Brandy

Brandy distilled from grape wine or grape marc

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2208 20 11 (Brandy) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and labelling compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017. State-government compliance under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule and designated food-import port requirements under General Note 4(D) apply as additional clearance requirements. FSSAI NOC validity extensions for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin and in bulk are governed by CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025.

What this is

HSN code

2208 20 11

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 the FSSAI Import Licence before filing the bill of entry and upload it in e-Sanchit under document code 911001. Also upload the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS); customs out-of-charge will not be granted until both documents are verified by the proper officer in e-Sanchit.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022
2
Ensure compliance with State-government mandatory requirements applicable to alcoholic beverages imported under Chapter 22 per General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule, and route the consignment only through designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022. Non-conformance with either overlay triggers detention at port.
General Note 12 of ITC (HS) Schedule · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022
3
For consignments of alcoholic beverages bottled in origin or in bulk, verify the current NOC validity position against CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 and FSSAI order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports FSSAI dated 13-06-2025 before vessel departure. Labelling deficiencies permissible for port rectification must be corrected by affixing a single non-detachable sticker next to the principal display panel without altering original label information.
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 overlay under General Note 12. State approvals are a separate, parallel condition whose absence — independent of a current and valid FSSAI licence — grounds a consignment at the port of import and triggers demurrage and ground rent. Confirm the applicable State-level import permissions before placing the purchase order, not at the bill-of-entry stage.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2208 20 11 require BIS certification?

No, brandy distilled from grape wine or grape marc is 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 a concurrent State-government compliance overlay under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule.

Which documents must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge for this tariff line?

The FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) must both be uploaded in e-Sanchit; the proper officer verifies these before granting out-of-charge per CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022.

Is the NOC validity for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin subject to any recent extension?

Yes. CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025, read with FSSAI order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports FSSAI dated 13-06-2025, governs the current extension of NOC validity for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin and in bulk, and the applicable validity window must be confirmed against those instruments before shipment.

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