Tequila

Tequila and other spirituous beverages, imported

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2208 90 91 (Tequila) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and labelling compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. Import is also subject to state-government mandatory requirements 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 per General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.

What this is

HSN code

2208 90 91

Chapter

22 · Beverages, spirits and vinegar

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (alcoholic beverage 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 before the bill of entry is filed and upload both the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) in e-Sanchit. The customs proper officer will verify these uploads before granting out-of-charge on PGA-facilitated bills.
FSSAI Import Licence document code 911001 · Specimen Copy of Label document code 0110FS · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022
2
Confirm that the consignment arrives through one of the designated food-import entry points and that labels meet the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 requirements. Rectifiable labelling deficiencies — including per-serve RDA contributions and expiry-date format — may be corrected at customs bonded warehouses by affixing a single non-detachable sticker before inspection by the authorised FSSAI officer.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022
3
Verify the current validity of the FSSAI NOC for alcoholic beverages bottled in origin or in bulk, and ensure compliance with CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 and FSSAI order F.No.TIC-B05/1/2021-Imports-FSSAI dated 13-06-2025, which govern the extension of NOC validity for this product category. Additionally, confirm compliance with all state-government requirements applicable at the destination state under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule.
CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025 · FSSAI order F.No.TIC-B05/1/2021-Imports-FSSAI dated 13-06-2025 · General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the FSSAI Import Licence as a complete clearance and overlooking state-government mandatory requirements under General Note 12 of the ITC (HS) Schedule — each destination state may impose separate licencing, labelling, or distribution conditions on alcoholic beverages, and non-compliance with a state-level condition constitutes an independent breach even when federal FSSAI clearance is in order. Importers should also track the current validity window of the FSSAI NOC for alcoholic beverages, as extension orders (most recently CBIC Instruction 19/2025-Cus dated 20-06-2025) modify the operative deadline and a lapsed NOC will result in consignment detention.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2208 90 91 require BIS certification?

No, tequila and spirituous beverages are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers alcoholic 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 DGFT policy conditions and state-government requirements applying as additional overlays.

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

Document code 911001 (FSSAI Import Licence) and document code 0110FS (Specimen Copy of Label) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge is granted, per CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022.

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

Yes, specified rectifiable labelling deficiencies under the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 — including per-serve RDA contributions and expiry-date format — may be corrected at customs bonded warehouses by affixing a single non-detachable sticker, per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 and the FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022, but only before visual inspection by the authorised officer.

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