Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFresh
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Licorice root (mulethi; Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a medicinal-plant raw material used in India and tracked in government medicinal-plant cultivation reporting. National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) cultivation-status records include reported mulethi cultivation entries in states such as Gujarat and Haryana (e.g., FY 2009–10), with additional smaller entries in other states. For cross-border supply, imports of licorice root and other plant products are regulated under India’s Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, requiring phytosanitary certification and, where applicable, import-permit controls with inspection/treatment at entry. When traded as a food article (e.g., herbal food ingredients), imported consignments may also be subject to FSSAI food import clearance via the Food Import Clearance System integrated with Customs ICEGATE.
Market RoleDomestic consumption market with limited recorded cultivation; regulated importer market for medicinal-plant raw materials
Specification
Primary VarietyGlycyrrhiza glabra (mulethi / yashtimadhu)
Physical Attributes- Roots expected to be free from live pests and soil contamination risks for quarantine compliance at import (Plant Quarantine Order framework).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Cultivation/harvest → cleaning to remove soil → (if imported) phytosanitary certification and plant-quarantine inspection/treatment at entry → domestic distribution to medicinal-plant traders and downstream users
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighImport non-compliance with India’s Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 (e.g., missing/invalid phytosanitary documentation or quarantine findings such as soil/pest contamination) can lead to detention, mandated treatment, or orders for re-export/destruction, severely disrupting or blocking entry.Pre-align the shipment with India plant-quarantine requirements: secure the correct phytosanitary certificate text and any required additional declarations/treatment endorsements, ensure the commodity is clean and soil-free, and use a broker/importer experienced with plant-quarantine inspection workflows at the intended point of entry.
Food Safety MediumIf imported as a food article, consignments may be subjected to FSSAI document scrutiny, visual inspection, and sampling/testing; non-conformance can trigger rejection and follow-on compliance actions (including recall-related procedures for non-conforming imported food articles under the import regulations framework).Confirm whether the intended end-use makes the consignment a “food article” under FSSAI scope; prepare full documentation for FICS/ICEGATE clearance and pre-test for likely safety parameters relevant to herbal roots (e.g., contaminants) using an accredited lab aligned with importer requirements.
Health MediumLicorice root contains glycyrrhizin; high-dose exposure is associated with clinically significant adverse effects (e.g., hypertension and hypokalemia). Downstream users in India (foods/supplements/traditional products) may require tighter internal controls on potency/extract composition to manage consumer safety and compliance risk.Specify intended use (food vs. medicinal preparation), define internal acceptance criteria for active-component variability, and consider downstream formulation controls (including deglycyrrhized options) where relevant.
FAQ
What are the key plant-quarantine documents typically needed to import licorice root into India?Imports of plant products into India are governed by the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003. In practice, an original phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting country’s authorized authority is a core requirement, and an import permit may also apply depending on the specific commodity/category and conditions under the order.
If licorice root is imported as a food article, what does the import clearance process look like in India?FSSAI’s food import clearance uses the Food Import Clearance System (FICS), integrated with Customs ICEGATE under SWIFT. The process includes scrutiny of documents, visual inspection, and risk-based sampling and testing to confirm the imported food article meets India’s food safety and standards requirements before clearance.
Which Indian regions have recorded mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra) cultivation entries in government medicinal-plant reporting?NMPB cultivation-status reporting includes mulethi entries in states such as Gujarat and Haryana (e.g., FY 2009–10) and also shows smaller entries in other states in selected years (including West Bengal, Kerala, and Manipur).