Other

Whole cumin, coriander, caraway and related spice seeds

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0909 31 29 (whole spice seeds other than those separately described) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with import also governed by ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Consignments are permitted only through the 79 designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022, and all spice imports are ineligible for duty-free import under the Duty Free Import Authorisation scheme.

What this is

HSN code

0909 31 29

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
Phytosanitary Certificate from exporter

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 and upload the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001), Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS), and Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer will verify all four documents are uploaded before granting out-of-charge.
CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09
2
Route the consignment only through one of the 79 designated food-import entry points in compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022. Arrival at a non-designated port renders the consignment liable to detention pending re-routing or re-export.
CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023 · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022
3
Do not import this tariff line under a Duty Free Import Authorisation: DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 confirms that all spices fall under Appendix 4J and are subject to pre-import conditions, making DFIA import impermissible regardless of intended end-use. Any labelling deficiencies permitted to be rectified at port must be addressed at customs-bonded warehouses by affixing a single non-detachable sticker without altering original label information.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022

A word of counsel

The most consequential error on this tariff line is attempting to import spices under a Duty Free Import Authorisation to reduce landed cost — DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 closes that route categorically for all spices under Appendix 4J, and a consignment cleared on a DFIA that covers spices is exposed to full duty recovery plus DGFT enforcement regardless of the importer's end-use intent. Separately, the rectifiable-labelling dispensation under FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 covers only specific information items; a fundamentally non-compliant label is not rectifiable at port and will result in consignment detention.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 0909 31 29 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers whole spice seeds under this tariff line. 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 1 of Chapter 09 and the 79-designated-port restriction applying concurrently.

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

Four document codes are mandatory: FSSAI Import Licence (911001), Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (6570FS), and Phytosanitary Certificate (851000); all must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before the proper officer grants out-of-charge.

Can spice-seed imports under this HSN be made duty-free using a DFIA licence?

No. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 confirms that all spices are listed under Appendix 4J and subject to pre-import conditions, making their import under a Duty Free Import Authorisation impermissible under any circumstances irrespective of intended end-use.

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