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Swordfish (Xiphiasgladius)

Fresh, chilled or frozen swordfish fillets and meat

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0304 45 00 (Swordfish fillets and meat) 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
0304 45 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 shipment. The FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry; consignments from unregistered facilities will not be granted 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) before dispatch. Quote the e-Sanchit IRN of the Sanitary Import Permit on the bill of entry to obtain the AQCS NOC for fish products 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). Labelling defects that are rectifiable must be addressed per FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022 and CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022.
    CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023 · General Note 4(D), ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022
A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming the FSSAI Import Licence alone clears the consignment, while overlooking the independent AQCS Sanitary Import Permit — a separate animal-origin-product overlay that customs officers verify through the e-Sanchit IRN at the time of out-of-charge. A consignment arriving at a designated port with a current FSSAI licence but no AQCS IRN will be detained until the Sanitary Import Permit is uploaded, and demurrage and ground rent begin accruing immediately against perishable fish cargo.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 0304 45 00 require BIS certification?
No, swordfish fillets and fish meat are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. 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 requirement and the 79-designated-port restriction.
Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for swordfish fillet imports?
Four documents are mandatory: FSSAI Import Licence (911001), Sanitary Import Permit (911DF1), Health Certificate (6360AQ), and Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), all to be uploaded before customs out-of-charge per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023.
Is the foreign-manufacturer registration with FSSAI a one-time requirement or must it be renewed per shipment?
Registration is facility-level, not per-shipment — the exporting facility must appear on the FSSAI-approved list before the first import, as directed under CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus and the FSSAI order dated 10-10-2022; each subsequent shipment must still carry the current Import Licence at the bill of entry.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: FSSAI / AQCS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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