Import duty on Pepper, neither crushed nor ground — light black pepper (HS 09041120) from the UAE to India
HS 09041120 · UAE to India · PEPPER OF THE GENUS PIPER
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.
No CEPA benefit
This line is excluded from India's India–UAE CEPA tariff offer, so the 70% MFN basic customs duty applies regardless of origin. The goods are normally importable — there is simply no preferential rate to claim.
Duty breakdown on a ₹10,00,000 shipment
Enter your own value to recalculate the table below.
| Component | Standard (MFN) | CEPA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic customs duty | ₹7,00,000 | ₹7,00,000 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge | ₹70,000 | ₹70,000 |
| IGST | ₹88,500 | ₹88,500 |
| Total duty | ₹8,58,500 | ₹8,58,500 |
CEPA duty saving on this example: ₹0 (no basic-duty benefit at these rates). Run your own numbers in the import-duty estimator. New to BCD, SWS and IGST? See the glossary.
What drives the rate
Importing pepper, neither crushed nor ground — light black pepper (HS 09041120) from the UAE to India attracts a 70% MFN basic customs duty, and CEPA does not reduce it — this line is excluded from India's tariff offer, so the 70% MFN rate applies whatever the origin. Light black pepper faces a 70% MFN duty with no CEPA reduction, protecting growers in Kerala and Karnataka against cheaper Vietnamese and Indonesian origin. The 5% IGST applies. Pepper is also subject to a minimum import price that has been used to curb low-value shipments, a measure that operates independently of tariff and can block a consignment outright. Importers must check the current minimum-import-price notification alongside the duty, since satisfying one does not satisfy the other. IGST of 5% is creditable, but the basic duty here is a real cost. Confirm the live rate on ICEGATE before filing.
Import compliance & clearances
Beyond duty, importing pepper, neither crushed nor ground — light black pepper (HS 09041120) 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 ↗
- DGFT A Minimum Import Price condition applies — consignments invoiced below the notified MIP threshold are not permitted, irrespective of the duty rate claimed. 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 pepper, neither crushed nor ground — light black pepper from the UAE to India?
- The basic customs duty is 70%. This line is largely excluded from India–UAE CEPA, so no preferential rate applies. SWS adds 10% on the basic duty and 5% IGST applies on top.
- How much can CEPA save on pepper, neither crushed nor ground — light black pepper?
- At current rates there is no basic-duty saving on this line under CEPA, so the landed duty is the same as the MFN route.
- What do I need to claim the CEPA rate on pepper, neither crushed nor ground — light black pepper?
- A valid preferential Certificate of Origin (eCoO 2.0) proving UAE origin under the Rules of Origin. Without it, customs charges the 70% MFN rate.