Basil, hyssop, rosemary, sage and savory

Basil, hyssop, rosemary, sage and savory (dried aromatic plants)

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 1211 90 56 (Basil, hyssop, rosemary, sage and savory) is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a critical spice-classification overlay under DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025. All spices listed under Appendix 4J are subject to a pre-import condition, and their import is not permissible under any circumstances — including under Duty Free Import Authorisation (DFIA) — irrespective of intended end use.

What this is

HSN code

1211 90 56

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, Appendix 4J pre-import condition, Chapter 12

Customs documentation

Policy compliance declaration from DGFT
Appendix 4J classification confirmation from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Confirm that basil, hyssop, rosemary, sage and savory fall under Appendix 4J of the ITC (HS) as spices subject to a pre-import condition. Import is not permissible under any circumstances irrespective of intended end use, and no DFIA or advance authorisation workaround exempts this category.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025
2
Do not file a bill of entry on the basis of a DFIA licence for this tariff line. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 explicitly clarifies that all spices under Appendix 4J are ineligible for import under DFIA, and consignments filed under such a licence are liable to detention and DGFT-policy enforcement.
DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming that an existing DFIA licence or an advance authorisation covering the declared end use (perfumery, pharmacy, or insecticidal preparations) overrides the Appendix 4J pre-import condition. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 forecloses that position: ineligibility attaches to the product's spice classification, not to the licence category or the importer's stated purpose. Consignments shipped in reliance on a DFIA licence face detention, potential confiscation, and DGFT-policy breach proceedings.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 1211 90 56 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers medicinal or aromatic plant material under this tariff line. Import is instead governed by the DGFT ITC (HS) import policy, with the Appendix 4J pre-import condition rendering these spices non-importable under DFIA per DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025.

Can basil, rosemary or sage be imported under a Duty Free Import Authorisation if the end use is pharmaceutical or perfumery manufacturing?

No. DGFT Policy Circular 05/2025 dated 22-09-2025 explicitly clarifies that all spices falling under Appendix 4J are ineligible for import under DFIA irrespective of intended end use, and the pre-import condition applies without exception.

What is the practical consequence if a consignment of these aromatic plants is shipped under a DFIA licence?

The consignment is liable to detention at the port of import; out-of-charge will be withheld pending resolution of the DGFT-policy breach, which may result in confiscation or re-export at the importer's cost.

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