Other

Live, fresh, chilled or frozen scallops and other molluscs

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0307 29 00 (Other scallops and molluscs) 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 entry only through 79 designated food-import ports effective 1 March 2023.

What this is

HSN code

0307 29 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
Confirm the foreign manufacturing facility is registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the mandatory high-risk-food regime before shipment. The FSSAI Import Licence must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry; consignments from unregistered facilities are not permitted entry.
CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus dated 14-11-2022 · FSSAI order dated 10-10-2022
2
Obtain the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit (document code 911DF1) prior to dispatch and quote its e-Sanchit IRN on the bill of entry to obtain the AQCS NOC for the CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 3) of Circular 24/2022-Cus. Upload the specimen copy of label (document code 0110FS) and ensure compliance with the FSSAI rectifiable-labelling regime before out-of-charge.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022
3
Route the consignment exclusively through one of the 79 designated food-import ports notified under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Entry through any non-designated port after 1 March 2023 renders the consignment liable to detention and re-export.
CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023 · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I, ITC (HS) 2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the FSSAI Import Licence as the sole clearance and overlooking the independent AQCS Sanitary Import Permit. These are parallel obligations — a current FSSAI licence does not substitute for the AQCS NOC, and customs out-of-charge will be withheld until the 911DF1 IRN is uploaded in e-Sanchit. Additionally, rectifiable labelling deficiencies are remediable at port, but a missing PGA clearance is not, and demurrage accrues from the date of arrival.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0307 29 00 require BIS certification?

No, molluscs and shellfish products fall outside 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 79-designated-port restriction.

Is the foreign-manufacturer registration with FSSAI mandatory for this tariff line?

Yes. Per CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus and the FSSAI order dated 10 October 2022, the overseas facility producing fish and fish products — which includes molluscs — must be registered with FSSAI before the consignment is permitted entry into India.

What happens if the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit IRN is not quoted at the bill of entry?

Customs out-of-charge is withheld until the 911DF1 IRN is uploaded in e-Sanchit and the AQCS NOC is obtained; the consignment remains detained at the designated port, accumulating demurrage and ground rent until the deficiency is remedied or the consignment is re-exported.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: FSSAI / AQCS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.