Fennel Seeds (Saunf)
Elysium Agri exports sweet fennel seeds (saunf) from Gujarat and Rajasthan, which together grow about 96% of India's fennel. We ship Singapore and Europe quality grades from 98% to 99.5% purity, machine-cleaned or sortex, and every lot is tested for pesticides, ethylene oxide and Salmonella.
Our fennel is sourced through Unjha in Mehsana district, whose fennel received a GI tag in July 2026. Indian sweet fennel is bright green, bold and sweet-aromatic, and is used whole, ground, in spice blends and as a mouth freshener.
Fennel Seeds Specification
Grades
Singapore quality, Europe quality, Lucknowi on request
Purity
98 / 99 / 99.5% (sortex)
Foreign Matter
≤ 0.5–1% by grade
Moisture
10% max
Volatile Oil
1.5 ml/100 g min
Total Ash / AIA
≤ 9.5% / ≤ 1.75%
Colour
Green to pale green
Salmonella
Absent in 25 g
ETO and Pesticides
ETO not detected; EU / US MRLs
Container Load
20 ft ≈ 13.5–15 MT · 40 ft ≈ 26–27 MT
Fennel Seeds: Full Export Specification
The standard export specification for our sweet fennel seeds, benchmarked to FSSAI and IS 3796. Send your own specification with your enquiry.
| General | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Sweet fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), whole, dried | ISO 7927-2:2023 covers sweet fennel |
| Origin | Gujarat (Unjha, Mehsana) and Rajasthan (Nagaur), India | Unjha fennel: GI tag, Jul 2026 |
| Crop / season | Rabi crop, harvested Feb–Mar | — |
| Colour / aroma | Green to pale green; sweet, anise-like aroma | Sensory |
| Physical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity | 98 / 99 / 99.5% | ISO 927 |
| Extraneous / foreign matter | ≤ 0.5% (sortex) / ≤ 1% (machine) | FSSAI / IS max 2% |
| Insect-damaged | ≤ 1% | FSSAI / IS |
| Moisture | ≤ 10% | ISO 939; IS 3796 max 10%, FSSAI 12% |
| Other edible seeds | Absent | FSSAI |
| ASTA cleanliness (US) | Whole dead insects ≤ 4; mammalian excreta ≤ 3 mg/lb; other excreta ≤ 5 mg/lb; mould ≤ 1%; insect-defiled ≤ 1% | For US buyers |
| Chemical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Volatile oil | ≥ 1.5 ml/100 g | ISO 6571; FSSAI / IS min 1.0 |
| Total ash | ≤ 9.5% | FSSAI / IS max 10% |
| Acid-insoluble ash | ≤ 1.75% | FSSAI / IS max 2% |
| Food safety | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Aflatoxin | B1 ≤ 5 µg/kg; total ≤ 10 µg/kg | HPLC; EU limit for listed spices, applied by contract |
| Ochratoxin A | ≤ 15 µg/kg | HPLC; EU limit for spices |
| Ethylene oxide (ETO + 2-chloroethanol) | Not detected (below EU MRL; Spices Board test level 0.02 mg/kg for EU) | GC-MS/MS; no ETO fumigation used |
| Pesticide residues | Within EU / US / Japan MRLs (chlorpyrifos below LOQ) | LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS multi-residue screen |
| Lead | ≤ 0.9 mg/kg (EU limit for seed spices) | ICP-MS / AAS |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g | ISO 6579-1 |
| Commercial | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 0909 61 39 (fennel, whole, other) | 0909 62 30 for crushed or ground (Spices Board ITC-HS list) |
| Packing | 25 / 50 kg PP bags · 22.68 kg kraft paper bags · jumbo bags | Buyer's marks on request |
| Container load | 20 ft: about 13.5–15 MT · 40 ft: about 26–27 MT | See Fennel Packing and Container Loading |
| Shelf life | 12–24 months in cool, dry storage | Cool, dry, ventilated storage away from odours |
| Documents | Spices Board clearance / health certificate (mandatory sampling for EU) · Official ETO certificate for EU (Annex II) · Certificate of Analysis (pesticides, ETO, aflatoxin, ochratoxin, Salmonella) · Phytosanitary Certificate · Certificate of Origin · Fumigation Certificate (where required) | — |
Singapore vs Europe Quality Fennel
Fennel is graded by colour, size and cleaning. Greener, sweeter seed commands a higher price.
