Snacks HSN Code: Complete Guide

Updated: Jun 3, 2026 12 min read Jagdish Prasad

Snacks include namkeen, chips, extruded snacks and many ready to eat savoury items that are popular across India. Correct snacks HSN code mapping is important because rates can differ based on ingredients, method of manufacture and branding.

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HSN Code for Healthy Snacks and Traditional Namkeen

Traditional Indian namkeen and savoury mixes often fall under chapter 21 which covers miscellaneous edible preparations. A commonly used heading is 2106 for food preparations not elsewhere specified. Some baked or roasted healthy snacks made from cereals or pulses may also fall under headings in chapter 19 or chapter 20 depending on their composition. Always compare your product recipe with tariff descriptions. Packaged branded snacks are usually taxed at eighteen percent, while certain unbranded or loosely sold items may be eligible for five percent rate where notified.

HSN Code for Packaged Snacks and Ready to Eat Products

Packaged chips, extruded snacks, ready to eat mixtures and similar items are normally supplied under brand names and standard pack sizes. These attract GST at the general processed food rate, which is mostly eighteen percent after recent slab changes.

For products like cereal bars and protein snacks, classification can depend on whether they are more like confectionery or more like cereal based preparations. Document your reasoning when choosing a heading. Online sellers should align their product listings and accounting software so that the snacks HSN code is consistent across platforms.

How HSN Codes Help in Classifying Snack Products?

The snacks HSN code helps tax officers and traders understand what kind of snack is being supplied without reading every ingredient list. When you maintain clear mapping of every stock keeping unit to its HSN and GST rate, preparation of GSTR one and annual returns becomes much easier. If you introduce new health focused snacks or innovative formats, revisit the classification to see whether a different heading or rate applies.

Snacks HSN Code Classification and GST Rates

Here are some commonly used HSN codes and GST rates for this category

Section Classification

Section No

Section Title

Guide to HSN Section 04

Section Description

Prepared Food Stuffs, Beverages, Spirits And Vinegar, Tobacco And Manufactured Tobacco Substitutes

Chapter Classification

Chapter No

Chapter Title

Preparations of Meat, Fish or Crustaceans

Chapter Description

Preparation of meat, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates

Chapter No

Chapter Title

Sugars and Sugar Confectionery

Chapter Description

Sugars and sugar confectionery

Chapter No

Chapter Title

Preparations of Cereals, Flour, Starch or Milk; Pastry

Chapter Description

Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks’ products

Chapter No

Chapter Title

Preparations of Vegetables, Fruits, Nuts or Other Parts of Plants

Chapter Description

Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants

Chapter No

Chapter Title

Miscellaneous Edible Preparations

Chapter Description

Miscellaneous edible preparations

4 Digit HSN Code Classification

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Sausages & meat products

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Prepared meat and offal

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Sugar confectionery

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Prepared foods: cereals, corn flakes

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Bread, Pastry & Biscuits

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Vegetables in Preservation

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Preserved fruit, nuts & plant parts

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Ice cream

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Unspecified food preparations

GST Rate

5%

8 Digit HSN Code Classification

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Sausages & similar meat products

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Homogenised Preparations

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Of Liver Of Any Animal

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Of Poultry Of Heading 0105 | Of Turkeys

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Of poultry of heading 0105 : Of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Of Poultry Of Heading 0105 | Other

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Of Swine | Hams And Cuts Thereof

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Of Swine | Shoulders And Cuts Thereof

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Of Swine | Other, Including Mixtures

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Of Bovine Animals

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other preparations of blood of any animal

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Chewing Gum

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Jelly Confectionary

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Boiled sweets (filled/unfilled)

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Toffees, caramels, & similar sweets

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other (White Chocolate)

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Corn Flakes

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Prepared Cereals | Puffed Rice

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Bulgur Wheat

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Prepared Foods: Swollen or Roasted Cereals

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Unroasted/Roasted Cereal Flake Foods

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Millet content >= 15% (w/w)

