Other

Whole seeds of coriander, cumin, caraway and related spices

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0909 61 29 (whole seeds of spices including coriander, cumin, caraway, and related spice seeds) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and food-safety clearance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with import restricted to designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09 applies, and spices under this tariff line are categorically ineligible for import under Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) as Appendix 4J products.

What this is

HSN code

0909 61 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 a valid FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and ensure the foreign manufacturing or processing facility meets FSSAI food-safety requirements. Upload in e-Sanchit the FSSAI Import Licence (911001), Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (6570FS), and Phytosanitary Certificate (851000) before filing the bill of entry.
ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022
2
Route the consignment exclusively through one of the 79 designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Confirm compliance with FSSAI rectifiable-labelling requirements under FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 before customs out-of-charge; label deficiencies must be rectified at a customs-bonded warehouse by affixing a single non-detachable sticker without altering the original label.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022
3
Do not attempt import under a Duty Free Import Authorisation. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 categorically bars all spices — including spice seeds under Chapter 09 — from DFIA benefit, as they fall under Appendix 4J and carry a pre-import condition; this prohibition applies irrespective of intended end use.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025

A word of counsel

The most consequential error on this tariff line is attempting to import spice seeds under a Duty Free Import Authorisation in the belief that manufacturing end-use exempts the goods from the Appendix 4J pre-import condition. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 forecloses that argument entirely: all spices under Chapter 09 are ineligible for DFIA under any circumstances, and a consignment imported on that basis faces confiscation and monetary penalty in addition to DGFT enforcement. Verify authorisation type before placing the purchase order.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0909 61 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 DGFT policy condition 1 of Chapter 09 and mandatory upload of four e-Sanchit documents before customs out-of-charge.

Which documents must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry for this tariff line?

Four documents are mandatory: FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001), Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (6570FS), and Phytosanitary Certificate (851000); all must be present before customs out-of-charge is granted.

Can spice seeds under this HSN be imported duty-free under a DFIA authorisation?

No. 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, making their import under DFIA impermissible irrespective of intended end use.

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