Ajwain

Ajwain and other spices (carom seeds)

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0910 99 14 (Ajwain) 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 25% minimum value-addition condition applicable under the ITC (HS) policy of Chapter 09 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Import is permitted only through designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, and spices under Appendix 4J are ineligible for import under Duty Free Import Authorisation.

What this is

HSN code

0910 99 14

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 before filing the bill of entry and ensure that the licence (document code 911001), Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS), and Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) are all uploaded in e-Sanchit 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
Confirm that the consignment satisfies the minimum 25% value-addition condition prescribed under the ITC (HS) Chapter 09 policy, and route the shipment only through one of the designated food-import entry points. Non-compliance with General Note 4(D) entry-point requirements triggers detention of the consignment.
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 Ajwain under a Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA). DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 clarifies that all spices listed under Appendix 4J are subject to a pre-import condition and are ineligible for import under DFIA irrespective of the intended end use.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is attempting to import Ajwain under a Duty Free Import Authorisation on the basis that the end use is export-oriented. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 forecloses this route categorically for all spices falling under Appendix 4J — including Ajwain — regardless of end use. An import under a DFIA so structured invites rejection at the bill-of-entry stage, demurrage, and potential confiscation of the consignment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0910 99 14 require BIS certification?

No, Ajwain falls outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this spice. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with an ITC (HS) Chapter 09 value-addition condition administered by DGFT.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for Ajwain at the bill of entry?

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 per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus.

Can labelling deficiencies be rectified at the port for imported Ajwain?

Yes, limited rectification is permitted at customs bonded warehouses before inspection by the authorised officer, covering per-serve dietary contribution data and date of expiry alongside best-before date, provided the manufacturer supplies the corrected information and a single non-detachable sticker is affixed without altering the original label, per CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus and FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022.

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