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Import export policy: Prepared foods, beverages, spirits and tobacco (HS 16 to 24)
Is import or export free, restricted or prohibited for prepared foods, beverages, spirits and tobacco? HS chapters 16 to 24: what each covers, DGFT policy lines, which licences.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Section IV of the Harmonised System covers prepared foods, beverages, spirits and tobacco. For each chapter below you see what it covers, whether export or import is free, restricted or prohibited in the DGFT documents we read, which India-side licences usually apply, and the official trade values for FY 2025-26.
| HS chapter | Exports, US$ million | Imports, US$ million | Export policy | Import policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16: Meat and fish preparations | 809 | 8 | Free in general | 1 restricted code(s) |
| 17: Sugar and sweets | 2,465 | 1,445 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 18: Cocoa and chocolate | 318 | 1,028 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 19: Cereal, flour and bakery preparations | 988 | 233 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 20: Vegetable and fruit preparations | 1,245 | 276 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 21: Miscellaneous edible preparations | 1,961 | 263 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 22: Beverages, spirits and vinegar | 453 | 1,420 | Free in general | 1 restricted code(s) |
| 23: Food industry residues and animal feed | 2,241 | 869 | Has restricted, prohibited or STE lines | Free in general |
| 24: Tobacco | 1,949 | 145 | Free in general | Free in general |
Trade values are in US$ million for the financial year 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026), as published by TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S) and fetched on 2026-10-02. They can be revised later. Shares and changes are calculated from those figures. Year-on-year change compares 2025-26 with 2024-25.
"Free in general" means we found no restricted, prohibited or STE line for this chapter. Policy changes by DGFT notification. The import notes come from DGFT's lists of restricted (407 codes) and prohibited (88 codes) imports, both as on 12 June 2019. The export notes come from DGFT's chapter-wise export schedule, 2021 edition. Check your 8-digit code on DGFT's policy search for the current position.
Chapter by chapter
Chapter 16: Meat and fish preparations
Sausages, canned meat, canned fish and prepared shrimp.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 809 million, +2.4% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (618), Canada (62), Belgium (23), Japan (14).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: MPEDA, Animal health papers
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 8 million, +1.6% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): USA (3), Thailand (1), Unspecified (1), China (1).
- Restricted: one line of meat, meat offal or blood preparations.
Usually needed: FSSAI, Animal quarantine, Legal Metrology (if packed), DGFT policy lines
Chapter 17: Sugar and sweets
Sugar, molasses and sugar confectionery.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 2,465 million, -1.5% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Somalia (280), Sudan (264), Libya (223), Djibouti (221).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: APEDA
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,445 million, -6.6% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Brazil (1,244), Germany (46), Netherlands (39), USA (26).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: FSSAI, Legal Metrology (if packed)
Chapter 18: Cocoa and chocolate
Cocoa beans, cocoa butter, chocolate and cocoa preparations.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 318 million, +7.6% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (61), Netherlands (47), UAE (27), Germany (14).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: APEDA
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,028 million, +3.4% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Indonesia (680), Congo D. Rep. (62), Italy (41), Singapore (37).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: FSSAI, Legal Metrology (if packed)
Chapter 19: Cereal, flour and bakery preparations
Pasta, bread, biscuits, cakes, pastry and cereal-based foods.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 988 million, +8.2% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (135), UAE (84), UK (62), Nepal (46).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: APEDA
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 233 million, +29.1% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Indonesia (59), Bangladesh (30), Malaysia (27), Singapore (25).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: FSSAI, Legal Metrology (if packed)
Chapter 20: Vegetable and fruit preparations
Canned and processed vegetables, fruit, nuts, jams, juices and pickles.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,245 million, +1.8% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (152), Saudi Arabia (87), Netherlands (82), UK (80).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: APEDA, Coconut Board
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 276 million, +55.0% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Indonesia (114), USA (26), China (22), Vietnam (11).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: FSSAI, Legal Metrology (if packed)
Chapter 21: Miscellaneous edible preparations
Sauces, soups, ice cream, yeast and food supplements.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,961 million, +14.4% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (338), UAE (178), Russia (156), UK (105).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: APEDA
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 263 million, +12.6% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (73), USA (32), Netherlands (18), Thailand (18).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: FSSAI, Legal Metrology (if packed)
Chapter 22: Beverages, spirits and vinegar
Water, soft drinks, beer, wine, spirits and vinegar.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 453 million, +0.2% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): UAE (160), Netherlands (23), Ghana (22), Kenya (22).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: APEDA
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,420 million, +3.4% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): UK (411), USA (401), UAE (103), Singapore (77).
- Restricted: ethyl alcohol and other spirits (heading 2207).
Usually needed: FSSAI, Legal Metrology (if packed), DGFT policy lines
Chapter 23: Food industry residues and animal feed
Oil cakes, bran, pet food and prepared animal fodder.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 2,241 million, +1.2% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): China (371), Bangladesh (301), Vietnam (261), Nepal (145).
- De-oiled groundnut cakes with more than 1% oil, groundnut expeller cakes, fodder including wheat and rice straw, and raw and boiled rice bran are Restricted: exports permitted under licence.
Usually needed: FIEO, DGFT policy lines
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 869 million, +24.2% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Sri Lanka (149), Thailand (137), China (124), USA (69).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: Legal Metrology (if packed)
Chapter 24: Tobacco
Unmanufactured tobacco, cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,949 million, -1.5% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): UAE (400), Belgium (354), Indonesia (145), USA (100).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: Tobacco Board
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 145 million, +24.1% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Philippines (44), Indonesia (23), UAE (22), Turkey (14).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: Legal Metrology (if packed)
Common questions
Is export of prepared foods, beverages, spirits and tobacco free?
Is import of prepared foods, beverages, spirits and tobacco free?
Where do I check the current policy?
Is Govt License a government website?
Related guides
Official sources for this page
- DGFT list of restricted items for import (407 codes, as on 12 June 2019)
- DGFT list of prohibited items for import (88 codes, updated 12 June 2019)
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: chapter-wise Export Policy (2021 edition)
- DGFT ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule 1: General Notes regarding Import Policy
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: General Notes to Export Policy
- DGFT Appendix 2T: list of Export Promotion Councils and Commodity Boards
- TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S)
- DGFT ITC (HS) import and export policy search