Other

Black tea and partly fermented tea, retail packings up to 3 kg

HSN 0902 30 90 (Black tea and partly fermented tea in immediate packings not exceeding 3 kg) 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 the ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 9 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) apply as additional clearance requirements. Importers sourcing from Nepal must also hold a licence under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005 and obtain a clearance certificate from the Tea Council.

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

1. 1
   Obtain an FSSAI Import Licence before filing the bill of entry and ensure the mandatory e-Sanchit uploads are complete: Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS), FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001), and the Tea Board clearance certificate for tea imports (document code 911TB1). Out-of-charge will not be granted without all four documents uploaded.
   Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023
2. 2
   For imports from Nepal and Sri Lanka, note the FSSAI risk-based referral protocol: all bills of entry for the first three consignments are subject to 100% mandatory sampling and testing; if all three are cleared, only 5% of subsequent consignments need be referred to FSSAI for testing. Importers from Nepal must additionally hold a licence under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005 and produce a clearance certificate from the Tea Council.
   FSSAI letter dated 23-04-2024 · CBIC Instruction 25/2021-Customs dated 24-11-2021 (F. No. 401/88/2021-Cus-III)
3. 3
   Route consignments through one of the designated food-import entry points in compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Confirm that labelling conforms to the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020; limited in-port rectification of specified labelling deficiencies is permitted under the FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022, exclusively at customs bonded warehouses before inspection.
   ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 9 · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022