Makhana Supplier for United States

Import regime and who is liable

Three things must be in place before a container sails. The processing facility has to hold a current FDA food facility registration, renewed every even-numbered year. Prior Notice must be filed for each consignment ahead of arrival. And you, as importer of record, must operate a Foreign Supplier Verification Program with a named qualified individual holding the supplier approval file, hazard analysis and verification records. FSVP is the one that catches new importers: FDA audits the importer's paperwork, not the exporter's, and an unprepared FSVP file is the most common reason a first shipment is held.

Labelling that clears customs and satisfies the buyer

Nutrition Facts in the current FDA format, ingredients in descending order of weight, and a "Product of India" country-of-origin marking. Plain makhana is naturally free of all nine major allergens, which is a genuine selling point on a US pack — but seasoned lines change that, since cheese and cream profiles introduce milk and some barbecue systems introduce soy. Those must be declared under FALCPA. We supply the ingredient breakdown and allergen statement per SKU so your label designer is not guessing.

Classification and duty

Plain and roasted makhana classifies under HS 0802.99 as other shelled nuts; seasoned retail snack preparations generally move to 2008.19. India is no longer a GSP beneficiary, so duty-free treatment under that programme is not available and landed cost should be modelled at the standard rate for the heading. Confirm the exact HTSUS subheading with your customs broker before you price a listing.

None of this is advice you should act on without your own customs broker confirming the item-level position — tariff treatment changes, and it changes by classification rather than by product name. What we guarantee is the documentation: invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, health certificate and accredited lab analysis, prepared in-house and couriered ahead of arrival.

Getting it there

East Coast services load at Nhava Sheva and route via Suez or the Cape depending on Red Sea conditions, which is why the transit band is wide. West Coast services run trans-Pacific and are usually the faster option for Long Beach. Air freight through Delhi or Mumbai suits sample volumes and Diwali top-ups.

When to place the order

Two peaks. Diwali gifting pulls orders from September into November, and the January health-resolution cycle drives retail replenishment through Q1. Book Diwali volume by July — sailing schedules tighten and a late booking loses the season, not just the week.