Witloof chicory (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum)

Fresh or chilled witloof chicory (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum)

FSSAI CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 0705 21 00 (Witloof chicory) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and non-GM origin cum GM-free certification requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) phytosanitary clearance applies as a concurrent overlay, and consignments must enter through designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.

What this is

HSN code

0705 21 00

Chapter

07 · Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Phytosanitary certificate from PPQS
Specimen copy of label from FSSAI

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

PPQSPPQS·Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary regime

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Secure the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and upload it in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. A non-GM origin cum GM-free certificate is mandatory for consignments dispatched from the exporting country on or after 1 March 2021; alternatively, a non-GM attestation on the phytosanitary or health certificate is accepted provided it contains all information specified in the FSSAI order dated 21 August 2021.
FSSAI order file F.N. 1-1764/FSSAI/Imports/2018(Part1) dated 03-12-2020 · FSSAI order dated 21-08-2021
2
Upload the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) in e-Sanchit prior to out-of-charge. Labelling deficiencies permissible for rectification at customs bonded warehouses — including per-serve percentage contribution to recommended dietary allowance and date of expiry alongside best-before date — must be corrected by affixing a single non-detachable sticker next to the principal display panel without altering original label information.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 under F.No. Import/TFM/Apex/2022-FSSAI
3
Route the consignment through one of the designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Ensure PPQS phytosanitary clearance is completed at the port of entry; failure to present a valid phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country's competent authority will result in consignment detention.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 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 despatching the consignment without securing the non-GM origin cum GM-free attestation on the phytosanitary or health certificate before shipment. Unlike labelling defects — which may be rectified at the bonded warehouse — a missing or non-conforming GM-free declaration cannot be remedied at the port: the consignment faces detention pending re-export or destruction, accruing demurrage and ground rent from the date of arrival.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0705 21 00 require BIS certification?

No, fresh or chilled witloof chicory falls 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 concurrent PPQS phytosanitary clearance and the designated food-import port restriction under General Note 4(D) of the ITC (HS) 2022.

Is the non-GM origin cum GM-free certificate required for all consignments, and in what form?

Yes, for consignments despatched on or after 1 March 2021; it may be submitted as a standalone certificate or as a non-GM attestation on the phytosanitary or health certificate, provided all information and declarations conform to the format specified in the FSSAI order dated 21 August 2021.

Which labelling deficiencies may be rectified at the port of entry?

Per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus and the FSSAI order dated 18 November 2022, rectifiable deficiencies include per-serve percentage contribution to recommended dietary allowance and date of expiry alongside best-before date, subject to manufacturer-provided information verified by the authorised officer — rectification by a single non-detachable sticker only.

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