Import duty on hard dates (chhohara or kharek) from Dubai (UAE) to India
HS 08041030 · Dubai / UAE → India · DATES
Data last updated: · MFN duty & IGST verified against ICEGATE (Indian Customs EDI). CEPA preferential rate per the India–UAE CEPA schedule. Verify your exact HS line before filing.
Duty breakdown on a ₹10,00,000 shipment
Enter your own value to recalculate the table below.
| Component | Standard (MFN) | CEPA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic customs duty | ₹2,00,000 | ₹0 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge | ₹20,000 | ₹0 |
| IGST | ₹61,000 | ₹50,000 |
| Total duty | ₹2,81,000 | ₹50,000 |
CEPA duty saving on this example: ₹2,31,000 . Run your own numbers in the import-duty estimator. New to BCD, SWS and IGST? See the glossary.
What drives the rate
Importing hard dates (chhohara or kharek) (HS 08041030) from the UAE to India attracts a 20% MFN basic customs duty, and the India–UAE CEPA preferential rate is 0%. Hard dates, sold in India as chhohara or kharek, are dried to a firm texture and used in confectionery and religious offerings. The MFN duty is lower than on fresh dates, and CEPA takes it to zero, with 5% IGST. Dates are the one Chapter 8 line where the Wholly Obtained rule is routinely satisfied on genuine UAE origin: the emirates are a major date producer rather than only a re-export hub, which makes this preference actually usable where most dried-fruit lines in the same chapter are not. Ask for the farm or packhouse reference on the Certificate of Origin, since that is what distinguishes UAE-grown fruit from regionally traded fruit. FSSAI import licensing, consignment-level food clearance and a DPPQS phytosanitary certificate apply to every consignment regardless of the rate. India's schedule (Annex 2A, modality TEI) took this line to zero in the agreement's first year, 2022, so the preference is fully phased in and nothing further changes. The preference is worth 22% of assessable value on every consignment — the 20-point basic-duty gap plus the 10% Social Welfare Surcharge that rides on it — so it scales with shipment size rather than with effort, and the Certificate of Origin costs the same either way. Social Welfare Surcharge adds 10% on the basic duty, not on the goods, and IGST of 5% then applies to the CIF + BCD + SWS total — IGST is recoverable as input tax credit, so the durable benefit is the basic duty alone. Confirm the live rate on ICEGATE before filing; ₹10,00,000 is only the worked example above.
Import compliance & clearances
Beyond duty, importing hard dates (chhohara or kharek) (HS 08041030) into India requires the following regulatory clearances. The CEPA preferential rate does not waive any of these — they apply regardless of origin.
- DGFT Valid IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) required; ITC(HS) import policy: Free source ↗
- FSSAI Importer must hold a valid FSSAI licence; every consignment is cleared through FSSAI food-import at the port source ↗
- Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) Import permit and phytosanitary certificate under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 source ↗
Indicative and non-exhaustive — verify the current DGFT / BIS / FSSAI / CDSCO notification for your exact 8-digit HS line before importing. Not customs or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the import duty on hard dates (chhohara or kharek) from the UAE to India?
- The standard MFN basic customs duty is 20%; under India–UAE CEPA the preferential rate is 0%. SWS adds 10% on the basic duty and 5% IGST applies on the CIF + BCD + SWS base.
- How much can CEPA save on hard dates (chhohara or kharek)?
- On a CIF value of ₹10,00,000, total duty falls from ₹2,81,000 (MFN) to ₹50,000 (CEPA) — about ₹2,31,000 saved per shipment, scaling with consignment value.
- What do I need to claim the CEPA rate on hard dates (chhohara or kharek)?
- A valid preferential Certificate of Origin (eCoO 2.0) proving UAE origin under the Rules of Origin. Without it, customs charges the 20% MFN rate.