Fenugreek

Fenugreek and other spices for import

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 0910 99 24 (Fenugreek) 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 minimum 25% value-addition condition imposed under DGFT Public Notice 08/2024-25 dated 03-06-2024. Consignments must enter through designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, and DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 prohibits import of all spices under Duty-Free Import Authorisation.

What this is

HSN code

0910 99 24

Chapter

09 · Coffee, tea, mate and spices

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (high-risk food regime, Chapter 09 ITC policy)

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 before shipment and ensure the foreign manufacturing facility is eligible under the FSSAI food-import regime. 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 Import Licence · document codes 911001, 0110FS, 6570FS, 851000 · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022
2
Verify that the consignment satisfies the minimum 25% value-addition condition applicable to Chapter 09 spices under the ITC (HS) import policy, and route the shipment through one of the designated food-import ports. Non-conformance with the value-addition threshold constitutes a breach of the Chapter 09 policy condition and exposes the consignment to detention.
DGFT Public Notice 08/2024-25 dated 03-06-2024 · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022
3
Confirm that the import is not being claimed under a Duty-Free Import Authorisation (DFIA); all spices fall under Appendix 4J and are subject to a pre-import condition, making DFIA ineligible irrespective of intended end use. Compliance with FSSAI rectifiable-labelling requirements under FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 must also be ensured before out-of-charge.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · 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 fenugreek under a Duty-Free Import Authorisation on the basis that it will be used as an input in further manufacture. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 explicitly bars all spices from DFIA because they appear in Appendix 4J with a pre-import condition; the intended end use is irrelevant, and consignments presented on a DFIA basis face outright rejection and potential confiscation. Ensure the four mandatory e-Sanchit documents are uploaded and current before the vessel departs.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0910 99 24 require BIS certification?

No, fenugreek falls 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 a minimum 25% value-addition condition and designated food-import port restriction administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Which documents must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for a fenugreek consignment?

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 fenugreek be imported under a Duty-Free Import Authorisation?

No. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 explicitly renders all spices ineligible for DFIA because they fall under Appendix 4J and carry a pre-import condition, making DFIA impermissible regardless of the importer's intended end use.

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