Other

Vinegar and acetic acid substitutes for vinegar (other)

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 2209 00 90 (vinegar and substitutes for vinegar obtained from acetic acid — other) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with consignments restricted to designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers the ITC (HS) import policy overlay, and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) enforces document verification at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is

HSN code

2209 00 90

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
Entry-point declaration to CBIC

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 current FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and upload it in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The Proper Officer will not grant out-of-charge until both the FSSAI Import Licence and the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) are confirmed as uploaded in e-Sanchit.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022; FSSAI letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022
2
Route the consignment only through a designated food-import entry point in compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Arrival at a non-designated port subjects the consignment to detention and DGFT-policy enforcement irrespective of the currency of the FSSAI licence.
General Note 4(D), Schedule I, ITC (HS) 2022; CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus referenced via CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023
3
Where labelling deficiencies exist on arrival, rectification is permitted at customs-bonded warehouses before visual inspection only for the categories specified under FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 — including per-serve RDA contribution and expiry date — by affixing a single non-detachable sticker without altering the original label. Confirmation from the manufacturer and verification by the authorised FSSAI officer are mandatory preconditions.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022, Para 2(i); CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023; FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 under F.No.Import/TFM/Apex/2022-FSSAI

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is arriving at a non-designated port on the assumption that the FSSAI Import Licence grants unconditional entry — it does not. General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022 makes port compliance a separate, parallel obligation: a consignment of vinegar with a current FSSAI licence diverted to a non-designated port faces detention, demurrage, and potential re-export irrespective of label or safety compliance. Confirm the port of discharge against the designated-entry-point list before vessel departure.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2209 00 90 require BIS certification?

No; no BIS Quality Control Order covers vinegar or acetic-acid substitutes for vinegar. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with the FSSAI Import Licence and Specimen Copy of Label as mandatory pre-clearance documents.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry 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 the Proper Officer grants out-of-charge, per CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Customs dated 28-06-2022.

Can labelling deficiencies be rectified at the port of import?

Yes, but only within the categories specified under FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 — such as per-serve RDA data and expiry date — by affixing a single non-detachable sticker at a customs-bonded warehouse before inspection; rectification requires manufacturer confirmation and authorised-officer verification per FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 and CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023.

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