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Fresh, chilled or frozen fish fillets and other fish meat

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0304 89 90 (other fish fillets and fish meat, fresh, chilled or frozen) 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 restricted to 79 designated food-import ports effective 1 March 2023.

What this is
HSN code
0304 89 90
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 exporting fish fillets or fish meat to India is registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the mandatory high-risk-food registration regime. The FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry.
    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 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 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 under F.No. Import/TFM/Apex/2022-FSSAI
  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 the labelling satisfies the FSSAI rectifiable-labelling regime before customs out-of-charge.
    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 error that most frequently detains fish-fillet consignments at Indian ports is arriving with a current FSSAI Import Licence but without the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit IRN quoted on the bill of entry. The two clearances are independent: FSSAI governs food-safety fitness, while AQCS governs the animal-origin quarantine overlay, and a missing or unquoted 911DF1 IRN will prevent out-of-charge regardless of FSSAI licence validity. Confirm the Sanitary Import Permit is uploaded in e-Sanchit and the IRN is cited on the bill of entry before vessel departure.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 0304 89 90 require BIS certification?
No, fish fillets and other 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 restriction to 79 designated food-import ports.
Is foreign-manufacturer registration with FSSAI mandatory for this HSN?
Yes. Per CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus and the FSSAI order dated 10 October 2022, fish-product manufacturing facilities exporting to India must be registered with FSSAI; consignments from unregistered facilities are not permitted entry.
What happens if the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit IRN is not quoted on the bill of entry?
Customs will not grant out-of-charge; the consignment is detained at the designated port until the 911DF1 IRN is uploaded in e-Sanchit and quoted, accruing demurrage and ground rent under the Customs Act, 1962.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: FSSAI / AQCS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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ChapterChapter 03 · Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebratesHSNFISH FILLETS AND OTHER FISH MEAT (WHETHER OR NOT MINCED), FRESH, CHILLED OR FROZENHSNOther: