Food Products & Animal Feed
Chapter 23 of the Customs Tariff covers residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder
ISI MARK · 2 LINES · 1 STANDARDS
Chapter 23 of the Customs Tariff covers residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder. For the bisqco programme the chapter narrows to two HSN codes — 23099010 and 23099020 — covering compounded cattle feed and other animal feed concentrates. Both are notified under the Compounded Feeds for Cattle (Quality Control) framework, which mandates compliance with IS 2052:2009 (Compounded Feeds for Cattle — Specification) and grant of an ISI mark licence by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The legal force of certification flows from Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016 read with the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018. The transition window for in-progress applications closed on 01-01-2022, and from that date the ISI mark on every batch of compounded cattle feed manufactured, imported or sold in India is the operative compliance credential.
The regulatory architecture for feed is unusual because two statutory regulators retain concurrent jurisdiction. BIS holds the licensing power for IS 2052:2009 under its Act. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, issued a direction dated 27-01-2020 (F.NO. 1-95/STD/MISC/SP(L&C/A)/FSSAI-2015-pt-1) that retains FSSAI's parallel oversight over compounded cattle feed where the feed enters the human food chain through milk and meat residues. Practical effect: a manufacturer of compounded cattle feed obtains the BIS CM/L licence for the ISI mark and continues to satisfy any applicable FSSAI directions on contaminant limits, mycotoxin testing and labelling. Failure on either limb triggers separate enforcement consequences — BIS-side suspension of the CM/L under the BIS Act, 2016, and FSSAI-side prohibition orders under the FSS Act, 2006.
Operational pain points in this chapter cluster around four points. First, the dual-regulator overlap requires parallel record-keeping for inspections by BIS and FSSAI officials. Second, the transition window for applications filed before 01-01-2022 has closed; later applicants enter the standard FMCS or ISI queue without any in-progress grace. Third, sample drawal must reflect the actual formulation declared in the application — not a curated batch — or the licence is liable to suspension on the next surveillance visit. Fourth, where a manufacturer produces multiple grades of compounded feed (calf starter, milch cattle, draught cattle) each grade is treated as a separate variety, and the CM/L scope must enumerate every grade in production.
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Tariff lines (8-digit HSN)
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Indian Standards in industry
Indian manufacturers
Indian feed mills producing compounded cattle feed under HSN 2309 90 10 or 2309 90 20 must hold a BIS CM/L licence against IS 2052:2009 before sale into the domestic market. The transition window for applications already in progress closed on 01-01-2022 — from that date manufacture or sale without the ISI mark is a statutory offence under Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016, attracting consequences up to ₹2 lakh and criminal liability under Sections 29 to 33. The licence does not displace separate FSSAI obligations under the direction dated 27-01-2020 (F.NO. 1-95/STD/MISC/SP(L&C/A)/FSSAI-2015-pt-1), which retains parallel jurisdiction over contaminants and labelling.
Foreign manufacturers
Foreign feed manufacturers shipping compounded cattle feed to India under HSN 2309 90 10 or 2309 90 20 must obtain a Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) licence from BIS before consignment. An Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) is appointed; the BIS inspecting officer travels to the foreign mill to verify the formulation, ingredient sourcing and the in-house laboratory; samples are drawn and tested at a BIS-recognised Indian laboratory against IS 2052:2009. Typical timeline is 6 to 9 months. The FMCS licence is product-and-facility specific, and the AIR carries statutory liability for ongoing compliance.
Importers
An Indian importer of compounded cattle feed must verify the foreign supplier's FMCS CM/L number on manakonline.in against IS 2052:2009 and the exact grade of feed before placing each purchase order. Customs verification at Indian ports runs in real time against the BIS portal — a lapsed, suspended or scope-mismatched licence triggers immediate consignment detention. Demurrage and ground rent begin accruing from the first day, and re-export, conditional exemption or confiscation are the only available outcomes.
Applicable Indian Standards
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Speak to an Expert → Does compounded cattle feed need BIS certification?
Yes. Compounded cattle feed under HSN 2309 90 10 and 2309 90 20 is notified under the quality control framework keyed to IS 2052:2009 (Compounded Feeds for Cattle — Specification). Manufacture, import, sale and storage in India require a CM/L licence under the ISI Mark Scheme (or FMCS for foreign manufacturers), operative from 01-01-2022 after the transition window closed.
How does FSSAI direction dated 27-01-2020 interact with BIS for feed?
The FSSAI direction dated 27-01-2020 (F.NO. 1-95/STD/MISC/SP(L&C/A)/FSSAI-2015-pt-1) retains FSSAI's parallel jurisdiction over compounded cattle feed where residues enter the human food chain through milk and meat. BIS holds licensing power for the IS 2052:2009 standard, and FSSAI retains oversight of contaminant limits, mycotoxin testing and labelling. A manufacturer satisfies both — the BIS CM/L for the ISI mark and the applicable FSSAI direction on the same product.
What does IS 2052:2009 require?
IS 2052:2009 (Compounded Feeds for Cattle — Specification) sets composition, nutritional and contaminant requirements for compounded cattle feed across feed grades — calf starter, growing cattle, milch cattle, draught cattle. Each grade is a separate variety under the licence and is sampled and tested at a BIS-recognised laboratory; the standard specifies crude protein, fat, fibre, moisture, mineral content and contaminant ceilings against which surveillance samples are checked.
Can a foreign feed manufacturer use FMCS?
Yes. A foreign mill producing compounded cattle feed for shipment to India applies on the BIS portal under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS), appoints an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR), receives a BIS officer at the foreign factory for inspection and sample drawal, and obtains a product-and-facility specific CM/L. Typical timeline is 6 to 9 months, and the AIR carries statutory liability for the foreign mill's compliance with IS 2052:2009.
What is the operative date for BIS feed certification?
The operative date is 01-01-2022. The transition window for applications already in progress at the time of notification closed on that date. From 01-01-2022, manufacture, import, sale or storage of compounded cattle feed under HSN 2309 90 10 and 2309 90 20 without a CM/L licence against IS 2052:2009 is a statutory offence under Section 17(1)(b) of the BIS Act, 2016.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-23. Source: BIS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.