Caraway or fennel

Crushed or ground caraway and fennel seeds

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0909 62 30 (Caraway or fennel, crushed or ground) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and is classified as a high-risk food import permitted only through 79 designated food-import entry points per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09 of the ITC (HS) applies, and spices under this tariff line are ineligible for import under the Duty Free Import Authorisation scheme as they fall under Appendix 4J and are subject to a pre-import condition.

What this is

HSN code

0909 62 30

Chapter

09 · Coffee, tea, mate and spices

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (high-risk food import regime)

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 and ensure it is uploaded in e-Sanchit under document code 911001 before filing the bill of entry. Additionally, upload the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS), and Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) in e-Sanchit; all four documents must be present before customs out-of-charge.
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 79 designated food-import entry points notified under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Comply with ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 09; any labelling deficiencies identified at port may be rectified by affixing a single non-detachable sticker at the customs bonded warehouse prior to inspection by the authorised officer.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022
3
Do not attempt import under a Duty Free Import Authorisation. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 explicitly prohibits import of all spices — including caraway and fennel — under DFIA, as they appear in Appendix 4J and carry a pre-import condition; this bar applies irrespective of the intended end use.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 · ITC (HS) Appendix 4J

A word of counsel

The error most frequently encountered on this tariff line is reliance on a Duty Free Import Authorisation for cost reduction, which DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 has categorically closed for all spices in Appendix 4J regardless of end use — an importer who ships against a DFIA expecting post-import regularisation will face detention, DGFT enforcement, and potential confiscation of the consignment. Separately, labelling rectification at port is a limited dispensation: it applies only to the specific deficiencies listed under CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus and does not excuse a missing FSSAI Import Licence or an absent Phytosanitary Certificate.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0909 62 30 require BIS certification?

No, crushed or ground caraway and fennel seeds fall outside 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 DGFT 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 tariff line?

Four documents must be uploaded: FSSAI Import Licence (911001), Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (6570FS), and Phytosanitary Certificate (851000); customs out-of-charge is withheld until all four are verified in e-Sanchit per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus.

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

No. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 clarifies that all spices, including caraway and fennel, fall under Appendix 4J and are subject to a pre-import condition, making their import under DFIA impermissible under any circumstances.

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