alert for detention. Sell henna to the US only as a labelled hair-dye product, and sell cones to other markets under their cosmetics rules.

Can I export sheesham furniture or kitchenware?

Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo) is listed in CITES Appendix II, so many sheesham goods need a CITES export permit. Finished musical instruments are exempt. EU buyers also face the Deforestation Regulation from 30 December 2026. Other woods are simpler.

Can I call a shawl 'pashmina' in the US?

Only as a style word. The FTC does not recognise pashmina as a fibre name, so the label must state the real fibre content, for example 100% cashmere or a wool and silk blend.

Is this checklist legal advice?

No. It lists the rules we found as of November 2026 for common products. Confirm with the relevant authority, the platform, a customs broker or a testing lab before you sell.

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