Of Cabbage

Cabbage seeds for sowing

PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 1209 91 10 (Of Cabbage) is subject to Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) import permit requirements under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003. Import is classified as Free under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), but no consignment may enter India without a valid PPQS import permit and accompanying Phytosanitary Certificate.

What this is

HSN code

1209 91 10

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

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 before the consignment is dispatched. The permit is issued under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 and must correspond to the specific seed variety and quantity being imported.
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 the bill of entry is filed. The customs proper officer will verify this document before 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 that the Free import classification under ITC (HS) removes the need for a PPQS import permit. The Free status governs the trade-policy dimension only; the plant-quarantine permit is a mandatory pre-condition under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 regardless of ITC (HS) status. A consignment arriving without a current permit is liable to detention and may face re-export or destruction if phytosanitary risk is established at the port of entry.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 1209 91 10 require BIS certification?

No, cabbage seeds for sowing are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, with a Phytosanitary Certificate mandatory at the bill-of-entry stage.

Is the Phytosanitary Certificate sufficient, or is a separate PPQS import permit also required?

Both are required. The import permit from PPQS is a pre-shipment authorisation under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, while the Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit separately before out-of-charge is granted.

What happens if a cabbage-seed consignment arrives without the PPQS import permit?

The consignment is liable to detention at the port of entry; customs will withhold out-of-charge until the PPQS import permit is produced, and where phytosanitary risk is identified, re-export or destruction may be ordered under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003.

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