Other

Grape-distilled spirits, brandy and grape marc spirits

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2208 20 19 (grape-distilled spirits other than those separately specified) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with an FSSAI NOC validity extension currently operative under CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025. State-government compliance under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule and designated food-import port restrictions under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022 apply as additional clearance requirements.

What this is

HSN code

2208 20 19

Chapter

22 · Beverages, spirits and vinegar

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

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 an FSSAI Import Licence and ensure the FSSAI NOC is current, noting the extended validity operative under CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus and FSSAI order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports-FSSAI dated 13-06-2025 for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin and in bulk. Upload the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry.
CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 · FSSAI order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports-FSSAI dated 13-06-2025
2
Route the consignment only through one of the designated food-import ports notified under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. At the port, confirm rectifiable labelling deficiencies are corrected in a customs bonded warehouse by affixing a single non-detachable sticker next to the principal display panel, per the FSSAI rectifiable-labelling regime.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022
3
Confirm compliance with the state-government requirements of the destination state under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule, which imposes mandatory state-specific conditions on all alcoholic beverages imported under Chapter 22. Failure to hold requisite state permits exposes the consignment to detention and refusal of out-of-charge.
General Note 12 of ITC (HS) Schedule · ITC (HS) 2022, Chapter 22

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating FSSAI clearance as the sole gate and overlooking the state-government compliance layer under General Note 12. Each destination state imposes its own mandatory requirements on imported alcoholic beverages — a consignment cleared by FSSAI at the port of entry can still be detained or confiscated on arrival in the destination state if the requisite state permit or excise licence has not been obtained in advance. Secure state-level approvals before the vessel departs, not after customs out-of-charge.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2208 20 19 require BIS certification?

No, grape-distilled spirits 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 state-government compliance under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule as a concurrent mandatory requirement.

What is the current status of the FSSAI NOC validity for alcoholic beverages under this HSN?

The validity of the NOC for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin and in bulk has been extended per CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 and FSSAI order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports-FSSAI dated 13-06-2025; importers must confirm the current validity window from these orders before shipment.

Can labelling deficiencies for this product be rectified at the port of entry?

Yes, specified labelling deficiencies — including per-serve percentage contribution to recommended dietary allowance and date of expiry — may be rectified at customs bonded warehouses by affixing a single non-detachable sticker next to the principal display panel, provided the information is supplied by the manufacturer and verified by the authorised officer, per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023.

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