If you are importing potato flakes from India — or comparing suppliers — the tariff classification and the document set tell you most of what you need to know about whether an exporter is professional. This guide covers both.
The HS code: 1105 20 00
Potato flakes fall under Harmonized System heading 1105 — “flour, meal, powder, flakes, granules and pellets of potatoes”. The subheading splits the products in two:
- 1105 10 — flour, meal and powder of potatoes
- 1105 20 — flakes, granules and pellets
Indian export paperwork uses the eight-digit ITC-HS code 11052000. Because the HS is harmonised to six digits worldwide, your import declaration will start 1105.20 in any destination market; only the final digits and duty rates are country-specific. Confirm the applicable import duty and any food-import licensing with your local customs broker before the first shipment.
Documents a professional exporter provides
Every consignment of potato flakes from India should travel with a predictable set of papers:
- Commercial invoice and packing list — quantities, batch numbers, pack sizes and Incoterms.
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA) — the batch’s measured values against the agreed specification: moisture, defects, microbiology.
- Certificate of origin — required for preferential duty under trade agreements where applicable.
- Phytosanitary certificate — issued by Indian plant-quarantine authorities where the destination requires it.
- Health certificate — destination-dependent; common for Gulf and several Asian markets.
- Bill of lading / airway bill — plus fumigation certificate where the destination or shipping line demands it.
What to check about the exporter itself
- APEDA registration — Indian exporters of processed potato products register with APEDA, the government agri-export authority.
- IEC and GST registration — the basic legal identity of an Indian exporter; the names on documents should match exactly.
- Food-safety systems — FSSAI licence plus HACCP / ISO 22000 certification of the facility, not just claims on a website. See what each accreditation guarantees on our certifications page.
- Spec discipline — a supplier who volunteers a technical data sheet and per-batch CoA before you ask is showing you their quality culture.
Practical shipping notes
Flakes are light for their volume: a 20-foot container typically carries a full pallet load of 20–25 kg bags, and cube is usually the constraint before weight. Low moisture makes the product shelf-stable in ambient shipping, but bags must stay dry — professional exporters load with desiccants and moisture protection appropriate to the route and season.
Sourcing from India? We export to 50+ countries with the full document set above. Send us your destination and volumes, or start with the FAQ for pricing and MOQ basics.