Rum

Rum distilled from fermented sugarcane products

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2208 40 91 (Rum) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and label-compliance requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017. State-government mandatory requirements under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule apply as an additional overlay, and consignments must enter only through designated food-import ports per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.

What this is

HSN code

2208 40 91

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 and upload it in e-Sanchit under document code 911001 before filing the bill of entry. Additionally, 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 by the proper officer.
FSSAI Import Licence (911001); Specimen copy of label (0110FS); CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022
2
Confirm compliance with all mandatory state-government requirements applicable to the import of alcoholic beverages under Chapter 22, as stipulated under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule. Separately, route the consignment only through a designated food-import port per 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 the ITC (HS) 2022
3
Verify the current validity of the FSSAI NOC for alcoholic beverages, whether bottled in origin or imported in bulk, per the extended-validity framework. Any labelling deficiencies permitted to be rectified at port must be corrected at the customs bonded warehouse using a single non-detachable sticker, without altering original label information, before 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 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating FSSAI Import Licence compliance as the complete clearance obligation and overlooking the state-government requirements under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule. State-level liquor import restrictions, permit requirements, and labelling mandates vary by destination state, and a consignment lawfully cleared by FSSAI at the port can still face detention or confiscation upon entry into a state that has not issued the requisite permit. Confirm state-level approvals before vessel departure.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2208 40 91 require BIS certification?

No, rum and distilled sugarcane 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 requirements under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule as an additional overlay.

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

The FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) are both mandatory uploads in e-Sanchit; out-of-charge is withheld until the proper officer verifies both documents, per CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022.

Does the extended-validity framework for FSSAI NOC apply to both bottled-in-origin and bulk rum imports?

Yes. CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 and the FSSAI order dated 13-06-2025 extend NOC validity for alcoholic beverages imported both bottled in origin and in bulk; importers should confirm the current extended-validity window before the consignment is shipped.

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