Do I Need an Import License for Spices (USA)?

Do I need an import license to bring spices into the USA?

There is no US spice import licence, but FDA rules apply. Each shipment needs FDA Prior Notice, and the US importer carries FSVP responsibility for the foreign supplier. HTS 0904-0910 duties run 0-3%. Confirm the current tariff before shipping.

What the US actually requires

• —FDA Prior Notice: filed for each shipment before it arrives.
• —FSVP: the Foreign Supplier Verification Program obligation sits on the US importer, who must verify the supplier meets US safety standards.
• —Customs duty: HTS headings 0904-0910 (chilli, pepper, cumin, turmeric and others) carry duties in the 0-3% band.
• —FDA food facility registration applies to facilities in the supply chain, distinct from any licence.

Where the risk actually is

The practical hurdle is safety, not paperwork. FDA refusals of spice on Salmonella grounds rose across 2024-25, so the FSVP burden of verifying the supplier is where a US importer should focus, backed by pre-shipment testing.

Tariffs can move by executive action: a November 2025 executive order exempted Indian pepper, cumin and turmeric from top reciprocal duties, so confirm the live HTS rate rather than assuming last year's number.

Frequently asked

Who files FDA Prior Notice, me or the exporter?

Either the importer or a filer acting for them submits Prior Notice to the FDA before the shipment arrives. FSVP verification of the supplier rests with the US importer.