Saffron stamen

Saffron stamen, dried saffron stigmas and stamens

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0910 20 20 (Saffron stamen) 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 a mandatory 25% minimum value addition condition under Chapter 09 of the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Consignments are permitted only through designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, and saffron — as a spice listed under Appendix 4J — is ineligible for import under the Duty Free Import Authorisation scheme under any circumstances.

What this is

HSN code

0910 20 20

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 an FSSAI Import Licence and ensure the foreign manufacturing facility is in good standing with FSSAI. Upload the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001), 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 · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022
2
Confirm the consignment satisfies the minimum 25% value addition condition under the Chapter 09 ITC (HS) policy before shipment. Route the consignment only through a designated food-import entry point per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022; consignments arriving at non-designated ports are subject to detention.
DGFT Public Notice 08/2024-25 dated 03-06-2024 · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022
3
Do not import saffron stamen under a Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA): spices are listed under Appendix 4J and are subject to a pre-import condition, rendering DFIA use impermissible regardless of intended end use. Any labelling deficiencies must be rectified at the customs-bonded warehouse before inspection by affixing a single non-detachable sticker per the FSSAI rectifiable-labelling regime.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is attempting to import saffron under a Duty Free Import Authorisation on the basis that the end use is manufacturing or re-export: DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 closes this route categorically — all spices under Appendix 4J carry a pre-import condition that bars DFIA regardless of end use, and customs will reject the DFIA at the bill of entry. Separately, the 25% minimum value addition condition under DGFT Public Notice 08/2024-25 must be documented prior to shipment; a post-arrival declaration is treated as non-compliance and attracts the Restricted-import enforcement consequence.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0910 20 20 require BIS certification?

No, saffron stamen is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers spices. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with an ITC (HS) value-addition condition and DGFT policy controls applying as overlays.

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); out-of-charge will not be granted until all four are verified in e-Sanchit.

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

No. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 confirms that all spices, including saffron, fall under Appendix 4J and are subject to a pre-import condition, making DFIA import impermissible under any circumstances irrespective of the intended end use.

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