Tea bags

Tea bags (other black tea, partly fermented tea)

FSSAI CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 0902 40 40 (Tea bags) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and clearance under the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017, with 100% referral and mandatory sampling for the first three consignments from Nepal and Sri Lanka. Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) phytosanitary clearance and compliance with ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 9 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) apply as additional clearance requirements. Imports of tea from Nepal additionally require a licence under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005 and a clearance certificate from the Tea Council.

What this is

HSN code

0902 40 40

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 Tea Council
Sanitary and phytosanitary certificate from PPQS

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 the 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. The customs clearance certificate for tea import by tea bags (document code 911TB1) must also be uploaded in e-Sanchit prior to out-of-charge.
FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022
2
For imports from Nepal and Sri Lanka, comply with the mandatory 100% sampling and testing regime for the first three consignments; if all three receive FSSAI NOC, subsequent consignments are subject to 5% referral only. For Nepal-origin tea specifically, hold a valid licence under the Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005 and obtain a clearance certificate from the Tea Council before the consignment is released.
FSSAI letter dated 23-04-2024 · CBIC Instruction 25/2021-Cus dated 24-11-2021 (F.No. 401/88/2021-Cus-III) · Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005
3
Route the consignment only 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 any labelling deficiencies identified at the port are rectified using a single non-detachable sticker affixed at a customs bonded warehouse, per the FSSAI rectifiable-labelling dispensation, before visual inspection by the authorised officer.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I, ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022 (F.No. Import/TFM/APEX/2022-FSSAI)

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is overlooking the Nepal-specific dual-track requirement: FSSAI clearance and PPQS phytosanitary certification are necessary but not sufficient for Nepal-origin consignments, which independently require both a Tea (Distribution & Export) Control Order, 2005 licence and a Tea Council clearance certificate. Arriving without the Tea Council clearance — even with a current FSSAI Import Licence and clean phytosanitary certificate — results in consignment detention at the port of entry until the certificate is produced, with demurrage and ground rent accumulating in the interim.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0902 40 40 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers tea bags under this tariff line. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017, with PPQS phytosanitary clearance and DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 9 as concurrent requirements.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for tea bag imports?

Four documents are mandatory: specimen copy of label (0110FS), food grade certificate (6570FS), FSSAI Import Licence (911001), and the customs clearance certificate for tea import by tea bags (911TB1); all must be uploaded before out-of-charge is granted.

Does the reduced 5% FSSAI referral rate apply from the first consignment?

No. The 5% referral rate for subsequent consignments from Nepal and Sri Lanka is available only after the first three consignments from that origin have each received a clean FSSAI NOC; any adverse result in the first three consignments resets the 100% referral obligation.

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