Market
Semolina (suji/rawa) in India is a wheat-milling product regulated under FSSAI cereals and cereal products standards, supplied mainly to the domestic market via India’s large wheat milling sector. Exports of HS 1101 wheat flour and related products (including semolina) are classified as “Prohibited” with limited exports permitted only under DGFT export authorisation and prescribed modalities.
Market RoleDomestic consumption market with significant domestic production (wheat roller milling); exports of HS 1101 wheat flour products including semolina are policy-restricted (prohibited with limited DGFT-authorised exports).
Domestic RoleStaple cereal ingredient produced by domestic wheat mills for retail and food processing use.
Risks
Trade Policy HighExports of HS 1101 wheat flour and related products (including semolina) are classified as “Prohibited” under India’s DGFT export policy framework, with only limited quantities permitted under DGFT Export Authorisation and strict modalities; inability to secure/comply with authorisation conditions can block shipments.Before contracting exports, confirm HS classification and current DGFT policy status; secure Export Authorisation within the relevant application window; align shipment schedules with authorisation validity and the Public Notice modalities (eligibility, documentation, reporting).
Food Safety Compliance MediumImported semolina consignments may face delay or rejection if they fail FSSAI product standards (quality/compositional limits) or if FICS documentation and sampling/testing outcomes trigger a Non-Conforming Report (NCR) instead of a No Objection Certificate (NOC).Run pre-shipment testing against relevant FSSAI semolina parameters, maintain robust pest-control and moisture management, and prepare a complete FICS document set (including label/ingredient documentation) to reduce clearance friction.
Logistics MediumBulk freight and inland distribution costs can materially change landed economics for semolina in India, and port/clearance dwell time adds cost and quality risk (moisture/pest exposure) if warehousing controls are weak.Use moisture-protective packaging, plan inland routing and warehousing controls, and build contractual buffers for port dwell time and inland freight rate volatility.
FAQ
What key FSSAI quality limits apply to semolina (suji/rawa) in India?FSSAI defines semolina as a milled wheat product with bran and germ wholly/partially removed and sets limits including moisture (max 14.5%), total ash (max 1.0% on dry mass), ash insoluble in dilute HCl (max 0.1% on dry mass), gluten (min 6.0% on dry mass), alcoholic acidity expressed as H2SO4 (max 0.15% on dry mass), and uric acid (max 100 mg/kg).
Which documents are typically required to file an import clearance application in FSSAI’s FICS?FSSAI’s food imports manual lists documents such as Bill of Entry, Country of Origin Certificate, Bill of Lading, FSSAI Import License, Invoice, Packing List, Ingredient List, and Product Label for filing the FICS application.
Is exporting semolina (HS 1101) from India generally allowed?DGFT’s export policy for HS 1101 wheat flour and related products (including semolina) is classified as “Prohibited,” with limited exports permitted only under DGFT Export Authorisation and the modalities set out in DGFT Public Notice procedures.