Importing makhana from India: documents and rules by market (2026)
By Veltrix Exports · 3 min read
Makhana has moved in a decade from a regional fasting food to an international health snack. If you are importing it for the first time, here is what to prepare. This is a practical guide, not legal advice: your customs broker confirms the final rules for your product.
The documents that travel with every shipment
- Commercial invoice and packing list. The product name, HS code, weights and consignee must be identical on both. A mismatch is the most common cause of a customs hold.
- Certificate of analysis from an accredited laboratory (in India, NABL-accredited to ISO 17025).
- Certificate of origin. Ask for a preferential certificate where a trade agreement applies, because it can reduce your duty.
- Phytosanitary certificate where your country requires one.
- Bill of lading or air waybill.
On the Indian side, popped makhana has had its own tariff line, 2008 19 21, since 2025 (makhana flour is 2008 19 22). Your customs agent confirms the current code. Your own country will classify it under its own subheading, usually within 2008 19.
Rules by market
European Union. Roasted and popped makhana is authorised as a traditional food from a third country under Regulation (EU) 2023/652. The label must call it "roasted seeds of Euryale ferox" or "makhana (Euryale ferox) roasted seeds". The authorisation sets limits including moisture under 5.0%, aflatoxin B1 at 2.0 µg/kg and total aflatoxins at 4.0 µg/kg. Makhana flour is not covered by this authorisation.
United Kingdom. UK food law is separate from EU law after Brexit. Confirm the current status of makhana with your importer or the Food Standards Agency before your first order, and plan for EU-style contaminant limits.
United States. The foreign supplier's facility must be registered with the FDA, every shipment needs Prior Notice, and the importer must run a Foreign Supplier Verification Programme (FSVP). The nutrition panel follows US rules. Tariffs on Indian goods changed several times in 2025-2026, so check the current rate before you agree a price.
Canada. Retail labels need English and French. The importer holds the Safe Food for Canadians licence.
Australia and New Zealand. Check import conditions in the BICON database before shipping, and follow the strict country-of-origin labelling rules.
UAE, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. Retail labels usually need Arabic. Buyers often ask for a Halal certificate. Saudi Arabia requires SFDA product and shipment registration.
Freight: the volumetric weight trap
Makhana is very light for its size. Air and courier freight are charged on whichever is greater, actual weight or volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 5,000 for most couriers). For makhana, the volumetric weight is usually several times the real weight: a 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton holding about 5 kg of makhana is billed as about 19 kg.
Two consequences for importers:
- Always get the freight quote on exact carton dimensions before you compare suppliers' prices.
- Retail packs often make more sense than bulk for air freight, because the value per carton is much higher.
Keeping quality through transit
Makhana absorbs moisture and goes soft if it is not packed well. Ask for food-grade liners with a moisture barrier, nitrogen flushing at sealing, and strong 5-ply outer cartons with void fill. Ask for the packing date on every carton.
A simple first-order checklist
- Sample from the actual lot, with its lab certificate
- Grade written on the proforma invoice
- Freight quoted on exact carton dimensions
- Label content checked against your market's rules before printing
- Documents compared line by line before dispatch
Need a quote for your market? Contact us with your destination port and quantity.