Of a fat content, by weight, exceeding 1% but not exceeding 6%

Fresh milk and cream, 1% to 6% fat content

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0401 20 00 (milk and cream, fat content exceeding 1% but not exceeding 6%) 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, as a high-risk dairy product. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) Sanitary Import Permit clearance applies concurrently, and consignments are permitted only through 79 designated food-import ports. Imports of milk and milk-based products from China are separately prohibited under DGFT Notification 01/2015-20 dated 23-04-2019 pending melamine-testing capacity upgrades.

What this is

HSN code

0401 20 00

Chapter

04 · Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (high-risk dairy 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 high-risk-food regime before shipment. Upload the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) in e-Sanchit prior to filing the bill of 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), the Health Certificate (document code 6360AQ), the Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the exporting country (document code 853AQ1), and the laboratory report or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1). 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 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
3
Route the consignment only through one of the 79 designated food-import ports per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Verify the origin is not China — milk and milk-based products from China are prohibited under DGFT Notification 01/2015-20 dated 23-04-2019 pending melamine-testing capacity upgrades at ports of entry.
CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023 · DGFT Notification 01/2015-20 dated 23-04-2019 · CBIC Instruction 29/2023-Cus dated 12-12-2023

A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is overlooking the four distinct AQCS document codes — 911DF1, 6360AQ, 853AQ1, and 001AQ1 — which are separate instruments, each with its own e-Sanchit upload requirement; presenting only the Sanitary Import Permit without the Veterinary Health Certificate and Certificate of Analysis results in detention at the designated port and accruing demurrage. Additionally, the China-origin prohibition is absolute regardless of melamine test results tendered by the exporter — no carve-out exists pending port laboratory upgrades.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0401 20 00 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers fresh milk and cream. 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 operative from 1 March 2023.

Are milk imports from China permitted under this tariff line?

No. Import of milk and milk-based products from China is prohibited under DGFT Notification 01/2015-20 dated 23-04-2019 until melamine-testing capacity at all ports of entry has been suitably upgraded; no partial or case-by-case clearance is available.

Does UHT whipping cream face commercial sterility testing at the port of entry?

No. Imports of UHT whipping cream are specifically exempted from commercial sterility testing per FSSAI instruction letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-21 dated 01-06-2022 and CBIC Instruction 08/2022 dated 03-06-2022; all other FSSAI and AQCS clearance requirements continue to apply.

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