Ragi

Ragi (finger millet), other cereals for food import

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 1008 29 30 (Ragi) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and labelling compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017. Import entry is restricted to designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

What this is

HSN code

1008 29 30

Chapter

10 · Cereals

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 / FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Food Grade Certificate from FSSAI
Specimen copy of label from importer

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 the FSSAI Import Licence and ensure the following documents are uploaded in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry: Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS), and FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001). The customs proper officer will verify all three uploads before granting out-of-charge.
CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022
2
Route the consignment through a designated food-import entry point in compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Import through a non-designated port renders the consignment liable to detention and ground rent pending re-routing or re-export.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023
3
Ensure product labelling conforms to the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, including per-serve percentage contribution to recommended dietary allowance and date of expiry alongside best-before date. Rectifiable labelling deficiencies may be corrected at the customs bonded warehouse by affixing a single non-detachable sticker next to the principal display panel, without altering the original label, before inspection by the authorised officer.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022, Para 2(i) · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022 · FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the FSSAI Import Licence upload as the only e-Sanchit obligation and overlooking the Food Grade Certificate (document code 6570FS) and the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS). A bill of entry presented without all three mandatory documents is flagged as PGA-facilitated and withheld from out-of-charge — attracting demurrage and ground rent — regardless of whether the FSSAI licence itself is current and valid.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 1008 29 30 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers ragi or other cereals under Chapter 10. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with mandatory FSSAI Import Licence, Food Grade Certificate, and labelling compliance at the designated food-import ports.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for ragi imports?

Three documents are mandatory: Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Food Grade Certificate (6570FS), and FSSAI Import Licence (911001); all must be uploaded before the customs proper officer grants out-of-charge, per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus.

Can labelling deficiencies on imported ragi consignments be rectified at the port?

Yes, but only within the scope prescribed under CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs and the FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022 — rectification is permitted by affixing a single non-detachable sticker at the customs bonded warehouse before inspection, and only for the specific labelling items listed, such as per-serve RDA contribution and expiry date; missing PGA clearances cannot be rectified by this route.

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