Other

Rum and other sugarcane-distilled spirits, not elsewhere specified

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2208 40 92 (Other rum and sugarcane-distilled spirits) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including the foreign-labelling and NOC regime for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin and in bulk. Import also requires compliance with state-government mandatory requirements under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule and is restricted to designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.

What this is

HSN code

2208 40 92

Chapter

22 · Beverages, spirits and vinegar

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (alcoholic beverages import regime)

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 (document code 911001) and ensure the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) is uploaded in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer will verify both documents prior to granting out-of-charge; consignments without these uploads are detained at the port.
FSSAI Import Licence document code 911001 · Specimen Copy of Label document code 0110FS · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022
2
Verify the NOC validity for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin and in bulk, applying the extended-validity framework notified by CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 and FSSAI Order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports FSSAI dated 13-06-2025. An NOC whose original validity has lapsed must be renewed under this extension scheme before the bill of entry is filed.
CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 · FSSAI Order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports FSSAI dated 13-06-2025
3
Confirm compliance with state-government mandatory requirements under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule before release into the domestic market, and route the consignment only through a food-import entry point designated under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Labelling deficiencies may be rectified at customs-bonded warehouses by affixing a single non-detachable sticker, per the rectifiable-labelling dispensation.
General Note 12 of ITC (HS) Schedule · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI Order dated 18-11-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the FSSAI Import Licence as the sole document and overlooking the state-government compliance layer under General Note 12. State-specific liquor import permissions are separate from the FSSAI clearance, and a consignment released on FSSAI NOC alone — without state-level authorisation — remains unlawfully imported for domestic sale purposes, exposing the importer to seizure and monetary penalty at the state level. Confirm state permissions are in hand before the vessel arrives.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2208 40 92 require BIS certification?

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

What documents must be uploaded in e-Sanchit 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 before out-of-charge; consignments with an expired NOC must also reflect the extended-validity authorisation per CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025.

Can labelling deficiencies on imported rum be rectified at the Indian port?

Yes, but only for the specific categories of rectifiable information listed under the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 dispensation — including per-serve dietary contribution and expiry date — by affixing a single non-detachable sticker at a customs-bonded warehouse before inspection, per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 and the FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022.

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