Content not exceeding 25 g.

Black tea (fermented) in small immediate packings

FSSAI CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 0902 30 10 (Black tea, fermented, in immediate packings not exceeding 25 g) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and mandatory sampling and testing under the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017. Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) phytosanitary clearance and ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) apply as additional clearance requirements. Imports originating from Nepal carry further obligations under the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005, including a Tea Board licence and a Tea Council clearance certificate.

What this is

HSN code

0902 30 10

Chapter

09 · Coffee, tea, mate and spices

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Clearance certificate from PPQS
Food grade certificate 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
Obtain a current FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and ensure the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) and Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS) are uploaded in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Confirm compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022 for designated food-import entry points.
Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017 · General Note 4(D) of ITC (HS) Schedule I · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022
2
Upload the Tea Board clearance certificate for tea import (document code 911TB1) in e-Sanchit. For imports from Nepal specifically, the importer must hold a licence under the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005 and a clearance certificate issued by the Tea Council, both of which must be in place before consignment arrival.
Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005 · CBIC Instruction 25/2021-Customs dated 24-11-2021 (F.No. 401/88/2021-Cus-III)
3
For tea sourced from Nepal and Sri Lanka, note the tiered FSSAI sampling protocol: 100% referral of bills of entry for the first three consignments; if all three receive a clear NOC, only 5% of subsequent consignments are referred for FSSAI laboratory testing. Ensure each referral outcome is documented to establish the sampling-track record at the port.
FSSAI letter dated 23-04-2024 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the FSSAI Import Licence as the sole compliance obligation and overlooking the Tea Board clearance certificate (document code 911TB1), which is a distinct mandatory document at the bill-of-entry stage and is verified independently by the proper officer before out-of-charge. Importers sourcing from Nepal face a dual-licence trap: the FSSAI and Tea Board instruments do not substitute for the Tea Council clearance certificate required under the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005, and absence of that certificate results in consignment detention irrespective of FSSAI clearance status.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0902 30 10 require BIS certification?

No, black tea in immediate packings is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017, with concurrent Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage phytosanitary clearance and DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09.

Does the 100% FSSAI sampling requirement for Nepal and Sri Lanka origin tea apply from the very first consignment?

Yes. Per the FSSAI letter dated 23 April 2024, all bills of entry for tea from Nepal and Sri Lanka are referred for 100% sampling and testing for the first three consignments; the frequency drops to 5% of subsequent consignments only after all three initial consignments receive a clear NOC.

What additional obligations apply specifically to tea imported from Nepal?

Imports from Nepal require a mandatory sanitary and phytosanitary certificate, an importer licence under the Tea (Distribution and Export) Control Order, 2005, and a clearance certificate from the Tea Council, in addition to standard FSSAI and PPQS clearances, as directed under CBIC Instruction 25/2021-Customs dated 24-11-2021.

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