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Tunas (of the genus Thunnus), skipjack tuna (stripe-bellied bonito) (Katsuwonus pelamis)

Fresh, chilled or frozen tuna and skipjack fillets

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0304 87 00 (tuna and skipjack tuna fillets) 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 with effect from 1 March 2023.

What this is
HSN code
0304 87 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 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) prior to dispatch. Quote the e-Sanchit IRN of the Sanitary Import Permit on the bill of entry to secure the AQCS NOC for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 3) of CBIC 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 exclusively 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). Labels must comply with the rectifiable-labelling regime; non-rectifiable defects attract detention, not a post-arrival correction.
    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 valid FSSAI Import Licence while the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit IRN has not been quoted on the bill of entry — the two clearances are independent, and the absence of the AQCS NOC alone is sufficient to detain the consignment at the designated port, accruing demurrage and ground rent regardless of FSSAI compliance. Importers should also verify that the exporting facility appears on the FSSAI-approved foreign-manufacturer list before vessel departure, as a post-shipment rectification of facility registration is not recognised.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 0304 87 00 require BIS certification?
No, fish fillets including tuna 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 a restriction to 79 designated food-import ports.
Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge is granted?
Four documents are mandatory: FSSAI Import Licence (911001), Sanitary Import Permit (911DF1), Health Certificate (6360AQ), and Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), per the e-Sanchit verification requirement confirmed in CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023.
Is the 79-designated-port restriction applicable to all tuna fillet consignments, or only to certain origins?
The restriction applies to all high-risk fish and fish product consignments regardless of origin, with effect from 1 March 2023, as notified under CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023 and General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: FSSAI / AQCS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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