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Other

Other food preparations of flour, starch or malt extract

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 1901 90 90 (Other food preparations) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and labelling compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 and FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) veterinary health certificate and Sanitary Import Permit clearance apply as concurrent overlays, and consignments must enter only through designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.

What this is
HSN code
1901 90 90
Chapter
19 · Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products
Primary regulator
FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (high-risk food regime)
Customs documentation
  • Import Licence from FSSAI
  • Sanitary Import Permit from AQCS
  • Specimen copy of label from FSSAI
Applicable Partner Government Agencies
FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
AQCSAQCS·Animal Quarantine and Certification Services

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Obtain a valid FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and upload it in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Ensure the specimen copy of the label (document code 0110FS) is also uploaded; both documents are verified by the proper officer before out-of-charge is granted.
    CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022
  2. 2
    Upload the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit (document code 911DF1) with its e-Sanchit IRN, the veterinary health certificate issued by the exporting country (document code 853AQ1), and the laboratory report or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1) as required under Circular 24/2022-CUS. Quote the Sanitary Import Permit IRN on the bill of entry to obtain the AQCS NOC.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-CUS dated 28-11-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-CUS dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 under F.No. Import/TFM/Apex/2022-FSSAI
  3. 3
    Note that import of milk-based food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient originating from China is prohibited pending laboratory-capacity upgrades at ports of entry for melamine testing. Route all consignments through one of the designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022; any rectifiable labelling deficiency must be corrected at a customs bonded warehouse by affixing a single non-detachable sticker before visual inspection.
    DGFT Notification 01/2015-20 dated 23-04-2019 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022 · FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020
A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is arriving at a non-designated port or presenting only the FSSAI Import Licence while omitting the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit IRN — the two clearances are independent, and a missing AQCS NOC results in consignment detention regardless of FSSAI compliance status. Importers sourcing products that contain any milk solids from Chinese origins must additionally confirm the prohibition under DGFT Notification 01/2015-20 applies to their specific formulation before placing the purchase order, as detention at the port of entry will ensue.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 1901 90 90 require BIS certification?
No, this residual food-preparations tariff line falls entirely 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 concurrent Animal Quarantine and Certification Services clearance and the designated-port restriction under General Note 4(D) of the ITC (HS) 2022.
Which document codes are mandatory in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?
The FSSAI Import Licence (911001), specimen copy of label (0110FS), AQCS Sanitary Import Permit (911DF1), veterinary health certificate (853AQ1), and Certificate of Analysis (001AQ1) are each required depending on the product's animal-origin content, per CBIC Circular 24/2022-CUS and Instruction 09/2023-CUS.
Can labelling deficiencies be rectified after the consignment arrives at the port?
Yes, but only to the extent permitted by FSSAI CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs — rectification must occur at a customs bonded warehouse before visual inspection, by affixing a single non-detachable sticker next to the principal display panel without altering the original label, and certain fields such as per-serve dietary contribution and expiry date may be added only if provided by the manufacturer itself.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: FSSAI / AQCS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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