Tequila

Imported tequila, spirituous beverages of agave origin

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2208 90 11 (Tequila) 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. Import is additionally conditioned on state-government compliance under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and consignments must enter only through designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.

What this is

HSN code

2208 90 11

Chapter

22 · Beverages, spirits and vinegar

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and 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 a valid FSSAI Import Licence and ensure it is uploaded in e-Sanchit under document code 911001 before filing the bill of entry. A specimen copy of the product label (document code 0110FS) must also be uploaded; both documents must be present before customs out-of-charge is granted.
FSSAI Import Licence · document codes 911001 and 0110FS · CCR PGA-facilitated-bill verification requirement
2
Confirm the consignment enters only through one of the designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Additionally, verify and document compliance with all mandatory state-government requirements applicable to alcoholic beverages under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule before the bill of entry is filed.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I, ITC (HS) 2022 · General Note 12 of ITC (HS) Schedule
3
Ensure label compliance with the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, including per-serve dietary contribution and expiry/best-before information. Where labelling deficiencies fall within the permitted rectification dispensation, rectification must be carried out at a customs-bonded warehouse using a single non-detachable sticker affixed next to the principal display panel, before visual inspection by the authorised FSSAI officer. Note that the validity of the FSSAI 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.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 · CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 · FSSAI order F.No.TIC-b05/1/2021-Imports FSSAI dated 13-06-2025

A word of counsel

The most frequent error on tequila imports is overlooking the state-government layer: even a consignment with a current FSSAI Import Licence and fully compliant labelling can be detained if state-specific import, possession, or sale licences for alcoholic beverages are absent at the time of customs clearance. General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule makes state-government compliance a mandatory condition of import, not a post-clearance formality — and the NOC-validity extension for alcoholic beverages under CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus must be tracked to avoid presenting a lapsed NOC at the bill of entry.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2208 90 11 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers tequila or imported spirituous beverages under Chapter 22. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with mandatory state-government compliance under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule.

What document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for a tequila consignment?

The FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and a specimen copy of the label (document code 0110FS) must both be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge; bills not routed through the PGA for NOC are subject to verification by the proper officer.

Can labelling deficiencies on an imported tequila consignment be rectified at the port?

Yes, within the dispensation under Regulation 6 of the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 and the orders dated 22-05-2018 and 14-01-2019, certain labelling information — including per-serve dietary contribution and expiry/best-before date — may be rectified at a customs-bonded warehouse by affixing a single non-detachable sticker, subject to FSSAI authorised-officer verification 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.