Other

Safflower seeds, other than for sowing

FSSAI CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 1207 60 90 (Safflower seeds, other) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and non-GM origin cum GM-free certification requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) phytosanitary clearance applies concurrently, and consignments must enter only through the 79 designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.

What this is

HSN code

1207 60 90

Chapter

12 · Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Phytosanitary certificate from PPQS
Specimen copy of label 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 before the bill of entry is filed and ensure it is uploaded in e-Sanchit under document code 911001. A specimen copy of the label (document code 0110FS) must also be uploaded in e-Sanchit; out-of-charge will not be granted until both documents are verified by the proper officer.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017
2
Ensure the consignment is accompanied by a non-GM origin cum GM-free certificate for each shipment dispatched on or after 1 March 2021. A non-GM origin cum GM-free attestation on the phytosanitary or health certificate is accepted provided it contains all information specified in the FSSAI order dated 21-08-2021; otherwise a standalone certificate is required.
FSSAI order F.No. 1-1764/FSSAI/Imports/2018(Part1) dated 03-12-2020 · FSSAI order dated 21-08-2021
3
Route the consignment through one of the 79 designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Any labelling deficiencies permissible for port rectification must be corrected at the customs bonded warehouse before visual inspection, using a single non-detachable sticker affixed next to the principal display panel without altering the original label.
FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is presenting a phytosanitary certificate that carries a generic GM-free endorsement without the full declaration format prescribed in the FSSAI order dated 21-08-2021. Customs officers are instructed to verify that every mandatory field in that format is present; a certificate that omits even one required element is treated as non-compliant, exposing the consignment to detention and re-inspection costs irrespective of the currency of the FSSAI Import Licence.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 1207 60 90 require BIS certification?

No, safflower seeds fall 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 concurrent Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage phytosanitary clearance and non-GM origin cum GM-free certification applicable to consignments dispatched on or after 1 March 2021.

Is the non-GM origin cum GM-free certificate required for all exporting countries?

Yes, for consignments dispatched on or after 1 March 2021 regardless of origin, per FSSAI order F.No. 1-1764/FSSAI/Imports/2018(Part1) dated 03-12-2020; an attestation on the phytosanitary certificate in the prescribed FSSAI format dated 21-08-2021 is accepted as an alternative to a standalone certificate.

Can labelling deficiencies be rectified after the consignment arrives at the Indian port?

Limited rectification is permitted at the customs bonded warehouse for the specific labelling elements listed in CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus, including per-serve RDA contribution and expiry date, using a single non-detachable sticker; rectification is not a substitute for a missing FSSAI Import Licence or a deficient GM-free certificate.

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