THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY

Voluntary Report – Voluntary - Public Distribution Date: March 18,2020

Report Number: IN2020-0008

Report Name: Mapping of 1515 ITC-HS Codes with the Indian Food Regulations Invite Public Comments

Country: India

Post: New Delhi

Report Category: Exporter Guide, FAIRS Subject Report, Sanitary/Phytosanitary/Food Safety

Prepared By: Radha Mani

Approved By: Jeanne Bailey

Report Highlights:

The Government of India’s (GOI) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has invited comments on its March 13, 2020, notification (File No. 1-1700/FSSAI/Imports/2017) listing 1,515 Indian Trade Clarification (ITC)- Harmonized System (HS) codes for imported food items, along with their risk categorization. Comments will be accepted by FSSAI until April 4, 2020.

THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this report was retrieved from FSSAI’s website https://fssai.gov.in/. The Office of Agricultural Affairs, USDA and/or the U.S. Government make no claim of accuracy or authenticity. On March 13, 2020, FSSAI published 1,515 ITC-HS codes for imported food products and categorized their risk. FSSAI mapped these codes with the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Regulations and the Indian Food Code System so it can be implemented in INFoLNET, an online portal for food laboratories and different stakeholders involved in food testing. These codes have also been shared with Indian Customs for implementation in Custom’s ICEGate

Sampling and testing of food products will be based on its risk categorization. Interested readers’ may note that FSSAI, in its 2019 Manual for Food Imports, specified that in case of high-risk food items from the same country of origin and same importer, 100 percent sampling and testing will be done for the first five consecutive consignments. If all the samples are in conformance with the standards specified in FSS regulations, then 25 percent sampling for the next 20 consignment will be done. If the samples are cleared in all cases, 5 percent sampling in all subsequent consignments will be done.

In case a sample fails at any stage, the complete history of the importer becomes zero and the consignments are then again subject to 100 percent sampling and testing. In case of low-risk food items from the same country of origin and same importer, 100 percent sampling and testing is done for first five consecutive consignments. If all the samples are in conformance to the standards laid down under FSS Regulations, then 5 percent sampling for all subsequent consignments is done. In case of a sample failure at any stage, the complete history of the importer becomes zero and the consignments are then again subject to 100 percent sampling and testing.

FSSAI invites comments/suggestions on any code(s) that has been omitted from interested stakeholders. Comments should be sent to Imports Division, FSSAI at: import@fssai.gov.in by April 4, 2020, Details of Notification:

Date of Publication on FSSAI website: March 13, 2020 (Notification is dated March 6) Final date for comments: April 4, 2020

Agency in Charge: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI. Products affected: All imported food products The first page of the notification is only pasted in this report. However, in order to access FSSAI’s 446-page document listing ITC-HS codes, it is requested that interested readers may access the document at the URL link: https://fssai.gov.in/upload/advisories/2020/03/5e6b37c994302Public_Notice_HS_Code_13_02_2020.pdf

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