Other

Rum and other sugarcane-distilled spirits, other varieties

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2208 40 12 (Rum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugarcane products — other) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and food-safety clearance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. State-government compliance under General Note 12 of ITC (HS) Schedule I and designated food-import port restrictions under General Note 4(D) apply as additional clearance requirements. FSSAI NOC validity for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin and in bulk has been extended per CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025.

What this is

HSN code

2208 40 12

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 valid FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and upload it in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Also upload the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS); customs out-of-charge will not be granted until both documents are verified in e-Sanchit.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI Letter No. 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022
2
Ensure the consignment arrives at one of the designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Confirm that state-government mandatory requirements under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule are satisfied before placing the import order, as non-compliance at either level results in detention at port.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I, ITC (HS) 2022 · General Note 12 of ITC (HS) Schedule I
3
Verify the current validity of the FSSAI NOC for alcoholic beverages — both bottled-in-origin and bulk formats — under the extended-validity regime. Labelling deficiencies listed under FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 may be rectified at customs bonded warehouses by affixing a single non-detachable sticker on the principal display panel, per the rectifiable-labelling dispensation.
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 FSSAI clearance as the sole gate and overlooking the concurrent state-government compliance requirement under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule. State-level excise NOCs or permits are mandatory across most Indian states for the import and movement of alcoholic beverages, and their absence triggers consignment detention independent of a valid FSSAI Import Licence — demurrage and ground rent accrue during the period of state-level non-compliance. Confirm the destination-state excise requirement before vessel departure.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2208 40 12 require BIS certification?

No, rum and sugarcane-distilled spirits fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. 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 obligations under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule.

Which document codes are mandatory in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?

Document code 911001 (FSSAI Import Licence) and document code 0110FS (Specimen Copy of Label) must both be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge; failure to upload either document results in detention pending verification by the proper officer.

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

Yes. CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 and FSSAI order F.No. TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports FSSAI dated 13-06-2025 extend the NOC validity for alcoholic beverages both bottled in origin and in bulk; importers should confirm the current extended-validity window against their specific NOC issue date before shipment.

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