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Selling masala and spice mixes online in India: licences, GST rate and label rules

Spice and masala sellers need FSSAI Basic registration (₹100 a year) up to ₹1.5 crore turnover. Single spices (HSN 0904–0910) and mixed condiments (HSN 2103) are both taxed at 5% GST. A mixed masala powder must state its minimum spice content on the label.

8 min read
Steel masala dabba seen from above, its round bowls filled with turmeric, chilli powder, salt, whole seeds and ground spices
Steel masala dabba seen from above, its round bowls filled with turmeric, chilli powder, salt, whole seeds and ground spices
In this post · 9 sections

Short answer: Spice and masala sellers need FSSAI Basic registration (₹100 a year) up to ₹1.5 crore turnover. Single spices (HSN 0904–0910) and mixed condiments (HSN 2103) are both taxed at 5% GST. A mixed masala powder must state its minimum spice content on the label.

Rules and rates checked on 24 October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.

Licences and registrations

WhatDo you need it?CostWhere
FSSAI Basic registrationYes, if annual turnover is up to ₹1.5 crore₹100 a yearfoscos.fssai.gov.in
FSSAI Central licence (e-commerce category)Check before launch₹7,500 a yearfoscos.fssai.gov.in
Spices Board CRESOnly if you export or import spicesNot needed for domestic salesindianspices.com
GST registrationYes for any inter-state sale; otherwise above ₹40 lakh turnoverNo fee stated in the sources usedgst.gov.in

FSSAI Basic registration. Grinding, blending and packing spices for sale is food manufacturing. Since 1 April 2026, Basic registration covers turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, with no renewal for registrations issued after that date as long as the annual fee is paid.

FSSAI Central licence (e-commerce category). FSSAI's eligibility table lists 'E-commerce' as a Central licence category with no turnover floor. It is not clear whether a small masala brand selling only on its own website falls in it. Check with the licensing authority.

Spices Board CRES. The Spices Board's FAQ says the Certificate of Registration as Exporter of Spices is mandatory for export or import of spices, in addition to an IEC. It is issued under section 11 of the Spices Board Act. Selling within India is not export.

GST registration. Sending masala packs to buyers in other states needs GST registration under section 24(i), even below the ₹40 lakh limit.

GST rate and HSN code

HSN 0910: Ginger other than fresh ginger, saffron, turmeric (curcuma) other than fresh turmeric, thyme, bay leaves, curry and other spices. GST rate: 5% (Notification 9/2025-CT(R), Schedule I, S.No. 42 (single spices S.No. 36–42; mixed condiments 2103 at S.No. 139)). Before 22 September 2025 it was Single spices unchanged at 5%; mixed condiments and seasonings (2103) 12%.

Schedule I lists spices one heading at a time. S.No. 36 is 0904 (pepper and dried or ground chillies), S.No. 38 is 0906 (cinnamon) and S.No. 39 is 0907 (cloves). S.No. 40 is 0908 (nutmeg, mace and cardamom), S.No. 41 is 0909 (anise, fennel, coriander, cumin) and S.No. 42 is 0910 (dried ginger, saffron, turmeric, curry and other spices). All are 5%. Fresh ginger and fresh turmeric, 'other than in processed form', are exempt under Notification 10/2025-CT(R), S.No. 60 and 61.

A blended masala can also fall under heading 2103, 'mixed condiments and mixed seasonings', at Schedule I, S.No. 139. That heading moved from 12% to 5% on 22 September 2025. Spice headings 0904 to 0910 are not on the Council's list of changes, so they were already 5%. Whichever code fits your blend, the rate is now 5%.

Worked example: one sale at ₹199

Price the buyer pays (GST included)₹199
Taxable value₹189.52
Buyer in your state: CGST + SGST₹4.74 + ₹4.74
Buyer in another state: IGST₹9.48

What the label and product page must show

  • Name the blend truthfully. FSSAI lets you add a specific name such as 'chana masala' or 'sambar masala' to a mixed masala powder.
  • State the minimum spice content as a percentage. FSSAI's mixed masala powder standard (2.9.20) requires it on the label.
  • Declare salt content if it is above 5%.
  • No added colour. Spice standards, including curry powder and mixed masala, require products free from added colouring matter.
  • Chilli powder may contain up to 2% edible oil, but only with a label declaration of the amount and type of oil.
  • Nutrition information is not mandatory for a spice or spice mixture, or curry powder. It is mandatory for sprinkler masala meant for direct consumption, such as chaat masala.
  • Print the FSSAI logo and number, address, batch number, date of packing and expiry or use-by date, and the veg mark.
  • Show net quantity, MRP inclusive of all taxes, unit sale price and consumer care details, and repeat the mandatory label details on the product page.

Packing, shipping and listing

FSSAI's mixed masala powder standard allows spices and herbs with starch, salt, dried fruit and vegetables, oil, nuts, cereals, pulses and sweeteners. The limits depend on the spice content you declare. At 85% or more spice, volatile oil must be at least 0.4%. At 40% it must be at least 0.2%, and at 25% at least 0.1%. Moisture can be at most 12% and acid-insoluble ash at most 2.0% in all three bands.

Curry powder has its own standard: at least 85% spices, at most 14% moisture and no more than 5% salt on a dry basis.

Single-spice powders such as turmeric, coriander and cumin each have their own FSSAI standard, and all must be free from added colouring matter. On the website, put the spice content percentage and salt declaration in text, not only in a label photo.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Leaving out the spice content figure on a mixed masala. FSSAI's standard requires the minimum percentage on the label, and the quality limits depend on it.
  • Skipping nutrition facts on a chaat or sprinkler masala. The exemption covers spices, spice mixtures and curry powder, but not masalas meant for direct consumption.
  • Adding colour to make chilli or turmeric look brighter. FSSAI spice standards bar added colouring matter, and turmeric powder must test negative for lead chromate.
  • Applying for Spices Board registration for a domestic shop. The Spices Board's FAQ ties the CRES certificate to export and import.
  • Printing an old 12% rate on a seasoning blend. 2103 mixed condiments and seasonings dropped to 5% on 22 September 2025.

On your own Selzix store

You set the HSN code and GST rate on each product, and every order gets a GST invoice with the CGST and SGST or IGST split worked out from the buyer's state. Not sure you need GST at all? Read GST for online sellers in India.

Questions sellers ask

What is the GST rate on masala powder?

5%. Single spices fall under headings 0904 to 0910 (Schedule I, S.No. 36 to 42). Mixed condiments and seasonings under 2103 (S.No. 139) were cut from 12% to 5% on 22 September 2025.

Is Spice Board registration required to sell spices in India?

The Spices Board's FAQ makes its CRES certificate mandatory for export or import of spices. A seller who only sells within India needs FSSAI registration, plus GST registration where it applies.

Is nutrition information required on spice packets?

No for a herb, a spice or mixtures of them, and for curry powder. These are exempt under the 2020 labelling regulations. Sprinkler masalas meant for direct consumption, such as chaat masala, are not exempt.

Sources

General information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change; check the source before you file or apply. Cover photo: Deepak Adhikari on Unsplash.

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