AB Grade

Unroasted not-decaffeinated coffee, AB Grade

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0901 11 41 (AB Grade coffee) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and labelling compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with import policy governed by ITC (HS) policy condition No. 1 of Chapter 09 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Consignments must enter only through designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, and re-imports of coffee originally exported from India additionally require a Coffee Board permit under Section 21 of the Coffee Act, 1942.

What this is

HSN code

0901 11 41

Chapter

09 · Coffee, tea, mate and spices

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Food grade certificate from FSSAI
Specimen copy of label from FSSAI

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain an FSSAI Import Licence before shipment and ensure the following documents are uploaded in e-Sanchit prior to filing the bill of entry: Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS), and FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001). Out-of-charge will not be granted until all three are verified in e-Sanchit.
FSSAI Import Licence requirement · document codes 0110FS, 6570FS, 911001 · CCR PGA-facilitated bills provision
2
Route the consignment only through a designated food-import entry point in compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, and confirm ITC (HS) policy condition No. 1 of Chapter 09 is satisfied at the bill of entry stage. Labelling deficiencies permissible for port rectification must be addressed by affixing a single non-detachable sticker under CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus and the FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I, ITC (HS) 2022 · ITC (HS) policy condition 1, Chapter 09 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022
3
Where the consignment is a re-import of coffee originally exported from India, obtain a Coffee Board permit before clearance. This requirement is separate from the FSSAI clearance and is governed by Section 21 of the Coffee Act, 1942; absence of the permit renders the re-import non-compliant regardless of FSSAI status.
Section 21 of the Coffee Act, 1942

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is overlooking the port-of-entry restriction: a consignment with a current FSSAI Import Licence arriving at a non-designated port faces detention, demurrage, and potential re-export — the FSSAI clearance itself does not cure the entry-point violation. Importers should also note that the labelling rectification dispensation applies strictly to the items listed under CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus and the FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022; labelling deficiencies outside that list are not rectifiable at the port and may result in confiscation.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0901 11 41 require BIS certification?

No, unroasted not-decaffeinated coffee falls outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with ITC (HS) policy condition No. 1 of Chapter 09 as the DGFT overlay.

Which e-Sanchit document codes are mandatory at the bill of entry for this HSN?

Three documents must be uploaded: Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (6570FS), and FSSAI Import Licence (911001). Out-of-charge will not be granted until the proper officer verifies all three codes in e-Sanchit.

When is a Coffee Board permit required for imports under this tariff line?

A Coffee Board permit under Section 21 of the Coffee Act, 1942 is required specifically for re-imports of coffee that was originally exported from India; standard first-time imports do not attract this additional requirement.

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