Of seed quality

Whole cumin, coriander, fennel or caraway seeds of seed quality

FSSAI CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 0909 61 11 (whole spice seeds of seed quality) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and to Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) import permit clearance under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003. The tariff line is Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with import for sowing permitted without a licence only when an authorised PPQS import permit is in hand. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 further bars import of all spices — including this CTI — under Duty Free Import Authorisation, as spices under Appendix 4J carry a pre-import condition that is non-waivable irrespective of end use.

What this is

HSN code

0909 61 11

Chapter

09 · Coffee, tea, mate and spices

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; PPQS · Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Phytosanitary 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 valid FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) before filing the bill of entry, and ensure the consignment is routed through one of the 79 designated food-import entry points in compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Upload the FSSAI Import Licence, Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), and Food Grade Certificate (6570FS) in e-Sanchit prior to out-of-charge.
FSSAI Import Licence · document codes 911001, 0110FS, 6570FS · General Note 4(D), ITC (HS) Schedule I, 2022
2
Obtain the Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) issued by the competent authority of the exporting country and upload it in e-Sanchit. For consignments imported for sowing, the PPQS import permit granted under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003 substitutes the standard licence requirement under the ITC (HS) Restricted policy.
Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003 · document code 851000 · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 09
3
Confirm the import is not being effected under a Duty Free Import Authorisation. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 clarifies that all spices, including cumin, coriander, fennel and caraway seeds, fall under Appendix 4J and are subject to a pre-import condition; their import under DFIA is not permissible under any circumstances, irrespective of intended end use.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 · ITC (HS) Appendix 4J

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that the PPQS import permit issued for sowing-purpose seed dispensation satisfies the FSSAI Import Licence requirement, or vice versa. The two clearances are independent: PPQS governs the phytosanitary and quarantine gate, while FSSAI governs food safety, and both must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge. Additionally, importers seeking to route consignments through DFIA to reduce duty cost must note that DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 renders this approach unlawful for any spice in Appendix 4J, exposing consignments to detention and DGFT enforcement action.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0909 61 11 require BIS certification?

No, whole spice seeds of seed quality are 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 Act, 2006, and by Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003, with the ITC (HS) Restricted-import overlay administered by DGFT.

Which e-Sanchit document codes are mandatory for this tariff line?

The customs proper officer verifies four documents before out-of-charge: Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (6570FS), Phytosanitary Certificate (851000), and FSSAI Import Licence (911001), all of which must be uploaded in e-Sanchit prior to the bill of entry being assessed.

Can spices under this CTI be imported under a Duty Free Import Authorisation?

No. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 confirms that all spices listed under Appendix 4J carry a pre-import condition and are ineligible for import under DFIA irrespective of the intended end use; consignments tendered on a DFIA basis are liable to detention and recovery of applicable duties.

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