Other

Saffron (other than saffron threads, whole stigmas)

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0910 20 90 (Other saffron) 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 compliance required at one of the designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) imposes a minimum 25% value-addition condition under the ITC (HS) import policy for Chapter 09, and spices — including saffron — are listed under Appendix 4J, making them ineligible for import under DFIA under any circumstances.

What this is

HSN code

0910 20 90

Chapter

09 · Coffee, tea, mate and spices

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Food Grade Certificate from FSSAI
Phyto Sanitary 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 and upload in e-Sanchit the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001), Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS), and Phyto Sanitary Certificate (document code 851000) before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer will verify all four documents are present before granting out-of-charge.
FSSAI Import Licence document code 911001 · CCR e-Sanchit upload requirement · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023
2
Confirm the consignment meets the minimum 25% value-addition condition required under the ITC (HS) Chapter 09 import policy before shipment. Additionally, note that all spices fall under Appendix 4J and carry a pre-import condition — import under Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) is not permissible 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 a designated food-import entry point under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Ensure label compliance with the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020; permissible labelling rectifications may be carried out at customs bonded warehouses using a single non-detachable sticker before FSSAI officer inspection.
General Note 4(D), ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that a DFIA authorisation can offset the Chapter 09 value-addition condition or the Appendix 4J pre-import restriction. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 is explicit: spices are categorically ineligible for import under DFIA regardless of intended end use, and consignments presented under a DFIA authorisation will be treated as policy-non-compliant, attracting detention and potential DGFT enforcement separate from any FSSAI clearance deficiency.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0910 20 90 require BIS certification?

No, saffron products at this tariff line fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with a DGFT minimum 25% value-addition condition and Appendix 4J pre-import restrictions applying as policy overlays.

Which e-Sanchit document codes are mandatory at the bill of entry for this HSN?

Four documents must be uploaded: Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (6570FS), Phyto Sanitary Certificate (851000), and FSSAI Import Licence (911001). Out-of-charge will not be granted until all four codes are verified in e-Sanchit.

Can saffron under this tariff line be imported under a Duty Free Import Authorisation?

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

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