Skip to main content

Tariff item · Chapter 12 · Section II, Vegetable products

HS 1212 29 10Seaweeds

Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder › Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet and sugarcane, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground, fruit stones and kernels and other vegetable products (including unroasted chicory roots of the variety cichorium intybus sativum) of a kind used primarily for human consumption, not elsewhere specified or included

Customs duty
30%
Tariff rate
GST now
0% or 5%
depending on the goods
Import policy
Free
Export policy
Restricted
Unit
kg
Duty in China
2%
On Indian goods
Landed costSearch codesDuty abroadRates as on 19 Oct 2026

Importing into India

What customs charges, what trade agreements take off, and the rules the goods must meet.

Customs duty

Customs duty on imports into India
DutyRateCharged on
Basic customs duty (BCD), MFN rate30%Assessable value
Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC)NilAssessable value11/2021-Customs, S.No. 17
Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS)10% of BCD, AIDC and Health CessBCD + AIDC
Integrated GST (IGST)0% or 5%Assessable value + BCD + AIDC + SWS

Lower duty under trade agreements

Lower customs duty under India's trade agreements
AgreementCustoms dutyGoods from
ASEAN–India FTA0%Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Duty-free tariff preference for LDCs0%Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Cambodia, Comoros, Laos, Liberia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, Chad, Togo, Timor-Leste, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia
India–Japan CEPA0%Japan
India–Malaysia CECA0%Malaysia
India–Sri Lanka FTA0%Sri Lanka
India–UK CETA29/2026-Customs0%United Kingdom
SAFTA0%Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal
India–Korea CEPA5%South Korea
SAFTA5%Sri Lanka
India–UAE CEPA6%United Arab Emirates
India–Australia ECTA12.9%Australia
India–EFTA TEPA53/2025-Customs18%Iceland, Norway
APTA21%Bangladesh, China, South Korea, Sri Lanka
India–EFTA TEPA51/2025-Customs24%Switzerland, Liechtenstein
India–Oman CEPA20/2026-Customs24%Oman

Goods from Pakistan pay 200%.

Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty

None in force on this code as on 19 Oct 2026.

Clearance by other agencies

  • Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI): a clearance or certificate before the goods arrive, under 1. Food safety and Standards Act,2006 read with Licensing & Registration Regulation,2011,Food safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Amendment Regulations,2011,Food safety and Standards Rule, 2011, Food Safety and Standards(Licensing and registration of Food Business) regulation, 2011, Food Safety and Standards(Food product standard and food additive)) regulation, 2011, Food Safety and Standards( Packaging and labelling) regulation, 2011, Food Safety and Standards(Laboratory and Sampling Analysis) regulation, 2011,Notification No-4/15015/30/2011 dated-24.06.2014.
  • Plant Quarantine Information System (PQIS): a no-objection at customs clearance, under The Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Notification:8-97/91-PP.I dated 26th November 1993,.
  • Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI): a no-objection at customs clearance, under 1. Food safety and Standards Act,2006 read with Licensing & Registration Regulation,2011,Food safety & Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business) Amendment Regulations,2011,Food safety and Standards Rule, 2011, Food Safety and Standards(Licensing and registration of Food Business) regulation, 2011, Food Safety and Standards(Food product standard and food additive)) regulation, 2011, Food Safety and Standards( Packaging and labelling) regulation, 2011, Food Safety and Standards(Laboratory and Sampling Analysis) regulation, 2011,Notification No-4/15015/30/2011 dated-24.06.2014.

Documents: FSSAI Import License (FSSAI).

