Homogenised composite food preparations

Homogenised composite food preparations for import

FSSAI CLEARANCE · AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 2104 20 00 (Homogenised composite 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 certification and laboratory analysis apply concurrently, and all consignments must enter through designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Imports of milk-containing food preparations from China remain prohibited under DGFT Notification 01/2015-20 dated 23-04-2019.

What this is

HSN code

2104 20 00

Chapter

21 · Miscellaneous edible preparations

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (high-risk food regime)

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Health Certificate from AQCS
Certificate of Analysis from AQCS

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
Upload the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001), Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), and Health Certificate (document code 6360AQ) in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is filed. The Proper Officer will verify these three documents before granting out-of-charge where the bill has not been routed through the PGA for NOC.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022
2
Upload the veterinary Health Certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country (document code 853AQ1) and the laboratory report or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1) in e-Sanchit, covering the CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 1 and Sl. No. 2 respectively) of Circular 24/2022-Cus. Quote the IRN generated in e-Sanchit for each AQCS document on the bill of entry to obtain the AQCS NOC.
CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 under F.No. Import/TFM/Apex/2022-FSSAI
3
Confirm the consignment does not originate from China if it contains milk, milk solids, chocolate, or confectionery ingredients: such imports from China are prohibited until port laboratory capacity for melamine testing is confirmed as upgraded. Route all other consignments exclusively through designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
DGFT Notification 01/2015-20 dated 23-04-2019 · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating labelling deficiencies as a clearance barrier that blocks out-of-charge, when the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 and the FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 provide a structured rectification window at the customs bonded warehouse — specifically for per-serve RDA contribution data, best-before dating, and date of expiry — provided the information is supplied by the original manufacturer and affixed by non-detachable sticker without altering the existing label. However, this rectification route does not cure a missing FSSAI Import Licence, an absent AQCS veterinary certificate, or a China-origin prohibition: none of those deficiencies are rectifiable at port, and their absence results in consignment detention.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2104 20 00 require BIS certification?

No, homogenised composite food preparations are not within 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 food-import port restriction under General Note 4(D) of the ITC (HS) 2022.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?

Four codes apply: FSSAI Import Licence (911001), Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Health Certificate (6360AQ), veterinary Health Certificate (853AQ1), and Certificate of Analysis (001AQ1) — the last two per CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus and CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023.

Are homogenised food preparations containing milk prohibited from China?

Yes. DGFT Notification 01/2015-20 dated 23-04-2019 prohibits import of milk and milk-based products, chocolates, confectioneries, and food preparations with milk or milk solids as an ingredient from China until port laboratories are upgraded for melamine testing.

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