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Halibut (Rheinhardtius hippoglossidae, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, Hippoglossus stenolepis)

Fresh or chilled halibut (Rheinhardtius hippoglossidae, Hippoglossus hippoglossus)

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0302 21 00 (Fresh or chilled halibut) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and mandatory foreign-manufacturer registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) Sanitary Import Permit clearance applies concurrently, and consignments are permitted only through 79 designated food-import ports effective 1 March 2023.

What this is
HSN code
0302 21 00
Chapter
03 · Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
Primary regulator
FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (high-risk food regime)
Customs documentation
  • Import Licence from FSSAI
  • Sanitary Import Permit from AQCS
  • Health Certificate from AQCS
Applicable Partner Government Agencies
FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
AQCSAQCS·Animal Quarantine and Certification Services

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Confirm that the foreign manufacturing facility is registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the high-risk-food regime before the purchase order is placed. The FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage; consignments from unregistered facilities will not receive out-of-charge.
    CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus dated 14-11-2022 · FSSAI order dated 10-10-2022
  2. 2
    Obtain the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit (document code 911DF1) and Health Certificate (document code 6360AQ) prior to dispatch. Quote the e-Sanchit IRN of the Sanitary Import Permit on the bill of entry for the CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 3) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus to secure the AQCS NOC.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023
  3. 3
    Route the consignment through one of the 79 designated food-import ports per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Upload the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) and ensure labelling complies with the FSSAI rectifiable-labelling regime before out-of-charge is granted.
    CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022
A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is presenting a current FSSAI Import Licence without a corresponding AQCS Sanitary Import Permit IRN quoted on the bill of entry — the two clearances are independent, and customs out-of-charge is withheld until both are verified in e-Sanchit. The rectifiable-labelling concession under FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 applies only to labelling defects; a missing or unregistered foreign-manufacturer record is not rectifiable at port and will result in consignment detention and demurrage.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 0302 21 00 require BIS certification?
No, fresh or chilled halibut falls outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with a concurrent AQCS Sanitary Import Permit requirement and a 79-designated-port restriction.
Which ports are permitted for importing halibut under this tariff line?
Import is restricted to the 79 designated food-import ports listed in the Annexure to CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus, effective 1 March 2023, in compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
Is foreign-manufacturer registration with FSSAI mandatory even for a one-time shipment?
Yes. Per CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus and the FSSAI order dated 10 October 2022, registration of the foreign manufacturing facility is a pre-condition for all fish-product imports into India, with no exemption for volume or frequency.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: FSSAI / AQCS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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