Declaration of Non-Food Grade item in the Bill of Entry · TIC-B02/1/2026-IMPORTS-FSSAI
FSSAI advisory TIC-B02/1/2026-IMPORTS-FSSAI · 10 Aug 2026
Official title
Declaration of Non-Food Grade item in the Bill of Entry in ICEGATE/SWIFT
Official record
Open source pageSummary
Check the official recordWhat changed
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India advises importers and customs brokers to declare non-food grade items in the Bill of Entry. This applies to items with dual food or non-food use under the same HSN code. Importers and customs brokers must use the qualifier NFG in the ICEGATE system. This action enables correct Partner Government Agency routing. It prevents the referral of non-applicable Bills of Entry to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. This measure aligns with the Customs Circular dated 22 April 2026.
What you must do
- Declare the qualifier NFG in ICEGATE to indicate non-food end use.
- Use the qualifier NFG while filing Bills of Entry under Single Window.
Key dates
- Reference date for Customs Circular
Document text
[Image omitted. See the official document.]
File No: TIC-B02/1/2026-IMPORTS-FSSAI
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(A Statutory Authority established under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006)
(Trade and International Cooperation Division)
FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, NewDelhi-110002
Dated: 10^th August, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
Subject: Declaration of Non-Food Grade item in the Bill of Entry
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulates import of food articles under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017.
-
It has been observed that a large number of Bills of Entry pertaining to non-food grade items, particularly items having dual food/non-food use under the same HSN code, are being routed to FSSAI for clearance.
-
To address this issue, importers/customs brokers may declare the qualifier "NFG" in ICEGATE to indicate non-food end use. The use of "NFG" in the SWIFT system will enable correct PGA routing and prevent non-applicable Bills of Entry from being referred to FSSAI.
-
Accordingly, Importers/Customs Brokers are advised to use the qualifier "NFG" while filing Bills of Entry under Single Window, for appropriate PGA routing/ non-routing, as applicable.
-
This is in line with the Customs Circular dated 22.04.2026 issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs regarding declaration of Non-Food Grade items in Bills of Entry.
-
This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
Yours sincerely,
[Image omitted. See the official document.]
10.08.2026
(Manvesh Kumar, IRS)
Director (Trade and International Cooperation)
dir-imports@fssai.gov.in
To,
- All Food Importers / Importer Associations
- All Customs Brokers / Custom House Agents
- DG Systems, CBIC
- Joint Secretary, Customs, CBIC
- ADG ICEGATE, SWIFT, CBIC
- ADG, NCTC, CBIC, Mumbai
- All Regional Directors, FSSAI
- All Authorised Officers, FSSAI at Ports of Entry
- All FSSAI Notified Laboratories
- IT Division, FSSAI – for uploading on FSSAI Website
Copy for information to:
- PA to Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI
- Executive Director, FSSAI
- Guard File
Source details
- Source
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
- Type
- advisory
- Published by source
- 10 Aug 2026
- Document number
- TIC-B02/1/2026-IMPORTS-FSSAI
- Issuing division
- Trade and International Cooperation Division
- Coverage area
- food-safety