India primarily imports Basa fish from Vietnam, making it the largest importer of this fish globally. The data indicates that during the period from March 2023 to February 2024, India imported a total of 61 shipments of Basa fish, with Vietnam being the predominant supplier.
Compulsory compliance Requirements (CCRs)
AS per CBIC INSTRUCTION NO 30/2022-CUS DTD 14-11-22, FSSAI REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN MANUFACTURING FACILITIES FOR FISH AND THEIR PRODUCT is mandatory.
FURTHER VIDE FSSAI NOTICE DTD 11-01-23 AND CBIC INSTUCTION NO 05/2023-CUS DTD 08-02-23 AND IN MODIFICATION TO CBIC INSTUCTIONS NO.31/2022-CUS DTD 14-01-22 AND FSSAI ORDER DTD 17-10-22 IT IS CLARIFIED TO PERMIT IMPORT OF FISH AND THEIR PRODUCT.
It is MANDATORY to upload LABEL[0110FS], HEALTH CERTIFICATE[6360AQ], FSSAI IMPORT LICENSE[911001], SANITARY IMPORT PERMIT[911DF1] IN (E-SANCHIT) BEFORE GIVING OUT-OF-CHARGE(OOC).
PORT OF ENTRIES FOR IMPORT OF FOOD ITEMS ARE ALLOWED TO BE IMPORTED ONLY IN AIRPORTS/ICD/SEZ/SEAPORTS/LCS AS LISTED IN APPENDIX-V LIST-A TO SCHEDULE-I OF IMPORT POLICY, ITC (HS) 2017.
REFER LETTER NO.1828/MISC MATTERS/FSSAI/IMPORTS-2021 DT 17-06-22 REGARDING RECTIFIABLE LABELING INFORMATION FOR IMPORTED FOOD CONSIGNMENTS AND ORDER NO.1828/MISC MATTERS/FSSAI/IMPORTS-2021 DT 17-06-2022 REGARDING IMPORT OF CLOVE STEM RECEIVED FROM FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA AND CBIC INSTRUCTION NO.10/2022-CUSTOMS DTD 28-06-22 WRT TO PARA 2 ON THE RECTIFIABLE LABELING INFORMATION FOR IMPORTED FOOD CONSIGNMENTS.
THE IMPORTER MUST QUOTE THE IRN GENERATED IN ESANCHIT PERTAINING TO SANITARY IMPORT PERMIT WITH DOCUMENT CODE 911DF1, ISSUED AND UPLOADED BY AQCS, FOR THE CONCERNED CTIS LISTED IN ANNEXURE A (SL.NO 3) OF CIRCULAR NO 24/2022-CUS DTD 28-11-2022 TO OBTAIN THE NOC.REF CBIC INSTRUCTION NO 09/23-CUS DT 07-03-23 IN MODIFICATION TO INSTRUCTIONS NO 10/22-CUS DT 28-06-22 ALONGWITH FSSAI ORDER DT 18-11-22 ISSUED UNDER F.NO.IMPORT/TFM/APEX/2022-FSSAI AND FSSAI CLARIFICATION ORDER DTD 18-11-22 ON RECTIFIABLE LABELLING FOR IMPORTED FOOD CONSIGNMENT.
DESCRIPTION FOR
CTH: 03049300
Fresh or chilled fillets of tilapias (Oreochromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus spp., Carassius spp., Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus, Catla catla, Labeo spp., Osteochilus hasselti, Leptobarbus hoeveni, Megalobrama spp.), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.); Tilapias (Orechromis spp.), catfish (Pangasius spp., Silurus spp., Clarias spp., Ictalurus spp.), carp (Cyprinus spp., Carassius spp., Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Cirrhinus spp., Mylopharyngodon piceus, Catla catla, Labeo spp., Osteochilus hasselti, Leptobarbus hoeveni, Megalobrama spp.), eels (Anguilla spp.), Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and snakeheads (Channa spp.);
GENERAL Structure of Duty for
CTH: 03049300
To check concessional duty-structure applicable on import of basa fish fillet, feel free to call us.
India imports most of its Basa fish fillet from Vietnam and is the largest importer of Basa fish fillet in the World. The top 3 importers of Basa fish fillet are India with 1,437 shipments followed by Singapore with 196 and Australia at the 3rd spot with 58 shipments.
FSSAI GUIDELINES FOR
Frozen fish fillets
(a) Frozen fish fillets means the product frozen from the species of fish as defined below and offered for direct consumption for further processing.
(b) Frozen fillets are slices of fish which are removed from the carcass of the same species of fish suitable for human consumption by cuts made parallel to the backbone and sections of such fillets cut so as to facilitate packing, and further processing. The product after preparation shall be subject to a freezing process and shall comply with the conditions specified below:-
(i) the freezing process shall be carried out in appropriate equipment in such a way that the range of temperature of maximum crystallization is passed quickly. The freezing process shall not be regarded as complete unless and until the product temperature has reached - 18°C or lower at the thermal centre after thermal stabilization. The product shall be kept deep frozen so as to maintain the quality during transportation, storage and distribution;
(ii) The product shall be processed and packaged so as to minimize dehydration and oxidation;
(iii) re-packing of the frozen products can be carried out under controlled conditions, which will maintain the quality of the product, followed by the re-application of freezing process as mentioned above;
(iv) fillets may be presented as boneless, provided that boning has been completed including the removal of pin- bones.
(c) Requirements.- (i) Frozen fish fillets shall be prepared from sound fish which are of a good quality to be sold fresh for human consumption; (ii) if glazed, the water used for glazing or preparing glazing solutions shall be of potable quality (IS 10500) or clean sea-water, which meets the same microbiological standards as potable water and is free from potential food contaminants; (iii) other ingredients shall be of food grade quality and conform to all applicable standards prescribed in these regulations; (iv) The raw material shall not contain more than 100 mg/Kg of histamine. This shall only apply to species of Carangidae, Chanidae, Clupeidae, Coryphaenidae, Engraulidae, Istiophoridae, Mugilidae, Pristigasteridae, Scombridae and Xiphiidae.
(d) Food Additives.- Only those food additives specified under these regulations shall be used.
(e) Hygiene.- The product shall be prepared and handled in accordance with the guidelines specified in Part-II of Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Regulation of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011 and such guidelines as provided from time to time under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006.
(f) Contaminants, Toxins and Residues.- The products covered in this standard shall comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011 and shall conform to the microbiological requirements specified in Appendix B of these regulations.
(g) Packaging and Labelling.- The products shall comply with the packaging and labelling requirements specified in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling), Regulations, 2011and shall also apply to the pre-packaged product. The product shall be stored at -18°C or lower and shall be displayed on the label.]
To know more about importing Basa Fish Fillets, feel free to reach out to us.
Note I: Products under article 1, 2, 3, 4 AND 5 shall be frozen in an appropriate equipment quickly to minus (-) 18º C or colder in such a way that the range of temperature of maximum crystallization is passed quickly.
The quick freezing process shall not be regarded as complete unless the product temperature has reached minus (-) 18º C or colder at the thermal centre after thermal stabilization.
The product shall be kept deep frozen so as to maintain the quality during transportation, storage and sale. The entire operation including processing and packaging shall ensure minimum dehydration and oxidation.
The product may contain food additives permitted in Appendix A except listed product under regulation 2.6.1 (3). The product shall conform to the microbiological requirement given in Appendix B. The products shall be free from any foreign matter and objectionable odour/flavour.