"*In case of PGA facilitated bills I.E. which have not been routed through PGA for NOC,proper officer should verify and ensure that the mandatory documents-specimen copy of label[0110FS], FSSAI import license[911001]have been uploaded in (E-SANCHIT) before giving out-of-charge(OOC)**ensure compliance of general notes 4(d) of sched-i of ITC(HS) 2022 for food import entry points**Refer letter no.1828/misc matters/fssai/imports-2021 dated 17-06-2022 regarding rectifiable labeling information for imported food consignments and order no.1828/misc matters/fssai/imports-2021 dated 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 28-06-2022 wherein para 2.(i). on the rectifiable labeling information for imported food consignments (a) in addtition to the labeling deficiencies for which a special dispensation for rectification has been provided under reg6 of FSS (import) regulations, 2017 and under order dated 22-05-2018 and 14-01-2019, the labeling information as per the requirement of FSS (labeling and display) regulations, 2020 as mentioned below may also be alowed to be rectified at the port:- . per serve percentage (%) contribution to recommended dietary allowance calculated on the basis of 2000 kcal energy, 67 g total fat, 22g saturated fat,2g trans fat, 50g, added sugar, and 2000 mg of sodium (5g salt) requirement for average adult per day;. date of expiry along with best before date, subject to the condition that this information is provided by the manufacturer itself and the same shall be verified by the authorised officer. (b) this rectification shall be carried out at customs bound warehouses before visual inspection or re-inspection by the authorised officer or his representative by affixing a single non-detachable sticker or by any other non-detachable method next to the principal display panel without altering the original label information in any manner. *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*"

From Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Compliance Information Portal.

Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS))

  • Free.
Notes on these rates
  • BCD is the statutory tariff rate from a one-time snapshot of the Indian Trade Portal. Exemption notifications (such as 45/2025-Customs) and tariff changes made after the snapshot, including the Finance Act 2026 changes from 1 May 2026, are not applied.
  • IGST comes from our archived GST table, which still has the 12% and 28% slabs, so it may pre-date the GST rate changes of 22 September 2025. Check the current rate.
  • AIDC, Health Cess and the SWS exemptions are read from notifications 11/2021-Customs, 08/2020-Customs and 11/2018-Customs as amended (to 16/2026-Customs), and the notifications that lower AIDC for a while. SWS is 10% of BCD, AIDC and Health Cess together (Finance Act 2018, s.110), never of anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard duty or IGST.
  • AIDC is Nil (S.No. 17 of 11/2021-Customs, which exempts all goods it does not name).
  • Not included: GST compensation cess, anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties, and exemptions or concessions such as end-use, EOU/SEZ or project imports.
  • This does not check whether the import is allowed (DGFT import policy, licences, quality-control orders). The HS code explorer shows the import policy.
  • This is an estimate, not an assessment. Confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE's duty calculator before you price a deal.

GST

IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.

  • Now 0% or 5%, depending on the goods.
  • Until 21 September 2025 0% or 5%, depending on the goods.
  • Change: Unchanged.

The rules that set it now

GST rate rules in force
NotificationGoodsRate
10/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule Exempt, S.No. 88Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet and sugar cane, fresh or chilledNil
9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 72Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet and sugar cane, frozen or dried, whether or not ground; fruit stones and kernels and other vegetable products (including unroasted chicory roots of the variety Cichorium intybus sativum) of a kind used primarily for human consumption, not elsewhere specified or included5%
10/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule Exempt, S.No. 77All goods of seed qualityNil
9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 60All goods other than of seed quality5%

History

GST rate history
PeriodRateNotification
Until 21 Sep 20250% or 5%2/2017-Central Tax (Rate); 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate)
From 22 Sep 20250% or 5%10/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate); 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)

Exporting from India

Export duty

Nil. The Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act does not list these goods, so no export duty is charged.

Duty drawback (All Industry Rates)

All Industry Rates of duty drawback under this heading
Drawback itemGoodsRateCap
1212Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet nad sugarcane, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground; fruit stones and kernels and other vegetable products (including unroasted chicory roots of the variety Ci- chorium intybus sativum) of a kind used primarily for human consumption, not elsewhere specified or included0.15%—

Drawback items follow the 4-digit heading, not the 8-digit code: claim the one that describes your goods. Rates of notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) as amended, in force on 19 Oct 2026.

Export incentives (RoDTEP and RoSCTL)

  • RoDTEP, Appendix 4R (exports from the domestic tariff area): 0.5% of the FOB value, until 31 Dec 2026.
  • RoDTEP, Appendix 4RE (exports under Advance Authorisation, EOU or SEZ): 0.3% of the FOB value, until 31 Dec 2026.

