Content exceeding 3 kg. but not exceeding 20 kg

Black tea (fermented), other partly fermented tea, 3–20 kg packs

FSSAI CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 0902 40 10 (other black tea fermented and other partly fermented tea, 3–20 kg packs) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and mandatory food-safety clearance under the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017. Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) phytosanitary oversight and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) policy condition 1 of Chapter 9 of the ITC (HS) apply as additional clearance requirements. Imports from Nepal carry a concurrent Tea Board clearance certificate requirement under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005.

What this is

HSN code

0902 40 10

Chapter

09 · Coffee, tea, mate and spices

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
CC for tea import from Tea Board
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
Obtain a valid FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and ensure the foreign manufacturing facility is registered under FSSAI's food-safety regime. Upload the FSSAI Import Licence, specimen copy of label (document code 0110FS), and food grade certificate (document code 6570FS) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry.
Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022
2
For tea imported from Nepal, obtain a licence under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005 and a clearance certificate from the Tea Board (document code 911TB1), uploaded in e-Sanchit. Nepal-origin consignments are also subject to mandatory sanitary and phytosanitary certificates under the India–Nepal trade treaty. FSSAI 100% referral for sampling and testing applies to the first three consignments; from the fourth consignment onward, the referral rate reduces to 5% if all three preceding consignments passed.
CBIC Instruction 25/2021-Cus dated 24-11-2021 · FSSAI letter dated 23-04-2024 · Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005
3
Route the consignment through one of the 79 designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022 and confirm the consignment meets ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 9. Labelling deficiencies permissible under the rectifiable-labelling regime must be rectified at the customs bonded warehouse by a single non-detachable sticker before authorised-officer inspection.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the FSSAI Import Licence as the sole clearance document and arriving at port without the Tea Board clearance certificate (document code 911TB1) for Nepal-origin shipments. Even where the FSSAI 100% referral threshold has been met and the consignment qualifies for the reduced 5% sampling rate, the Tea Board clearance is still independently mandatory under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005, and its absence triggers detention regardless of FSSAI clearance status.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0902 40 10 require BIS certification?

No, other black tea and partly fermented tea in 3–20 kg packs fall 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 (Import) Regulations, 2017, with concurrent Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage phytosanitary requirements and DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 9.

Does the FSSAI 100% sampling rule for Nepal and Sri Lanka origin tea apply permanently?

No. Per the FSSAI letter dated 23-04-2024, mandatory 100% referral applies only to the first three consignments; if all three are cleared, only 5% of subsequent consignments need to be referred to FSSAI for testing.

What additional obligations apply specifically to tea imported from Nepal?

Nepal-origin tea requires a licence under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005 and a Tea Board clearance certificate (document code 911TB1), plus a mandatory sanitary and phytosanitary certificate under the India–Nepal trade treaty, as detailed in CBIC Instruction 25/2021-Cus dated 24-11-2021.

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