The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) has issued Instruction No. 19/2025-Customs, dated June 20, 2025, in response to an FSSAI Order from June 13, 2025. This instruction pertains to the validity of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for imported alcoholic beverages, specifically those bottled at origin and in bulk, containing over 10% alcohol and lacking an expiry date.
The FSSAI has decided that for such consignments, the NOC issued under the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017, will now be valid for 365 days. If consignments remain in the port’s Customs area beyond this 365-day period, a visual inspection can be conducted upon payment of a fee for re-validation of the NOC. This revision aims to facilitate business processes while maintaining food safety standards for imported goods. The CBIC has requested its officers to be aware of and implement these updated guidelines. This new directive supersedes any previous orders on this subject.
F.No.401/103/2021-Cus.Ill
Government of India
Ministry of Finance,
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
Instruction No. 19/2025-Customs | Dated: 20-06-2025
To
All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs/ Customs (Preventive)/Customs & Central Taxes
All Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Customs /Customs (Preventive)
All Pr. Director General/Director Generals under CBIC
Subject: Extension of validity of the NOC for the Alcoholic Beverages Bottled in Origin & in Bulk-reg.
Madam/Sir,
Reference is invited to the FSSAI Order dated 13.06.2025 issued from File No: TIC-B05/1/2021-IMPORTS-FSSAI (copy attached) on the above subject.
2. It has been decided by the FSSAI that for the imported consignments of alcoholic beverages bottled in origin & in bulk, containing more than 10 percent alcohol, which does not have an expiry date, the NOC issued as per the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 shall have a validity of 365 days. For consignments lying at ports Customs area beyond 365 days, on payment of visual inspection fee, visual inspection may be carried out for re-validation.
3. It is requested that necessary action may be taken to sensitize officers under your jurisdiction regarding the said matter.
4. The difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board.
Hindi version follows.
Yours faithfully,
(Neeraj Goyal)
OSD (Cus-III)
Email: [email protected]
Copy to:- (for information and necessary action)
1. The Webmaster, CBIC
File No: TIC-B05/1/2021-IMPORTS-FSSAI
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
(A Statutory body under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)
(Trade and International Cooperation Division)
FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi-110002
Dated: 13 June, 2025
Order
Subject: Extension of validity of the NOC for the Alcoholic Beverages Bottled in Origin & in Bulk-reg.
In exercise of the power conferred under regulation 14 (2) of Food Safety and Standards (Import) regulation 2017, for extension of validity of the NOC for the Alcoholic Beverages Bottled in Origin & in Bulk, it has been decided that for the imported consignments of alcoholic beverages bottled in origin & in bulk, containing more than 10 percent alcohol, which does not have an expiry date, the NOC issued as per the FSS (Import) Regulations, 2017 shall have a validity of 365 days. For consignments lying at ports Customs area beyond 365 days, on payment of visual inspection fee, visual inspection may be carried out for revalidation.
2. The revision in the validity of NOC for Alcoholic Beverages is done to facilitate ease of doing business while ensuring the safety of food imported into India. This office order supersedes previous order/direction issued in this regard.
3. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.
Yours sincerely,
1. All Authorised Officers, FSSAI, for compliance of the above order
2. JS(Customs), CBIC – with a request to circulate to all officials of Customs Department working as FSSAI Authorised Officers, for compliance.
Copy for information to:
1. PS to CEO
2. PA to ED (HR)
3. CITO (for uploading on the FSSAI website)