Clearance by other agencies

  • Directorate General Of Foreign Trade (DGFT): a clearance or certificate before export, under The Foreign Trade (Developmentand Regulation) Act, 1992. The Foreign Trade (Development & Regulations) Amendment Act, 2010.the Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules, 1993 and the Foreign Trade Regulation) amendment Rules, 2015.

*AS PER S.NO 85 OF SCHED. 2 OF ITC HS EXPORT POLICY;EXPORT OF SEA WEEDS OF ALL TYPES, INCLUDING G-EDULIS BUT EXCLUDING BROWN SEA WEEDS AND AGAROPHYTES OF TAMIL NADU COAST ORIGIN IN PROCESSED FORM IS RESTRICTED AND PERMITTED UNDER A LICENCE. *AS PER CIR NO.47/2017-CUS DTD 27/11/2017 FOR THE PURPOSE OF GRANT OF DRAWBACK WHEREVER EXPORT CONSIGNMENTS ARE SELECTED FOR ASSESSMENT OR EXAMINATION, THE AC/DC SHALL DETERMINE THE NEED TO DRAW SAMPLE ON MERITS OF EACH CASE.IF THE PACKING IS OF WOODEN MATERIAL, ENSURE THE VALID PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATE AND ISPM-15 MARKING COMPLIANCE AS PER CBEC INSTR. F.NO.450/19/2005-CUS-IV DTD 16.9.13.*

From Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Compliance Information Portal.

Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2)

  • Restricted.

What buyers pay abroad: import duty in the US, UK, EU and Australia for 1212 29, and China's below.

China: the same goods (1212 29)

China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 3 in force and 2 expired under 1212 29. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.

China's tariff for these goods
China codeGoodsDuty on Indian goodsMFNImport VATExport rebateLicences
1212.29.10.10Wild Sargassum, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried鲜、冷、冻或干的野生马尾藻2%China's provisional rate, lower than MFN15%9%9%ABEPQ
1212.29.10.90Other Sargassum, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried鲜、冷、冻或干的其他马尾藻2%China's provisional rate, lower than MFN15%9%9%ABPQ
1212.29.90.00Other fresh, chilled, frozen or dried seaweeds and other algae, unfit for human consumption其他不适合供人食用的鲜、冷、冻或干海草及藻类2%China's provisional rate, lower than MFN15%9%9%ABPQ
  • India is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). With an APTA certificate of origin, Indian goods pay China's APTA rate where the line has one; China applies the lower of that and its provisional rate.
  • The export VAT rebate is what China refunds its own exporters. When China cuts it, Chinese export prices tend to rise.

Every Chinese code in full

1212.29.00

1212.29.00.00Seaweeds and other algae, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, unfit for human consumption不适合供人食用的鲜、冷、冻或干海草及藻类Expired

Whether or not milled不论是否碾磨

Unit
kg
MFN import duty
15%
Provisional import duty
None
General import duty
70%
Import VAT
13%
Consumption tax
0%
Export duty
0%
Provisional export duty
None
Export VAT rebate
5%
Updated by China
30 Dec 2018
Licences and certificates
  • AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
  • BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
Inspection and quarantine
  • PInbound animal and plant (product) quarantine进境动植物、动植物产品检疫
  • QOutbound animal and plant (product) quarantine出境动植物、动植物产品检疫
  • RImported food hygiene inspection进口食品卫生监督检验
  • SExported food hygiene inspection出口食品卫生监督检验
What the customs declaration must state

Not listed.

