Patchouli oil

Patchouli essential oil, other essential oils

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 3301 29 34 (Patchouli oil) 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, including the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 and FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022 restricts import to designated food-import entry points, with CBIC and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) policy overlays applying at the bill of entry.

What this is

HSN code

3301 29 34

Chapter

33 · Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Import Regulations, 2017)

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Specimen copy of label from FSSAI
ITC (HS) 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 the FSSAI Import Licence before filing the bill of entry. The licence (document code 911001) and a specimen copy of the product label (document code 0110FS) must both be uploaded in e-Sanchit prior to customs out-of-charge; consignments presented without these uploads will be held pending PGA clearance.
CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022 under F.No. Import/TFM/Apex/2022-FSSAI
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. Diversion to a non-designated port renders the consignment non-compliant with DGFT policy conditions and exposes the importer to detention and re-export.
General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022
3
Ensure all labelling meets the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 before visual inspection. Rectifiable labelling deficiencies — including per-serve percentage contribution to recommended dietary allowance and dual date markings — may be corrected at customs bonded warehouses by affixing a single non-detachable sticker, without altering the original label, subject to authorised-officer verification.
CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI Letter 1828/Misc Matters/FSSAI/Imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022 · FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022

A word of counsel

The classification trap most frequently encountered on this tariff line is misclassifying patchouli oil blended with other odoriferous substances: such mixtures fall under heading 3302, not 3301, and any misdeclaration triggers a customs valuation dispute and potential confiscation of the consignment. Importers should confirm the goods are pure patchouli essential oil before filing under 3301 29 34; a single blended shipment routed under this code will attract scrutiny on both classification grounds and FSSAI food-safety testing.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3301 29 34 require BIS certification?

No, patchouli essential oil is not subject to 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 ITC (HS) designated food-import entry-point condition and CBIC customs overlay applying at the bill of entry.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for patchouli oil imports?

Two documents are mandatory: the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and a specimen copy of the product label (document code 0110FS); both must be uploaded before customs out-of-charge per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus.

Can labelling defects be rectified after arrival in India?

Yes, but only within the scope permitted by CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus and the FSSAI clarification order dated 18-11-2022: rectification is confined to specified labelling items, must be carried out at a customs bonded warehouse before inspection, and requires affixing a non-detachable sticker without altering the original label.

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