Dehydrated onion is classified under HS subheading 0712.20 (dried onions) and dehydrated garlic under 0712.90 (other dried vegetables). Both sit in heading 0712, which covers vegetables that are dried, whether whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder, but not further prepared.
The first six digits are the same in every country that uses the Harmonized System. India, the EU, the US, the UK and others then add their own digits, so the full code on your import entry will differ from the one on the Indian shipping bill. Your customs broker confirms the final code for your exact product.
Indian ITC-HS codes at 8 digits
India uses 8-digit ITC-HS codes for exports, which also serve as HSN codes for GST. As listed in the Indian customs tariff, the lines most relevant to onion and garlic are:
- 0712 20 00: dried onions, covering flakes, kibbled, chopped, minced, granules and powder.
- 0712 90 20: dehydrated garlic powder.
- 0712 90 30: dehydrated garlic flakes.
- 0712 90 40: dried garlic.
Garlic granules, minced and chopped garlic do not have their own lines, so exporters choose between the garlic codes above. Practice differs from plant to plant. Ask your supplier which code they will use and check it against the current tariff on the CBIC website or the DGFT ITC-HS schedule before the first shipment, so the shipping bill, invoice and certificate of origin all match.
When a product leaves heading 0712
Heading 0712 covers dried vegetables that are not further prepared. Some products made in the same plants may be classified elsewhere, for example fried onion, roasted garlic, onion or garlic mixed with salt or other spices, and seasoning blends. These can fall in chapters 20 or 21 depending on the processing. If you buy one of these, ask your broker for a classification before you order, because a different heading can mean a different duty and different import controls.
GST in India
GST matters to a foreign buyer mainly because it affects how the Indian plant prices the goods. From 22 September 2025, Notification No. 10/2025-Central Tax (Rate) lists heading 0712, dried vegetables whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not further prepared, among the goods exempt from central GST. Before that change, branded or pre-packaged dried vegetables could attract GST, so older articles may give a different answer.
Exports from India are zero-rated in any case, so GST is not charged on a normal export invoice. If you buy from a trader inside India, or if the product is further prepared and leaves heading 0712, the position can differ. At the time of writing, check the current notification on the CBIC website or with a tax adviser in India rather than relying on any summary, including this one.
Import duty: where to check
We do not quote duty rates. They change, they depend on the full national code, and additional duties or trade measures can apply on top of the base rate. Use the official tool for your market:
- European Union: the TARIC database, which shows third-country duty, any preferences and import measures by CN code.
- United States: the Harmonized Tariff Schedule published by the US International Trade Commission. Additional tariffs on Indian goods have changed several times since 2025, so also check current CBP guidance.
- United Kingdom: the UK Global Tariff, searched through the government's online trade tariff service.
- Australia: the Australian Border Force working tariff.
- Canada: the Customs Tariff published by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Trade agreements and proof of origin
A trade agreement can lower or remove duty, but only once it is in force, only for the lines it covers and only with valid proof of Indian origin. India's agreements with the UAE and Australia are in force, and the India-UK agreement took effect on 15 July 2026. India and the EU concluded negotiations in January 2026, but that agreement was not yet in force. At the time of writing, check whether the agreement for your market is in force before you count on a saving. Our articles on how the India-UK and India-EU agreements affect duty and preferential duty schemes for Indian agri products explain the rules of origin side.
Country specifics are in our import guides, for example importing into the USA, the UK and Australia.
Get the code right on every document
- Agree the 6-digit code with your broker and the Indian code with the supplier before the order.
- Make sure the invoice, packing list, shipping bill and certificate of origin carry consistent descriptions and codes.
- If you mix onion and garlic forms in one container, list each line with its own code. See mixing onion and garlic forms in one container.
How Creston & Co helps
We check the export documents for your dehydrated onion or dehydrated garlic against the purchase order before the vessel sails, including codes, descriptions and origin certificates. We also audit the plant, have each lot tested at an NABL-accredited lab and supervise loading, for one written fee agreed in advance. To plan your next order, book a free sourcing review.