1212.29.10Sargassum

1212.29.10.10Wild Sargassum, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried鲜、冷、冻或干的野生马尾藻

Whether or not milled, excluding cultivated不论是否碾,不包括人工培植的

Unit
kg
MFN import duty
15%
Provisional import duty
2%
General import duty
70%
Import VAT
9%
Consumption tax
0%
Export duty
0%
Provisional export duty
None
Export VAT rebate
9%
Updated by China
2 Apr 2026
Licences and certificates
  • AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
  • BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
  • EEndangered species export permit濒危物种允许出口证明书
Inspection and quarantine
  • PInbound animal and plant (product) quarantine进境动植物、动植物产品检疫
  • QOutbound animal and plant (product) quarantine出境动植物、动植物产品检疫
What the customs declaration must state
  • 0.Brand type品牌类型
  • 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
  • 2.Method of preparation or preservation (fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, etc.)制作或保存方法(鲜、冷、冻、干等)
  • 3.Latin genus name and Latin species name拉丁文属名和拉丁文种名
  • 4.Suitable for human consumption是否适合供人食用
  • 5.GTIN
  • 6.CAS
  • 7.Other其他
China's agreement rates
ASEAN
0%
Chile
0%
Pakistan
2.3%
New Zealand
0%
Peru
0%
Costa Rica
0%
Switzerland
0%
Iceland
0%
Australia
0%
South Korea
0%
Georgia
0%
Mauritius
0%
Maldives
0%
Cambodia
0%
Nicaragua
12%
Ecuador
0%
Serbia
6%
Hong Kong
0%
Macao
0%
Asia-Pacific (APTA)
7.5%
RCEP rates
Australia
7.5%
Brunei
7.5%
Cambodia
7.5%
South Korea
7.5%
Laos
7.5%
Malaysia
7.5%
New Zealand
9%
Singapore
7.5%
Thailand
7.5%
Vietnam
7.5%
Indonesia
7.5%
Philippines
7.5%
Myanmar
7.5%
CIQ codes
  • 1212291010999Fresh, chilled, frozen or dried wild Sargassum (whether or not ground, excluding cultivated)鲜、冷、冻或干的野生马尾藻(不论是否碾磨,不包括人工培植的)
1212.29.10.90Other Sargassum, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried鲜、冷、冻或干的其他马尾藻

Whether or not milled不论是否碾磨

Unit
kg
MFN import duty
15%
Provisional import duty
2%
General import duty
70%
Import VAT
9%
Consumption tax
0%
Export duty
0%
Provisional export duty
None
Export VAT rebate
9%
Updated by China
2 Apr 2026
Licences and certificates
  • AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
  • BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
Inspection and quarantine
  • PInbound animal and plant (product) quarantine进境动植物、动植物产品检疫
  • QOutbound animal and plant (product) quarantine出境动植物、动植物产品检疫
What the customs declaration must state
  • 0.Brand type品牌类型
  • 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
  • 2.Method of preparation or preservation (fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, etc.)制作或保存方法(鲜、冷、冻、干等)
  • 3.Latin genus name and Latin species name拉丁文属名和拉丁文种名
  • 4.Suitable for human consumption是否适合供人食用
  • 5.GTIN
  • 6.CAS
  • 7.Other其他
China's agreement rates
ASEAN
0%
Chile
0%
Pakistan
2.3%
New Zealand
0%
Peru
0%
Costa Rica
0%
Switzerland
0%
Iceland
0%
Australia
0%
South Korea
0%
Georgia
0%
Mauritius
0%
Maldives
0%
Cambodia
0%
Nicaragua
12%
Ecuador
0%
Serbia
6%
Hong Kong
0%
Macao
0%
Asia-Pacific (APTA)
7.5%
RCEP rates
Australia
7.5%
Brunei
7.5%
Cambodia
7.5%
South Korea
7.5%
Laos
7.5%
Malaysia
7.5%
New Zealand
9%
Singapore
7.5%
Thailand
7.5%
Vietnam
7.5%
Indonesia
7.5%
Philippines
7.5%
Myanmar
7.5%
CIQ codes
  • 1212291090999Other sargassum, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried (whether or not ground)鲜、冷、冻或干的其他马尾藻(不论是否碾磨)
1212.29.10.00Fresh, chilled, frozen or dried sargassum鲜、冷、冻或干的马尾藻Expired
Unit
kg
MFN import duty
15%
Provisional import duty
2%
General import duty
70%
Import VAT
9%
Consumption tax
None
Export duty
0%
Provisional export duty
None
Export VAT rebate
9%
Updated by China
19 Sep 2022
Licences and certificates
  • AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
  • BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
Inspection and quarantine
  • PInbound animal and plant (product) quarantine进境动植物、动植物产品检疫
  • QOutbound animal and plant (product) quarantine出境动植物、动植物产品检疫
What the customs declaration must state
  • 0.Brand type品牌类型
  • 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
  • 2.Method of preparation or preservation (fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, etc.)制作或保存方法(鲜、冷、冻、干等)
  • 3.Latin scientific name拉丁学名
  • 4.Suitable for human consumption是否适合供人食用
  • 5.GTIN
  • 6.CAS
  • 7.Other其他
China's agreement rates
ASEAN
0%
Chile
0%
Pakistan
5.3%
New Zealand
0%
Peru
0%
Costa Rica
0%
Switzerland
1.5%
Iceland
0%
Australia
0%
South Korea
0%
Georgia
0%
Mauritius
0%
RCEP rates
Australia
13.5%
Brunei
13.5%
Cambodia
13.5%
Laos
13.5%
Malaysia
13.5%
New Zealand
13.5%
Singapore
13.5%
Thailand
13.5%
Vietnam
13.5%
CIQ codes
  • 1212291000999Fresh, chilled, frozen or dried Sargassum (whether or not ground)鲜、冷、冻或干的马尾藻(不论是否碾磨)

