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Of Tomato

Tomato seeds for sowing (vegetable seeds)

PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 1209 91 60 (Of Tomato) is subject to Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) import-permit requirements under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003. While the tariff line is Free under the ITC (HS) import policy, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) mandates compliance with the Plant Quarantine Order as a binding policy condition before out-of-charge.

What this is
HSN code
1209 91 60
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 exporting country
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. 1
    Obtain a valid import permit from Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 before dispatch. The permit specifies permissible origin, phytosanitary conditions, and any treatment requirements; importation without a current permit is not permitted regardless of the Free ITC (HS) status.
    Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 · ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 12
  2. 2
    Ensure the Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) issued by the national plant-protection authority of the exporting country is uploaded in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is filed. The customs proper officer will verify this upload 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 conflating the Free ITC (HS) status with unrestricted import: the tariff line is free of duty-policy restriction but is emphatically not free of plant-quarantine controls. A consignment arriving without a pre-obtained PPQS import permit cannot be regularised at the port of import — there is no post-arrival permit mechanism — and the consignment is liable to re-export or destruction under the Plant Quarantine Order, 2003.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 1209 91 60 require BIS certification?
No, vegetable 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 requirement at the bill-of-entry stage.
Is a separate PPQS import permit required for every shipment of tomato seeds?
Yes. The import permit under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 must be obtained from PPQS before each consignment is dispatched; the permit specifies the origin, quantity, and phytosanitary conditions applicable to that shipment.
What happens if the Phytosanitary Certificate is missing or defective at the port of entry?
A missing or non-conforming Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) prevents out-of-charge; the consignment is held pending PPQS inspection, and detention, demurrage, and ground rent accrue until either a compliant certificate is produced or the consignment is re-exported.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: PPQS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
Related
ChapterChapter 12 · Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plantsHSNSEEDS, FRUIT AND SPORES, OF A KIND USED FOR SOWINGHSNVegetable seeds: