Saffron stigma

Saffron stigma, dried saffron spice

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0910 20 10 (Saffron stigma) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and must comply with ITC (HS) Chapter 9 policy conditions including a minimum 25% value-addition requirement administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Consignments must be routed through designated food-import entry points per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, and saffron is classified under Appendix 4J, rendering it ineligible for import under a Duty Free Import Authorisation under any circumstances.

What this is

HSN code

0910 20 10

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 current FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and ensure the foreign manufacturing or processing facility complies with FSSAI requirements. Upload the FSSAI Import Licence, 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.
FSSAI Import Licence 911001 · CCR document codes 0110FS, 6570FS, 851000 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023
2
Confirm the consignment satisfies the minimum 25% value-addition condition applicable to Chapter 9 spices under the ITC (HS) import policy. Saffron falls under Appendix 4J and is subject to a pre-import condition; import is not permissible under a Duty Free Import Authorisation irrespective of intended end use.
DGFT Public Notice 08/2024-25 dated 03-06-2024 · DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025
3
Route the consignment through one of the designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Verify label compliance with the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020; rectifiable labelling deficiencies may be corrected at a customs-bonded warehouse before inspection, by affixing a single non-detachable sticker without altering the original label.
General Note 4(D) of ITC (HS) Schedule I · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022

A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is attempting to import saffron under a Duty Free Import Authorisation on the basis that it will be used as an input for export production. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 is unambiguous: all spices listed in Appendix 4J carry a pre-import condition and DFIA import is not permissible irrespective of intended end use. An import attempted under DFIA will be treated as a violation of the ITC (HS) policy condition, attracting detention and potential confiscation.

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 0910 20 10 require BIS certification?

No, saffron stigma is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers spices under Chapter 9. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with ITC (HS) policy conditions including a 25% value-addition requirement administered by DGFT.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for saffron consignments?

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

Can saffron be imported under a Duty Free Import Authorisation for use in export manufacturing?

No. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 confirms that all spices, including saffron, fall under Appendix 4J with a pre-import condition, and import under a DFIA is not permissible under any circumstances regardless of intended end use.

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