1212.29.90Other seaweeds and other algae, unfit for human consumption

1212.29.90.00Other fresh, chilled, frozen or dried seaweeds and other algae, unfit for human consumption其他不适合供人食用的鲜、冷、冻或干海草及藻类

Whether or not milled不论是否碾磨

Unit
kg
MFN import duty
15%
Provisional import duty
2%
General import duty
70%
Import VAT
9%
Consumption tax
0%
Export duty
0%
Provisional export duty
None
Export VAT rebate
9%
Updated by China
23 Aug 2026
Licences and certificates
  • AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
  • BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
Inspection and quarantine
  • PInbound animal and plant (product) quarantine进境动植物、动植物产品检疫
  • QOutbound animal and plant (product) quarantine出境动植物、动植物产品检疫
What the customs declaration must state
  • 0.Brand type品牌类型
  • 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
  • 2.Method of preparation or preservation (fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, etc.)制作或保存方法(鲜、冷、冻、干等)
  • 3.Latin genus name and Latin species name拉丁文属名和拉丁文种名
  • 4.Suitable for human consumption是否适合供人食用
  • 5.GTIN
  • 6.CAS
  • 7.Other其他
China's agreement rates
ASEAN
0%
Chile
0%
Pakistan
2.3%
New Zealand
0%
Peru
0%
Costa Rica
0%
Switzerland
0%
Iceland
0%
Australia
0%
South Korea
0%
Georgia
0%
Mauritius
0%
Maldives
0%
Cambodia
0%
Nicaragua
12%
Ecuador
0%
Serbia
6%
Hong Kong
0%
Macao
0%
Asia-Pacific (APTA)
7.5%
RCEP rates
Australia
7.5%
Brunei
7.5%
Cambodia
7.5%
South Korea
7.5%
Laos
7.5%
Malaysia
7.5%
New Zealand
9%
Singapore
7.5%
Thailand
7.5%
Vietnam
7.5%
Indonesia
7.5%
Philippines
7.5%
Myanmar
7.5%
CIQ codes
  • 1212299000999Other fresh, chilled, frozen or dried seaweeds and other algae, unfit for human consumption (whether or not ground)其他不适合供人食用的鲜、冷、冻或干海草及藻类(不论是否碾磨)

China's tariff as compiled by HS编码网 from China Customs, the State Council Tariff Commission and the State Taxation Administration. The Chinese is the original.

Nearby codes

Sources

For information, not a customs ruling. Only notifications published in the Gazette have legal force; confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE before you price a deal.