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Of molluscs, salted, in brine, dried or smoked

Mollusc flours, meals and pellets for human consumption

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0309 90 70 (Of molluscs, salted, in brine, dried or smoked) 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, classifying mollusc-derived flours, meals and pellets as a high-risk food product. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) Sanitary Import Permit clearance applies concurrently, and consignments are restricted to 79 designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.

What this is
HSN code
0309 90 70
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 mandatory high-risk-food foreign-manufacturer registration scheme. Fish and mollusc product facilities not appearing on the FSSAI-approved list may not export to India, and the consignment will be detained at the port 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) before consignment dispatch and upload it in e-Sanchit. 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 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 notified under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, effective 01-03-2023. Ensure label compliance with the FSSAI rectifiable-labelling framework before out-of-charge; non-rectifiable label deficiencies are treated as a separate FSSAI violation.
    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 assuming that FSSAI Import Licence clearance alone is sufficient for out-of-charge. The AQCS Sanitary Import Permit (document code 911DF1) is an independent animal-origin overlay; its IRN must be quoted on the bill of entry separately from the FSSAI clearance, and a missing or unuploaded 911DF1 will result in consignment detention at the designated port regardless of the FSSAI licence status.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 0309 90 70 require BIS certification?
No, flours, meals and pellets of molluscs fit for human consumption 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 AQCS Sanitary Import Permit requirement and restriction to 79 designated food-import ports.
Which ports are permitted for import of this high-risk food product?
Import is permitted only through the 79 designated food-import ports listed in the Annexure to CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus, in force from 1 March 2023, per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022; consignments arriving at non-designated ports are liable to detention and re-export.
Is foreign-manufacturer registration with FSSAI mandatory for mollusc-product exporters?
Yes. Per CBIC Instruction 30/2022-Cus and the FSSAI order dated 10 October 2022, manufacturing facilities exporting fish and mollusc products to India must be registered with FSSAI, and imports from unregistered facilities will not be permitted clearance.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: FSSAI / AQCS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
Related
ChapterChapter 03 · Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebratesHSNFLOURS, MEALS AND PELLETS OF FISH, CRUSTACEANS, MOLLUSCS AND OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES, FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTIONHSNOther: