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Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)

Frozen Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), whole fish

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0303 67 00 (Frozen Alaska Pollock) 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, as a high-risk fish product. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) Sanitary Import Permit clearance applies concurrently, and consignments are permitted only through 79 designated food-import ports with effect from 1 March 2023.

What this is
HSN code
0303 67 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 the foreign manufacturing facility is registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the high-risk-food regime before placing the purchase order. The FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) must be current and uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry; 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 a Health Certificate (document code 6360AQ) prior to consignment dispatch. Quote the e-Sanchit IRN of the Sanitary Import Permit on the bill of entry to obtain the AQCS NOC for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 3) of Circular 24/2022-Cus.
    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, and upload the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) in e-Sanchit. Labelling defects that are rectifiable in nature should be addressed per FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022 and CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 before out-of-charge.
    CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023 · FSSAI notice dated 11-01-2023 · General Note 4(D) of ITC (HS) Schedule I 2022
A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is treating the FSSAI Import Licence as the sole clearance requirement and filing the bill of entry without the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit IRN. The AQCS NOC is an independent animal-quarantine overlay and its absence alone is sufficient grounds for detention, regardless of FSSAI licence validity. Consignments routed to a non-designated port compound the delay — re-routing after vessel departure attracts demurrage and a separate ITC (HS) policy contravention.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 0303 67 00 require BIS certification?
No, frozen Alaska Pollock is not within 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 Animal Quarantine and Certification Services Sanitary Import Permit and the 79-designated-port restriction.
Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry for this tariff line?
Four documents are mandatory: FSSAI Import Licence (911001), Sanitary Import Permit from AQCS (911DF1), Health Certificate (6360AQ), and Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS) — all must be present in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge is granted.
Is the foreign-manufacturer registration with FSSAI mandatory even if the importer holds a valid FSSAI Import Licence?
Yes. Per CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus and the FSSAI order dated 10 October 2022, the overseas manufacturing facility must itself be registered with FSSAI; the importer's own licence does not substitute for facility registration, and imports from unregistered facilities are not permitted.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: FSSAI / AQCS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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