Importing vermicompost from India: HS code, documents and what to confirm

Importers ask the same questions before a first order. This is a checklist of what is known, what depends on the destination, and what to ask the exporter to put in writing. It does not replace advice from your customs broker.

Classification

Vermicompost is classified under heading 3101 of the Harmonized System, animal or vegetable fertilisers. India's eight-digit lines under that heading include 31010091 for animal dung, 31010092 for animal excreta and 31010099 for other, according to third-party tariff listings. Which one an exporter uses is a classification decision. Ask for the code on the shipping bill and check it against your own country's tariff.

Rules that depend on where it is going

Questions by destination

Destination or scheme	What to check
European Union	Animal by-product rules (Regulation 1069/2009) can apply to fertiliser made from dung. For organic farming, Annex II of Regulation 2021/1165 lists worm castings as a permitted input where relevant under those rules. Confirm import conditions with your border authority.
United States	USDA APHIS says earthworms, their castings and related products need a permit under the same rules as live earthworms. Ask APHIS whether finished vermicompost falls within it. USDA organic guidance accepts vermicompost under conditions.
Indian export policy	Heading 3101 is listed as freely exportable. A 2019 DGFT notification added conditions for shipments to the EU (a clearance certificate from CAPEXIL and a health certificate), as reported by tax sites. Confirm whether it still applies.
Organic claims	Under India's NPOP, worm castings are a restricted input. This governs organic farms and not fertiliser sales generally. An organic claim needs an accredited certifier and a transaction certificate.

Documents

Commercial invoice with packing list, the shipping bill and a bill of lading are standard.
A phytosanitary certificate, if your country asks for one. India has issued them electronically (e-Phyto) since 1 March 2023.
A batch report against the parameters in the Fertiliser (Control) Order, if you need to show quality.
Any treatment or fumigation record your authority requires. No vermicompost-specific rule was found. Wooden pallets are separate and must carry the ISPM 15 mark.

Containers

One carrier lists a 20 ft dry container at 33.1 cubic metres and a payload of 28,330 kg, and a 40 ft one at 67.6 cubic metres and 26,840 kg. At the Order's bulk density of 0.7 to 0.9 g per cubic centimetre, a full 20 ft container would hold 23 to 30 tonnes by volume. In practice the weight limit and the way the bags are stowed decide the figure, so ask the exporter for the loaded weight it has actually achieved.

Incoterms

FOB, CFR and CIF are for sea freight. FCA, CIP and DAP suit any mode of transport. Which fits depends on who books the freight, so settle it with your freight forwarder.

Questions to put in writing

Batch report to the Order's parameters, and the moisture of the pack.
Pack weight, pack material and pallet marking.
Which certificates and approvals the product holds, if any, and which you must obtain yourself.
Whether the EU clearance and health certificate apply to your shipment.
Lead time, and whether the batch can be traced.

Common questions

What is the HS code for vermicompost?

Heading 3101, animal or vegetable fertilisers. The eight-digit line varies by country and by how the exporter classifies it, so confirm it with your customs broker.

Do I need a phytosanitary certificate?

It depends on your country's import rules. Ask your plant protection authority, and ask the exporter whether it can supply one. India issues them electronically.

Can vermicompost be sold as organic in the EU or the US?

Worm castings are an allowed input in both systems under conditions, but an organic claim needs certification of the product and the farm. Ask the exporter what certificate it holds.

How many tonnes fit in a 20 ft container?

By volume 23 to 30 tonnes at the standard bulk density, but one carrier's payload limit is about 28 tonnes, so the achievable load is set by weight and stowage. Ask for the exporter's loaded weight.