Brandy

Brandy distilled from grape wine or grape marc

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2208 20 91 (Brandy) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with mandatory state-government compliance requirements for alcoholic beverages under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule. Consignments are permitted only through designated food-import entry points per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

What this is

HSN code

2208 20 91

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 a current FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and ensure the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) is uploaded in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is filed. The proper officer will verify both documents are present before granting out-of-charge.
FSSAI Import Licence · document codes 911001 and 0110FS · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022
2
Confirm compliance with state-government mandatory requirements for import of alcoholic beverages under Chapter 22 before routing the consignment. Route the consignment only through a designated food-import entry point per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
General Note 12 of ITC (HS) Schedule · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022
3
Ensure the FSSAI NOC for alcoholic beverages — whether bottled in origin or in bulk — reflects the extended validity as notified under CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 and FSSAI Order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports-FSSAI dated 13-06-2025. Any labelling deficiencies eligible for rectification must be corrected in a customs-bonded warehouse before FSSAI inspection, using a single non-detachable sticker per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023.
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 frequent error on this tariff line is overlooking the state-government compliance layer under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule, which is separate from and in addition to the FSSAI Import Licence — an importer who clears the FSSAI requirement but fails to satisfy the destination state's excise or import conditions remains in breach, exposing the consignment to detention or seizure at the state level. Separately, the validity extension for FSSAI NOCs on alcoholic beverages per CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus is operative from 20 June 2025; importers holding NOCs issued under the prior regime should verify currency against the updated FSSAI order dated 13-06-2025 before filing.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2208 20 91 require BIS certification?

No, brandy and other distilled grape-wine spirits fall 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 additional state-government compliance requirements under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry for brandy?

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

Can labelling deficiencies on imported brandy be rectified at the port?

Yes, but only for the specific categories of rectifiable labelling information permitted under FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 and the dispensation confirmed by CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 — rectification must occur in a customs-bonded warehouse before FSSAI inspection, using a single non-detachable sticker that does not alter original label information.

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