Other

Melon seeds other than those separately specified

FSSAI CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 1207 70 90 (Other melon seeds) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and a non-GM origin cum GM-free certificate requirement under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) phytosanitary clearance applies concurrently, and import is classified as Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with mandatory registration under the Melon Seeds Import Monitoring System (MS-IMS) per DGFT Public Notice 02/2024.

What this is

HSN code

1207 70 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 (high-risk food / non-GM 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 a FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and ensure the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) is uploaded in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is filed. The FSSAI non-GM origin cum GM-free certificate — or an equivalent attestation on the phytosanitary/health certificate containing all information per the FSSAI order format — is mandatory for consignments dispatched from the exporting country on or after 1 March 2021.
FSSAI order dated 21-08-2021 · FSSAI order F.N.1-1764/FSSAI/Imports/2018(Part1) dated 03-12-2020 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022
2
Register the import under the Melon Seeds Import Monitoring System (MS-IMS) and comply with policy conditions (i) to (v) under Chapter 12 of the ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule I. Apply for a DGFT licence for restricted imports of watermelon or muskmelon seeds within the notified application windows and ensure compliance with the six-step notified procedure under DGFT Public Notices 41/23 and 42/23 dated 14-02-2024.
S.O. 1634(E) dated 05-04-2024 · DGFT Public Notice 02/2024 dated 09-04-2024 · DGFT Public Notices 41/23 and 42/23 dated 14-02-2024
3
Confirm the consignment enters through a port that complies with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022 for food import entry points. Earlier notifications restricted watermelon seeds to Kandla (INIXY1) and Mundra (INMUM1) ports; verify the current port conditions against the latest DGFT notification before vessel departure.
DGFT Notification 13/2015-20 dated 21-06-2022 · General Note 4(D) of ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule I

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is conflating the MS-IMS registration with possession of a valid DGFT restricted-import licence — they are separate obligations and both must be fulfilled before clearance. Quota ceilings for watermelon seeds (33,800 MT) and muskmelon seeds (1,200 MT) are enforced on an actual-user basis, meaning consignments that arrive after the quota is exhausted face detention and potential re-export regardless of licence validity. Confirm live quota availability through DGFT's online system before the purchase order is placed.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 1207 70 90 require BIS certification?

No, melon seeds fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers oil seeds or oleaginous fruits. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage phytosanitary clearance and a DGFT Restricted-import policy overlay requiring MS-IMS registration.

Is the non-GM origin cum GM-free certificate required for every consignment?

Yes, for all consignments dispatched from the exporting country on or after 1 March 2021. A standalone non-GM certificate or an equivalent attestation embedded in the phytosanitary or health certificate is accepted, provided it contains all particulars specified in the FSSAI order dated 21-08-2021.

What happens if the import quota for watermelon or muskmelon seeds is exhausted before my consignment arrives?

Consignments in excess of the notified quota ceilings — 33,800 MT for watermelon seeds and 1,200 MT for muskmelon seeds — are not cleared on an actual-user basis and are liable to detention, ground rent, and re-export at the importer's cost under the Restricted-import enforcement framework.

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