Red 9 (amaranth)

Red 9 amaranth synthetic organic food colouring

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 3204 19 84 (Red 9 amaranth) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and food-safety clearance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017. DGFT policy restricts import entry points to designated food-import ports under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus mandates additional chemical-commodity qualifiers in the import declaration effective 15 October 2023.

What this is

HSN code

3204 19 84

Chapter

32 · Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments, paints and varnishes

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
Chapter 32 qualifiers from 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 and ensure the Specimen Copy of Label is prepared in conformity with the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. Both documents — FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) — must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is filed and out-of-charge is granted.
FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023
2
Route the consignment only through a designated food-import entry point as required under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022. Arrival at a non-designated port renders the consignment liable to detention pending re-routing or re-export.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of ITC (HS) 2022 · CBIC Instruction 05/2023-Cus dated 08-02-2023
3
Include the mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for Chapter 32 commodities as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, with effect from 15 October 2023. Declarations filed without these qualifiers are liable to being held by the proper officer pending amendment.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating Red 9 (amaranth) purely as an industrial dye and overlooking the FSSAI food-additive import regime: because amaranth is a permitted food colour under FSSR, the consignment is treated as a food commodity and attracts the full FSSAI Import Licence, labelling-compliance, and designated-port framework. Importers who classify the shipment on the chemical side of Chapter 32 and skip the FSSAI e-Sanchit uploads face out-of-charge denial and potential confiscation of the consignment pending FSSAI NOC.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3204 19 84 require BIS certification?

No, Red 9 (amaranth) is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. 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 designated food-import port requirements as the binding obligations.

What labelling deficiencies can be rectified at the port for this HSN?

Per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 and the FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022, per-serve RDA contribution data and expiry or best-before date information may be rectified at the port by affixing a single non-detachable sticker next to the principal display panel, provided the correction is made by the manufacturer and verified by the authorised officer before inspection.

Do the Chapter 32 mandatory qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus apply to this tariff line?

Yes. With effect from 15 October 2023, import declarations for commodities under Chapter 32, including HSN 3204 19 84, must include the additional qualifiers stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023; declarations omitting these qualifiers are liable to amendment or detention.

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