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Food and farm goods

Import pet food

20% duty, 18% IGST, and a DAHD sanitary permit for foods with animal ingredients. Thailand supplies two-thirds.

Free to importHS 2309.10
Basic customs duty
20%
20%
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
18%
18%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 141 mn
from 27 countries

The tariff rate for 2309 10 00 is 20% (Customs Tariff as on 30.06.2025); the feed concessions in notification 45/2025-Customs are for shrimp, fish and other feeds under 2309 90, not for dog or cat food. Dog and cat food is not listed in the 5% schedule of notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), so it falls under the 18% residual entry. Check the current rate on ICEGATE. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025) ↗

What is imported

Dry kibble, wet food in pouches and cans, and treats for dogs and cats are imported by pet-food brands, distributors and online sellers. Imports under 2309 10 were about US$ 141 million in FY 2025-26 (TradeStat). Thailand supplied 66%, followed by Italy, France, China and Indonesia.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1. Pet food containing meat, fish, milk or egg is a livestock product and needs a DAHD Sanitary Import Permit and quarantine clearance.

Licences and registrations you need

  • Department of Animal Husbandry and DairyingSanitary Import Permit for livestock products before you ship, then animal quarantine clearance at the port against the exporting country’s veterinary certificate.dahd.gov.in ↗
  • Legal Metrology (Consumer Affairs)Importer registration under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules if you import or sell retail packs.consumeraffairs.nic.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Animal quarantine checks the Sanitary Import Permit and the health certificate for the animal-origin ingredients.
  • Samples may be tested for pathogens such as Salmonella and for the ingredient declaration.
  • Legal Metrology label check on retail packs (net quantity, MRP, importer address).

Practical tips

  • Get the full ingredient list from the maker first; it decides whether a Sanitary Import Permit is needed and what the certificate must say.
  • Print Indian MRP and importer details on the pack, or sticker them in a bonded warehouse.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Shipping meat-based food without a permit — quarantine can order it sent back or destroyed.
  • Pricing at 5% IGST when the correct rate is 18%.
Sources (6)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (as on 30.06.2025)
  2. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs (effective duty rates), 24 Oct 2025, as amended
  3. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), 17 Sep 2025 (IGST rates from 22 Sep 2025)
  4. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying — import of livestock products
  5. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)
  6. ICEGATE — Customs duty and tariff look-up

Import data

Where India buys pet food

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 141 mn
Change from 2024-25
+4.5%
Supplying countries
27
Biggest supplier
Thailand
66%
Thailand: US$ 93.3 mnItaly: US$ 11.2 mnFrance: US$ 9.8 mnChina: US$ 5.2 mnIndonesia: US$ 4.9 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 2.9 mnGermany: US$ 2.7 mnCanada: US$ 2.2 mnSpain: US$ 1.6 mnSouth Korea: US$ 1.3 mnSouth Africa: US$ 960kBelgium: US$ 930kNew Zealand: US$ 400kThailand: US$ 93.3 mnThailandItaly: US$ 11.2 mnItalyFrance: US$ 9.8 mnFranceChina: US$ 5.2 mnChinaIndonesia: US$ 4.9 mnIndonesiaUnited Kingdom: US$ 2.9 mnGermany: US$ 2.7 mnCanada: US$ 2.2 mnCanadaSpain: US$ 1.6 mnSouth Korea: US$ 1.3 mnSouth Africa: US$ 960kBelgium: US$ 930kNew Zealand: US$ 400kIndia
Where India imports pet food from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 76.4 mn762020-212021-22: US$ 140 mn1402021-222022-23: US$ 130 mn1302022-232023-24: US$ 126 mn1262023-242024-25: US$ 135 mn1352024-252025-26: US$ 141 mn1412025-26
India’s pet food imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1ThailandUS$ 93.3 mn+11.1%
2ItalyUS$ 11.2 mn+31.7%
3FranceUS$ 9.8 mn+1.6%
4ChinaUS$ 5.2 mn+8.1%
5IndonesiaUS$ 4.9 mn-6.5%
6United KingdomUS$ 2.9 mn+23.6%
7GermanyUS$ 2.7 mn+94.2%
8CanadaUS$ 2.2 mn+12.5%
9SpainUS$ 1.6 mn-30.2%
10HungaryUS$ 1.4 mn+43.6%
11South KoreaUS$ 1.3 mn+48.3%
12South AfricaUS$ 960k-86.1%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. GermanyUS$ 1.4 mn → US$ 2.7 mn+94.2%
  2. ItalyUS$ 8.5 mn → US$ 11.2 mn+31.7%
  3. United KingdomUS$ 2.4 mn → US$ 2.9 mn+23.6%
  4. CanadaUS$ 1.9 mn → US$ 2.2 mn+12.5%
  5. ThailandUS$ 84 mn → US$ 93.3 mn+11.1%

Shrinking sources

  1. South AfricaUS$ 6.9 mn → US$ 960k-86.1%
  2. BelgiumUS$ 1.5 mn → US$ 930k-36.3%
  3. SpainUS$ 2.3 mn → US$ 1.6 mn-30.2%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Dog or cat food put up for retail sale2309 10 00US$ 141 mn+4.5%61,073 tonnesUS$ 2.31 per kg

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

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