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Prepared/Preserved Vegetables, Not Frozen

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Bulgur wheat

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Cereal Preparations and Bakers’ Wares

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Crispbread

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Gingerbread

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Sweet biscuits

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Chocolate Coated Communion Wafers

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Communion Wafers

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Waffles and wafers: Other

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Rusks/Toasted Bread/Khakhra/Chapati

GST Rate

5%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other | Pastries And Cakes

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Biscuits (Other)

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Savoury/salted extruded products

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Papad

GST Rate

0%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Bread, Pastry, Biscuits & Bakers’ Wares

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Homogenised Vegetables

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Potatoes

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Peas (Pisum, Sativum)

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Shelled Beans

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Beans

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Processed Asparagus

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Prepared or Preserved Vegetables

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Sweet Corn (Zea Mays Var. Saccharata)

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Soya Milk Drinks: Non-Alcoholic Beverages

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Bamboo shoots

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Mixed vegetables, other

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Nuts, Ground-nuts & Other Seeds, Mixed or Not: Ground-nuts

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Prepared/Preserved Nuts

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Frozen Octopus

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Roasted/Fried Vegetable Products

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Roasted Nuts/Seeds

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Nut Mixtures

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Pineapples

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Oranges, Citrus Fruit

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Citrus Fruits

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Prepared or Preserved Pears

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Canned Apricots

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Cherries (Processed)

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Peaches, Including Nectarines

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Strawberries

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Palm Hearts: Other Vegetable Mixes (Non-Subheading 2008 19)

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Cranberries/Lingonberries

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Mixtures Not of Sub-Heading 2008 19

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Mango Squash

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Lemon Squash

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Orange Squash

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Pineapple Squash

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Squash

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Fruit Cocktail

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Grapes

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Apples

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Guava

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other Preserved Fruits

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Ice cream and other edible ice

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Protein Concentrates & Textured Proteins

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other | Soft Drink Concentrates | Sharbat

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other | Soft Drink Concentrates | Other

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Pan Masala

GST Rate

28%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Betel Nut Products (Supari)

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Flavored/Colored Sugar Syrups

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Compounds for non-alcoholic beverages

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other | Food Flavouring Material

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other | Churna For Pan

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Custard Powder

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Other | Other | Diabetic Foods

GST Rate

12%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Pasteurized millstone

GST Rate

18%

HSN Code

HSN Code Title

Textured Vegetable Proteins (Soya Bari)

GST Rate

12%

* GST rates may vary based on the latest GST notifications.

Conclusion

Snacks HSN codes usually fall in a small group of food preparation headings but the exact choice depends on ingredients and preparation method.

By mapping each snack correctly and monitoring GST rate changes, snack manufacturers and traders can keep compliance smooth and pricing transparent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to common queries about this topic.

What is the HSN code for snacks?

Many packaged snacks and namkeen products are classified under heading 2106 for miscellaneous edible preparations, though some cereal based items can fall under chapter 19.

How are healthy snacks classified under HSN codes?

Healthy snacks like baked mixtures or roasted seeds are classified based on their main ingredient and preparation. They usually still fall in the same edible preparation chapters as regular snacks.

Do packaged snacks have separate HSN codes?

Different snack products can use different detailed HSN lines within the same heading, especially when ingredients differ. However the broad chapter and rate band are often similar across snack types.

Why is HSN code important for snack businesses?

Snack businesses need HSN codes for billing, e way bills, exports and GST returns. Correct coding reduces the risk of rate disputes and supports smooth audits.

How does HSN code affect pricing for snacks in India?

The HSN code determines whether a snack is taxed at five percent or eighteen percent. This directly influences maximum retail price and trade margins.

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Jagdish Prasad

Chartered Accountant

Jagdish Prasad is a Chartered Accountant with over 5 years of experience. He helps people and businesses with GST, income tax, and HSN codes. Jagdish makes sure his clients follow all tax rules and save money the right way. He also enjoys writing simple articles to help others understand taxes and stay updated with the latest rules.

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