Subheading · Chapter 12 · Section II, Vegetable products

HS 1212 29Locust 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: other

Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder

Customs duty: 30%; 2 tariff items
GST now: 0% or 5%; depending on the goods
Import policy: Free
Export policy: Restricted
Unit: kg
Duty in China: 2%; On Indian goods

Search codes Duty abroadRates as on 20 Oct 2026

Codes under this subheading

2 codes. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.

Codes under this code
Code	Description	Customs duty	GST now	Unit
1212 29 10	Seaweeds	30%	0% or 5%	kg
1212 29 90	Other algae	30%	0% or 5%	kg

Importing into India

Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 2 tariff items: 30%. The rules below cover this whole code.

Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty

None in force on this code as on 20 Oct 2026.

Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items

Free: 2 tariff items

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
Notification	Goods	Rate
10/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule Exempt, S.No. 88	Locust beans, seaweeds and other algae, sugar beet and sugar cane, fresh or chilled	Nil
9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 72	Locust 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 included	5%
10/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule Exempt, S.No. 77	All goods of seed quality	Nil
9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 60	All goods other than of seed quality	5%

History

GST rate history
Period	Rate	Notification
Until 21 Sep 2025	0% or 5%	2/2017-Central Tax (Rate); 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate)
From 22 Sep 2025	0% 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 item	Goods	Rate	Cap
1212	Locust 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 included	0.15%	—

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 20 Oct 2026.

Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items

Restricted: 2 tariff items

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 code	Goods	Duty on Indian goods	MFN	Import VAT	Export rebate	Licences
1212.29.10.10	Wild Sargassum, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried鲜、冷、冻或干的野生马尾藻	2%China's provisional rate, lower than MFN	15%	9%	9%	ABEPQ
1212.29.10.90	Other Sargassum, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried鲜、冷、冻或干的其他马尾藻	2%China's provisional rate, lower than MFN	15%	9%	9%	ABPQ
1212.29.90.00	Other 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 MFN	15%	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

Previous1212 21Fit for human consumption One level up1212Locust 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 Next1212 99Other

Sources

GSTN HSN code masterChecked 13 Oct 2026
DGFT ITC(HS) import and export policyChecked 9 Oct 2026
GST rate per HSN (archived GSTZen extract)Checked 29 Sep 2026
Customs Tariff of India (First Schedule): sections, chapters, notes and statutory BCDChecked 19 Oct 2026
GST rates on goods, before and after 22 September 2025Checked 19 Oct 2026
BIS compulsory certification: products and Quality Control OrdersChecked 18 Oct 2026
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties in force (India)Checked 19 Oct 2026
India's export duty (Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and notifications 27/2011, 55/2022, 22/2024)Checked 19 Oct 2026
India's All Industry Rates of duty drawback (notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.))Checked 19 Oct 2026
China customs tariff (HS编码网)Checked 19 Oct 2026

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.