Seeds of herbaceous plants cultivated principally for their flowers

Seeds of herbaceous flowering plants for sowing

PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 1209 30 00 (Seeds of herbaceous plants cultivated principally for their flowers) is subject to Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) import-permit clearance under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) classifies the tariff line as Free under the ITC (HS) import policy, but import is permitted only in accordance with a valid PPQS import permit.

What this is

HSN code

1209 30 00

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

PPQS · Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003

Customs documentation

Import permit from PPQS
Phytosanitary Certificate from PPQS
ITC (HS) policy declaration to DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

PPQSPPQS·Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary regime

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a valid import permit from Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 before shipment. Import of flower seeds without this permit is not permitted regardless of the Free ITC (HS) policy classification.
Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 · ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 12
2
Ensure the Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) issued by the competent authority of the exporting country is uploaded in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer will verify this upload prior to granting out-of-charge.
Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 · e-Sanchit document code 851000

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming the Free ITC (HS) status means the import can proceed without regulatory pre-clearance. The PPQS import permit is a condition precedent — a consignment arriving at port without a valid permit will be detained regardless of an accompanying Phytosanitary Certificate, and the two documents serve distinct purposes: the permit authorises the import, while the certificate attests to phytosanitary status at origin.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 1209 30 00 require BIS certification?

No, flower seeds for sowing are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, with ITC (HS) Free-but-permit-conditional status administered by DGFT.

Is the Phytosanitary Certificate sufficient to obtain customs out-of-charge for this tariff line?

No. The Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit, but a valid PPQS import permit is the primary condition; both documents are required before the proper officer grants out-of-charge.

Does the Free ITC (HS) policy status mean no import restrictions apply?

Not for this tariff line. The Free classification governs customs duty and licensing at the DGFT level, but import is still conditional on the PPQS import permit under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 — consignments without a valid permit are not permitted entry.

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