HS codes classify internationally traded goods using a standardized six-digit Harmonized System. India extends these classifications through its ITC HS system, while destination markets may use longer commodity codes. Cumin, coriander, fennel and sesame can each have different classifications depending on product type, seed quality or whether the product is whole, crushed or ground. Importers should confirm the final code against their destination country’s current customs tariff — not copy the Indian exporter’s code directly.
Importing spices and agricultural seeds from India requires more than identifying the product by its commercial name. The form of the product, its quality grade and the customs system used in the destination market can all affect the commodity code declared during import.
One distinction is particularly important: the first six digits of the Harmonized System provide an internationally standardized classification framework, but countries and customs territories extend those codes for their own tariff and statistical requirements. This means the Indian ITC HS code shown on an exporter’s invoice should be reviewed against the importing country’s current customs tariff before clearance.
What Is an HS Code for Spices and Seeds?
The Harmonized System (HS) is an international product-classification framework used for physical goods moving across borders. At the basic level, it is standardized to six digits.[1]
Individual countries and customs territories extend that classification. The European Union’s Combined Nomenclature uses an eight-digit system based on the HS. The EU’s TARIC database adds tariff and commercial measures applicable to imported goods.[3] The United Kingdom uses commodity codes through the UK Trade Tariff. The UAE and GCC countries use a unified GCC customs tariff classification. India uses the ITC HS classification system for its trade-policy and product-classification framework.
Is an HSN code the same as an HS code?
The terms are often used interchangeably in commercial conversations, particularly in India, but international buyers should focus on the classification required by their importing customs authority. A six-digit HS subheading provides the internationally recognized base. The complete commodity code used in an import declaration can contain additional digits determined by the destination market.[2]
Do not assume that an eight-digit Indian ITC HS code should be copied directly into the customs declaration of another country. The first six digits may match the international HS base; the remaining digits are market-specific.
What Is the HS Code for Cumin from India?
Cumin falls under heading 0909, which covers seeds of anise, badian, fennel, coriander, cumin or caraway, as well as juniper berries. India’s Spices Board trade classification separates cumin by product form and type.[5]
| Indian ITC HS Code | Product Classification |
|---|---|
| 09093111 | Black cumin — seed quality |
| 09093119 | Black cumin — other |
| 09093121 | Cumin other than black — seed quality |
| 09093129 | Cumin other than black — other |
| 09093200 | Cumin — crushed or ground |
The distinction between whole cumin and crushed or ground cumin is relevant to classification. An importer should not select a code simply because the commercial invoice says “cumin.” The specification must establish what is actually being shipped.
Before confirming a cumin HS code, establish whether the product is whole or ground, and whether it is black cumin or other-than-black cumin. Then verify the exact classification used by the destination customs authority.
What Is the HS Code for Coriander Seeds?
The Indian trade classification for coriander also distinguishes between seed-quality, other whole coriander and crushed or ground product.[5]
| Indian ITC HS Code | Product Classification |
|---|---|
| 09092110 | Coriander — seed quality |
| 09092190 | Coriander — other |
| 09092200 | Coriander — crushed or ground |
At the international six-digit level, 090921 covers coriander seeds that are neither crushed nor ground, while 090922 covers crushed or ground coriander. “Coriander” and “coriander powder” are not necessarily classified under the same subheading.
The commercial description, specification and customs classification should consistently identify whether the shipment contains whole coriander or crushed or ground product. Mismatches between the invoice description and the declared code are a common compliance risk.
What Is the HS Code for Sesame Seeds?
Sesame is classified differently from cumin, coriander and fennel. It sits under Chapter 12, which covers oil seeds and oleaginous fruits — not Chapter 09 for spices. This is one of the more common classification errors made when sourcing from India.
At the six-digit HS level, 120740 covers sesamum seeds, whether or not broken.[6] India’s ITC HS classification further separates sesame into:
| Indian ITC HS Code | Product Classification |
|---|---|
| 12074010 | Sesamum seeds — of seed quality |
| 12074090 | Sesamum seeds — other |
India’s DGFT has published additional export policy conditions for sesame seeds under ITC HS codes 12074010 and 12074090 for certain destination markets and compliance procedures.
Buyers sourcing sesame should review both the product classification and any destination-specific regulatory or certification requirements. The HS code is part of the compliance process, but it does not replace food-safety or market-access checks specific to your importing country.
What Is the HS Code for Fennel Seeds?
India’s spice trade classification places fennel within heading 0909. Importantly, the tariff nomenclature groups caraway and fennel together at certain classification levels.[5]
| Indian ITC HS Code | Product Classification |
|---|---|
| 09096131 | Caraway or fennel — seed quality |
| 09096139 | Caraway or fennel — other |
| 09096230 | Caraway or fennel — crushed or ground |
A commercial buyer may request “fennel seeds,” while the customs classification requires the product to be matched against the legal tariff description. Commercial terminology and customs terminology are not always identical.
The final customs declaration should follow the applicable tariff nomenclature, not the commercial product name on the purchase order. Check whether your destination market classifies caraway and fennel separately or together at the extended code level.
Why Can the Wrong HS Code Create Import Problems?
A commodity code is more than an administrative reference number. Tariff classification can determine the customs duty and other trade measures applied to imported goods. Depending on the destination market and product, classification may connect with tariff treatment, import controls, agricultural measures or other customs requirements.[3]
A common mistake is selecting a code based only on a supplier’s previous invoice or an online HS-code search result. That approach can be risky when:
- the product form has changed (whole product is now supplied as powder);
- the code provided is an Indian eight-digit ITC HS classification;
- the destination country uses a different extended commodity code;
- the product description does not contain enough information for accurate classification; or
- a seed-quality distinction exists that changes the sub-heading.
How Should Importers Verify a Spice or Seed HS Code?
Start with the exact product rather than the product name alone. Before confirming a classification, identify:
- The botanical or precise commercial product where relevant.
- Whether the product is whole, broken, crushed or ground.
- Whether a seed-quality distinction applies to the classification.
- The internationally harmonized six-digit HS subheading.
- The extended commodity code required by the destination customs authority.
Then verify the classification using the official tariff system of the importing market.
EU buyers can use the European Union’s TARIC and Combined Nomenclature resources.[4] Where legal certainty is required, EU customs authorities can issue Binding Tariff Information (BTI) decisions, which are generally valid for three years throughout the EU.[7]
UK importers can use the UK Trade Tariff and may apply for an Advance Tariff Ruling for a legally binding commodity-code decision.[8]
UAE and GCC buyers can use the Dubai Customs goods-classification service, based on the unified GCC customs tariff.
When classification is genuinely uncertain or commercially significant, an official tariff ruling is more reliable than relying on a supplier’s informal assumption. For high-volume repeat orders, a binding ruling removes classification risk from every subsequent shipment.