Fenugreek seeds specification for export: limits, HS codes and a sheet format
Key takeaways
- FSSAI sets 7 limits for whole fenugreek and 4 for powder [1].
- Cold water soluble extract is the unusual one. Not every lab runs it by default, so ask for it [1].
- The market is growing. Exports rose from 30,855 tonnes in 2023-24 to 47,069 in 2025-26 [6].
- Different markets ask for different tests. The EU wants ethylene oxide, and Japan has pesticide limits [4] [5].
What are the limits for fenugreek seeds?
FSSAI clause 2.9.10 covers fenugreek, the dried mature seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. [1]:
| Parameter | Whole fenugreek | Fenugreek powder |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture | Max 10.0% | Max 10.0% |
| Extraneous matter | Max 2.0% | Not in the powder clause |
| Total ash, dry basis | Max 5.0% | Max 5.0% |
| Ash insoluble in dilute HCl, dry basis | Max 1.5% | Max 1.5% |
| Cold water soluble extract, dry basis | Min 30.0% | Min 30.0% |
| Edible seeds other than fenugreek | Max 2.0% | Not in the powder clause |
| Insect-damaged matter | Max 1.0% | Not in the powder clause |
The clause also sets what must be absent: off flavour, mustiness, rancidity, mould, insects, rodent contamination and added colour [1]. For dried and ground spices, Appendix B adds microbiological limits, including Salmonella absent in 25 g [2].
What should you state beyond the limits?
- Purity, since other seeds are allowed up to 2.0% and buyers may want less.
- Colour and seed size, with a lot-numbered sample.
- Cold water soluble extract, as your own tested figure.
- Crop year and storage, because rancidity is one of the clause's tests [1].
Don't copy the legal limit onto your sheet. Use a figure your lots actually meet, because a buyer's lab will test your sample against it.
What are the HS codes for fenugreek?
Spices Board's ITC (HS) list gives 0910 99 12 for fenugreek seed [3]. Its mandatory testing list gives 0910 99 24 for fenugreek powder [4]. Confirm your line with your CHA.
What do export markets add?
| Market | What applies |
|---|---|
| EU | Fenugreek seed from India stays in Annex II for ethylene oxide: an official certificate with each consignment, and 20% checked at the border [5] |
| Japan | Spices Board's list sets pesticide limits for whole and ground fenugreek, including triazophos at 0.01 ppm and chlorpyrifos at 5.00 ppm [4] |
See the full EU picture in our guide to ethylene oxide in Indian spices.
Know where the volume goes. These were the largest destinations in 2025-26, in tonnes [6]:
| Destination | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 4,041 | 5,198 |
| UAE | 4,330 | 4,686 |
| Yemen | 3,882 | 3,513 |
| Sri Lanka | 2,491 | 3,394 |
| Sudan | 1,273 | 3,180 |
The buyers are spread out. No single country takes most of India's fenugreek, which makes it a useful product for building a second market.
What should a fenugreek spec sheet include?
Product: Fenugreek seeds, whole, [grade]
Botanical name: Trigonella foenum-graecum L.
Origin: [State, India], crop year [__]
HS code: 0910 99 12 (confirm with your CHA)
Purity: min [__]%
Extraneous matter: max [__]%
Moisture: max [__]%
Cold water soluble extract: [__]%, dry basis
Salmonella: absent in 25 g, [lab, report number]
Ethylene oxide: [result], [lab, report number]
Packing: [bag type, net weight]
Version: [date], Lot: [number]
Next step. Before a buyer reads your sheet, they usually check your company. Our free Buyer Check is a 1-page report on your Google listing, website and spec gaps, with the 3 fixes that matter most, within 24 hours.
Sources
- Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, Chapter 2.9, Version 4 (01.08.2025), FSSAI
- Appendix B: Microbiological Requirements, Version 2 (04.11.2024), FSSAI
- Trade classification: ITC (HS) codes for spices, Spices Board India
- Circular No. 24/2022-23: Mandatory Sampling and Testing of export consignments, Spices Board India
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1206 of 9 June 2026, Official Journal of the European Union
- Major item and country wise export of spices from India, 2021-22 to 2025-26, Spices Board India, data from DGCI&S
Checked 10 November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.