Other

Whole spice seeds of anise, fennel, coriander, cumin, caraway

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0909 61 19 (whole, neither crushed nor ground spice seeds other than those separately enumerated) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with a designated-port restriction under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09 applies as a Restricted-import overlay, and all spices under this heading fall within Appendix 4J, making them ineligible for import under DFIA under any circumstances.

What this is

HSN code

0909 61 19

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 a valid FSSAI Import Licence before filing the bill of entry and ensure that all four mandatory documents — Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS), Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000), and FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) — are uploaded in e-Sanchit. Customs out-of-charge will not be granted until all four codes are present and verified.
CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022
2
Route the consignment only through one of the designated food-import entry points notified under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Confirm compliance with ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09 under the Restricted-import regime administered by DGFT.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022 · ITC (HS) policy condition 1, Chapter 09
3
Do not attempt import under a Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA). DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 confirms that all spices fall under Appendix 4J and are subject to a pre-import condition, rendering DFIA ineligible irrespective of intended end use. Any DFIA-routed consignment will be treated as an unauthorised Restricted-policy breach.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that DFIA eligibility is determined by end-use (e.g., as an input for food processing or re-export). DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 settles the question definitively: all spices in Appendix 4J carry a pre-import condition that bars DFIA use under any circumstances, and a consignment arriving under a DFIA authorisation is liable to detention and Restricted-import enforcement regardless of the importer's stated purpose. Verify the entry point against the General Note 4(D) designated-port list before booking freight.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0909 61 19 require BIS certification?

No, whole spice seeds under this tariff line are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy condition 1 of Chapter 09 administered by DGFT.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry for this HSN?

Four documents are mandatory: Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (6570FS), Phytosanitary Certificate (851000), and FSSAI Import Licence (911001) — all must be uploaded before customs out-of-charge per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023.

Can labelling deficiencies be rectified at the port for imported spice consignments?

Limited rectification is permitted under FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 and CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus — specific items such as per-serve RDA percentages and expiry date details may be corrected by affixing a single non-detachable sticker at a customs bonded warehouse before inspection, without altering the original label.

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