Sherry and other white wines

Sherry and other white wines in 2-10 litre containers

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2204 22 20 (Sherry and other white wines) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017. State-government compliance under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule applies as a concurrent mandatory overlay for all alcoholic beverages under Chapter 22, alongside designated food-import port restrictions under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.

What this is

HSN code

2204 22 20

Chapter

22 · Beverages, spirits and vinegar

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017)

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Specimen copy of label from FSSAI
Compliance documentation from State government

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

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 (document code 911001) and upload it in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. A specimen copy of the label (document code 0110FS) must also be uploaded; customs out-of-charge will not be granted until both documents are verified in e-Sanchit by the proper officer.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022 · FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 · FSSAI letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022
2
Confirm compliance with state-government mandatory requirements applicable to alcoholic beverages under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule before filing the bill of entry. Route the consignment only through a designated food-import entry point notified under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023
3
Verify the current validity of the FSSAI NOC for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin and in bulk, in accordance with the extended-validity provisions. Any labelling deficiencies permissible for rectification under Regulation 6 of FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 and FSSAI orders must be rectified at customs-bonded warehouses by a single non-detachable sticker prior to visual inspection by the authorised officer.
CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 · FSSAI order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports FSSAI dated 13-06-2025 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the FSSAI Import Licence as the sole clearance requirement and overlooking the state-government compliance obligations under General Note 12 — each destination state may impose its own permit, excise, or approval requirement for imported alcoholic beverages, and customs out-of-charge does not extinguish those obligations. Consignments arriving at a non-designated port face detention regardless of the currency of the FSSAI licence; and label rectification may only be carried out at a customs-bonded warehouse before, not after, the authorised officer's visual inspection.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2204 22 20 require BIS certification?

No, sherry and other white wines 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 state-government compliance obligations for alcoholic beverages under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule.

Which ports are designated for import of food products including alcoholic beverages under this tariff line?

Import must be routed through the designated food-import entry points notified under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022; consignments arriving at non-designated ports are liable to detention pending transfer or re-export.

Has the validity of the FSSAI NOC for alcoholic beverages been extended, and does it apply to bulk imports?

Yes. CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20 June 2025 and FSSAI order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports FSSAI dated 13 June 2025 together provide for an extension of NOC validity for alcoholic beverages both bottled in origin and imported in bulk; importers should verify the current extended-validity window before shipment.

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