What Makes a Good RFQ for RTE Products
A strong RFQ for ready-to-eat foods includes: exact product name and variant, target shelf life and expected minimum remaining shelf life at destination, packaging format (retail pouch/carton, master carton specs), target retail price band (to help source at the right quality tier), and destination market's labeling language requirements.
Labeling Compliance by Market
RTE food labels must comply with destination market regulations. GCC markets require Arabic labeling, FSSAI-compliant ingredient lists, and Halal certification for applicable products. EU requires full nutrition declaration, allergen disclosure in bold, and country of origin. Always confirm final label artwork with the importer's regulatory team before printing.
Shelf-Life Planning
Most international buyers of RTE products require a minimum of 70–80% of total shelf life remaining on arrival. A product with 12-month shelf life must typically have at least 8–9 months remaining when it reaches the buyer's warehouse. Factor in production-to-export lead time, transit time, and port clearance when planning manufacturing schedules.
Reducing Compliance Surprises
Common compliance issues in RTE food exports include undeclared allergens, missing nutrition facts for target market, incorrect HS code leading to wrong duty rate, and inadequate FSSAI export documentation. Working with a documentation-first export coordinator who builds a compliance checklist before goods are produced reduces costly rework and holds.