Other

Medicinal, aromatic and insecticidal plants, parts, residual category

FSSAI CLEARANCE · WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 1211 90 49 (other miscellaneous medicinal and aromatic plant parts) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with consignments permitted only through designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) CITES clearance applies as a concurrent overlay where the plant material is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. DGFT policy and CBIC customs instructions govern labelling compliance and port-of-entry restrictions.

What this is

HSN code

1211 90 49

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
CITES certificate from WCCB
Specimen copy of label from FSSAI

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

WCCBWCCB·Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

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 current FSSAI Import Licence and upload it in e-Sanchit under document code 911001 before filing the bill of entry. Simultaneously upload the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS); the proper officer will verify both documents before granting out-of-charge.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 under F.No.Import/TFM/Apex/2022-FSSAI
2
Where the plant material is a CITES-listed species, obtain the CITES certificate and upload it in e-Sanchit under document code 626000 prior to out-of-charge. The WCCB clearance is independent of the FSSAI food-safety clearance and must be satisfied concurrently.
CITES certificate document code 626000 · regulatory record CCR mandatory-document requirement
3
Route the consignment only through a designated food-import entry point per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Labelling deficiencies permitted for rectification at port — including per-serve RDA contribution and expiry date — must be corrected by a single non-detachable sticker affixed before visual inspection, without altering the original label.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this residual tariff line is treating all plant material as straightforward food-channel goods and overlooking the WCCB CITES overlay. Many aromatic and medicinal plant species — including certain orchids, cacti, and timber-derived botanicals — are CITES Appendix II or III listed; a consignment cleared under a valid FSSAI Import Licence but lacking the CITES certificate (document code 626000) will be detained at port and may attract seizure and criminal liability under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Confirm the species-level CITES status with the exporter before dispatch.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 1211 90 49 require BIS certification?

No, medicinal and aromatic plant parts under this residual tariff line 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 a concurrent WCCB CITES clearance requirement where the species is listed.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry for this HSN?

Three documents are mandatory: FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001), Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), and CITES certificate (document code 626000) where the species is CITES-listed; per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus and the CCR mandatory-document list.

What testing standard applies to clove stem imports classified under this residual heading?

Until dedicated standards are notified, clove stem is tested against safety parameters (horizontal standards) and volatile oil content — not less than 8.5 percent v/w on a dry basis, being half the value for whole cloves — per FSSR 2.9.6(1), as clarified in the FSSAI order dated 17-06-2022.

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