Heading · Chapter 22 · Section IV, Prepared foodstuffs
HS 2208Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80% vol., spirit, liqueurs and other spiritnous beverages
Beverages, spirits and vinegar
- Customs duty
- 150%
- 31 tariff items
- GST now
- Outside GST
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- litres
- Duty in China
- 5% to 10%
- On Indian goods
Codes under this heading
7 codes. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.
| Code | Description | Customs duty | GST now | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2208 20 | Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marc | 150% | Outside GST | litres |
| 2208 30 | Whiskies | 150% | Outside GST | litres |
| 2208 40 | Rum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugarcane products | 150% | Outside GST | litres |
| 2208 50 | Gin and Geneva | 150% | Outside GST | litres |
| 2208 60 00 | Vodka | 150% | Outside GST | litres |
| 2208 70 | Liqueurs and cordials | 150% | Outside GST | litres |
| 2208 90 | Other | 150% | Outside GST | litres |
Importing into India
Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 31 tariff items: 150%. The rules below cover this whole code.
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty
None in force on this code as on 19 Oct 2026.
Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items
- Free: 31 tariff items
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now Outside GST.
- Until 21 September 2025 Outside GST.
- Change: Unchanged.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Section 5(1) of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017Schedule 5(1), S.No. 1 | Alcoholic liquor for human consumption | Outside GST |
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)
| Drawback item | Goods | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2208 | Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80% vol; spirit, liquors and other spirituous beverages | 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 19 Oct 2026.
Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items
- Free: 31 tariff items
China: the same goods (2208)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 15 in force and 2 expired under 2208. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.
| China code | Goods | Duty on Indian goods | MFN | Import VAT | Export rebate | Licences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2208.20.00.10 | Spirit obtained by distilling grape wine, in containers holding >=200 liters装入200升及以上容器的蒸馏葡萄酒制得的烈性酒 | 10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.20.00.90 | Other spirits obtained by distilling grape wine其他蒸馏葡萄酒制得的烈性酒 | 10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.30.00.00 | Whisky威士忌酒 | 5%China's provisional rate, lower than MFN | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.40.00.00 | Rum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugar-cane products朗姆酒及蒸馏已发酵甘蔗产品制得的其他烈性酒 | 10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.50.00.00 | Gin杜松子酒 | 10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.60.00.00 | Vodka伏特加酒 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.70.00.00 | Liqueurs and cordials利口酒及柯迪尔酒 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.90.10.10 | Endangered tequila濒危龙舌兰酒 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 0% | ABFERS |
| 2208.90.10.90 | Other tequila其他龙舌兰酒 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.90.20.00 | Baijiu白酒 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.90.90.01 | Undenatured ethyl alcohol, of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80% vol酒精浓度在80%以下的未改性乙醇 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABGRS |
| 2208.90.90.21 | Potato spirit containing endangered wild flora or fauna ingredients含濒危野生动植物成分的薯类蒸馏酒 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 0% | ABEFRS |
| 2208.90.90.29 | Other potato spirit其他薯类蒸馏酒 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABRS |
| 2208.90.90.91 | Other spirits and alcoholic beverages containing endangered wild animal or plant ingredients含濒危野生动植物成分的其他蒸馏酒及酒精饮料 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 0% | ABEFRS |
| 2208.90.90.99 | Other distilled spirits and alcoholic beverages其他蒸馏酒及酒精饮料 | 8.8%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 10% | 13% | 13% | ABNMRS |
- 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.
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
- 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 18 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 18 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.