Import duty on Dates (HS 08041020) from the UAE to India
HS 08041020 · UAE to India · Agriculture
Data last updated: · MFN duty & IGST verified against ICEGATE (Indian Customs EDI). CEPA preferential rate per the India–UAE CEPA schedule. Verify your exact HS line before filing.
Duty breakdown on a ₹10,00,000 shipment
Enter your own value to recalculate the table below.
| Component | Standard (MFN) | CEPA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic customs duty | ₹2,00,000 | ₹0 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge | ₹20,000 | ₹0 |
| IGST | ₹61,000 | ₹50,000 |
| Total duty | ₹2,81,000 | ₹50,000 |
CEPA duty saving on this example: ₹2,31,000 . Run your own numbers in the import-duty estimator. New to BCD, SWS and IGST? See the glossary.
What drives the rate
Importing dates (HS 08041020) from the UAE to India attracts a 20% MFN basic customs duty, and the India–UAE CEPA preferential rate is 0%. Dates are a flagship UAE export and one of the few agricultural lines given real CEPA relief: the 20% MFN duty falls to zero and IGST is a low 5%. The origin rule is Wholly Obtained — the dates must be grown and harvested in the UAE — so for genuine UAE produce origin is rarely in doubt. MFN and IGST are from ICEGATE; the CEPA preferential rate follows the agreement — verify before filing. IGST of 5% is creditable, so the durable benefit is the basic-duty saving. Confirm the live rate on ICEGATE before filing.
Import compliance & clearances
Beyond duty, importing dates (HS 08041020) into India requires the following regulatory clearances. The CEPA preferential rate does not waive any of these — they apply regardless of origin.
- DGFT Valid IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) required; ITC(HS) import policy: Free source ↗
- FSSAI Importer must hold a valid FSSAI licence; every consignment is cleared through FSSAI food-import at the port source ↗
- Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) Import permit and phytosanitary certificate under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 source ↗
- FSSAI An FSSAI import licence and food-import clearance are required, with labelling, additive and residue compliance verified at the port before release. source ↗
Indicative and non-exhaustive — verify the current DGFT / BIS / FSSAI / CDSCO notification for your exact 8-digit HS line before importing. Not customs or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the import duty on dates from the UAE to India?
- The standard MFN basic customs duty is 20%; under India–UAE CEPA the preferential rate is 0%. SWS adds 10% on the basic duty and 5% IGST applies on the CIF + BCD + SWS base.
- How much can CEPA save on dates?
- On a CIF value of ₹10,00,000, total duty falls from ₹2,81,000 (MFN) to ₹50,000 (CEPA) — about ₹2,31,000 saved per shipment, scaling with consignment value.
- What do I need to claim the CEPA rate on dates?
- A valid preferential Certificate of Origin (eCoO 2.0) proving UAE origin under the Rules of Origin. Without it, customs charges the 20% MFN rate.