Other

Other spices not elsewhere specified in Chapter 9

FSSAI CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 0910 99 90 (other spices) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) phytosanitary clearance as concurrent primary obligations. The tariff line carries an ITC (HS) policy condition under Chapter 9 requiring minimum 25% value addition, administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and import is restricted to designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 further confirms that all spices under Appendix 4J are ineligible for import under the Duty Free Import Authorisation scheme under any circumstances.

What this is

HSN code

0910 99 90

Chapter

09 · Coffee, tea, mate and spices

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (high-risk food; GM-free regime)

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Phytosanitary Certificate from PPQS
Non-GM origin certificate from FSSAI

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

PPQSPPQS·Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary regime

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 (document code 911001) and ensure the foreign manufacturing facility is cleared under the FSSAI high-risk food regime. Before dispatch, secure a non-GM origin cum GM-free certificate — or an equivalent attestation on the phytosanitary or health certificate containing all information per the FSSAI order dated 21-08-2021 — for every consignment shipped on or after 01-03-2021. Upload the FSSAI Import Licence, the Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), and the Food Grade Certificate (6570FS) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry.
FSSAI order dated 21-08-2021 · FSSAI order F.No.1-1764/FSSAI/Imports/2018(Part1) dated 03-12-2020 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022
2
Obtain the PPQS Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) from the competent authority of the exporting country and upload it in e-Sanchit. Verify that the consignment satisfies the minimum 25% value-addition condition under the ITC (HS) Chapter 9 policy and route the shipment only through a designated food-import entry point as required by General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
DGFT Public Notice 08/2024-25 dated 03-06-2024 · General Note 4(D), Schedule I, ITC (HS) 2022
3
Confirm that the import is not being attempted under a Duty Free Import Authorisation: DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 explicitly bars all spices listed in Appendix 4J from import under the DFIA scheme, irrespective of intended end use and without exception. Any rectifiable labelling deficiency must be corrected at the customs bonded warehouse before visual inspection by the authorised officer, by affixing a single non-detachable sticker per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 under F.No.Import/TFM/Apex/2022-FSSAI

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that a valid FSSAI Import Licence covers the full clearance requirement and that the GM-free attestation is a secondary formality. Consignments dispatched on or after 01-03-2021 without a standalone non-GM origin cum GM-free certificate — or without the equivalent attestation containing every element prescribed by the FSSAI order of 21-08-2021 on the phytosanitary certificate — are detained at port regardless of food-safety clearance status, accumulating demurrage and ground rent. Separately, any attempt to route spice imports under a DFIA authorisation now attracts outright rejection under DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0910 99 90 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers residual spices under this tariff line. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with concurrent Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage phytosanitary clearance and DGFT ITC (HS) Chapter 9 policy conditions including a 25% minimum value-addition requirement.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this HSN?

The mandatory uploads are the 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 present in e-Sanchit.

Can spices under HSN 0910 99 90 be imported on a Duty Free Import Authorisation?

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

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