Other

Dried, dyed, bleached or otherwise prepared cut flowers

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 0603 90 00 (cut flowers and flower buds, other than fresh) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under which import is Free but restricted to a single designated entry point. DGFT Notification 17/2015-20 dated 09-07-2020 confines all imports under this tariff line to Chennai Airport only.

What this is

HSN code

0603 90 00

Chapter

06 · Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Free import policy with designated-port condition, Chapter 06

Customs documentation

Port-compliance declaration from DGFT
Commercial Invoice from exporter

Compliance steps

1
Route all consignments exclusively through Chennai Airport. Import under this tariff line is Free under the ITC (HS) policy, but the designated-port condition is mandatory; arrival at any other port or airport renders the consignment liable to detention and re-export.
DGFT Notification 17/2015-20 dated 09-07-2020
2
File the bill of entry at Chennai Airport Customs, confirming compliance with the ITC (HS) port condition. No licence or permit is required, but the bill of entry must be supported by a commercial invoice and packing list reflecting the correct CTI 0603 90 00.
DGFT Notification 17/2015-20 dated 09-07-2020 · ITC (HS) Import Policy, Chapter 06

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is consigning the shipment through an airport or seaport other than Chennai — often because the freight forwarder books the most convenient routing without checking the port condition. The import is otherwise Free, so there is no licence application to trigger a review; the port restriction is the sole binding constraint, and a misdirected consignment faces detention, demurrage, and mandatory re-export with no administrative remedy.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0603 90 00 require BIS certification?

No, cut flowers and flower buds are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed solely by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with import permitted free of licence but only through Chennai Airport per DGFT Notification 17/2015-20.

Is Chennai Airport the only permitted port of entry for this tariff line?

Yes. DGFT Notification 17/2015-20 dated 09-07-2020 designates Chennai Airport as the sole entry point; there are no alternative ports listed and no provision for diversion to another customs station.

Does the Chennai Airport restriction apply to commercially prepared and preserved cut flowers as well as fresh ones?

Yes. HSN 0603 90 00 covers dried, dyed, bleached, impregnated and otherwise prepared cut flowers and flower buds, and the port condition under DGFT Notification 17/2015-20 applies to all goods classified under this tariff line regardless of preparation method.

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