| Grade | Look | Cleaning / purity | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore quality | Bright green, medium, sweet and aromatic | Machine or sortex, 99–99.5% | Asia, Middle East, premium retail |
| Europe quality | Bolder, greenish-yellow to pale green | Machine-cleaned or sortex, 98–99%; steam-sterilised on request | EU, UK, USA |
| Lucknowi saunf | Very small, thin, olive to dark green, very sweet | Hand-cleaned, 99%+ | — |
| Standard (% max unless stated) | FSSAI 2.9.9 | IS 3796:2011 |
|---|---|---|
| Extraneous matter | 2 | 2 |
| Defective seeds | 5 | 5 |
| Moisture | 12 | 10 |
| Total ash | 10 | 10 |
| Acid-insoluble ash | 2 | 2 |
| Volatile oil (min) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
There is no Codex fennel standard. ISO 7927-2:2023 covers sweet fennel (ISO 7927-1 covers bitter fennel).
Machine-Cleaned or Sortex Fennel
Machine Cleaned
98–99% purity for grinders and blenders.
Sortex
99.5% bright green seed for retail and premium buyers.
Also from Unjha: Cumin Seeds →
Fennel Packing and Container Loading
| Pack type | Net weight | Units per 20 ft | Net per 20 ft | Net per 40 ft HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP bag | 25 kg | ≈ 540–600 | ≈ 13.5–15 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT |
| PP bag | 50 kg | ≈ 270–300 | ≈ 13.5–15 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT |
| Kraft paper bag | 22.68 kg (50 lb) | ≈ 600–660 | ≈ 13.5–15 MT | ≈ 26–27 MT |
Where Fennel Seeds Are Used
Mouth Freshener
Plain, sugar-coated and flavoured saunf and mukhwas.
Spice Blends
Garam masala, panch phoron, Chinese five-spice.
Bakery and Sausages
Italian sausage, breads and biscuits.
Herbal Teas
Fennel tea and digestive blends.
Liqueurs and Beverages
Anise-flavoured drinks.
Essential Oil
Fennel oil distillation.
Fennel Seeds Price: What Sets It
Fennel is priced per metric tonne FOB, with Unjha setting the market. Colour and grade move it most.
- Colour and grade: greener Singapore quality costs more.
- Crop: the Gujarat and Rajasthan rabi harvest (Feb–Mar).
- Purity: sortex 99.5% costs more than 98%.
- Compliance: tested, steam-sterilised lots cost more.
- Currency and freight.:
Prices move with the crop and the market, so we quote on the day. Tell us your grade, quantity and port for a current FOB, CFR or CIF price.
Tested, Certified and Traceable
EU shipments go through the Spices Board's mandatory sampling and carry the official ETO certificate.
- Sourcing from Gujarat and Rajasthan mandis
- Lot sampling (Spices Board / NABL-accredited lab)
- Pesticides, ETO, aflatoxin, ochratoxin and Salmonella tests
- Spices Board clearance and export documents
Documents with every shipment
Get a Fennel Quote
Share your grade and quantity, and we will send a price with the spec sheet.
Thank you. Our spices desk will send your price and spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Singapore quality fennel?
Singapore quality is the premium Indian fennel grade: bright green, sweet and aromatic seed, usually 99–99.5% purity. Europe quality is bolder and paler green, and is often steam-sterilised for EU and US buyers.
What is the specification of fennel seeds for export?
Export fennel typically has 98–99.5% purity, ≤ 0.5–1% foreign matter, ≤ 10% moisture, volatile oil of at least 1.5 ml/100 g, total ash ≤ 9.5% and acid-insoluble ash ≤ 1.75%, with Salmonella absent and pesticide and ETO residues within limits.
What is the HS code for fennel seeds?
Whole fennel seeds are exported under HS 0909 61 39. Ground or crushed fennel is 0909 62 30.
What is Lucknowi saunf?
Lucknowi saunf is a very small, thin, olive to dark green fennel that is sweeter than regular fennel. It is used mainly as a mouth freshener and costs more than standard grades.
Is Unjha fennel GI tagged?
Yes. Unjha fennel and Unjha cumin received Geographical Indication tags on 28 July 2026. Elysium Agri sources fennel through the Unjha market in Gujarat.
Who exports fennel seeds from India?
Elysium Agri Corporation, based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, exports sweet fennel seeds in Singapore and Europe grades, with lot-wise pesticide, ETO and Salmonella testing and Spices Board clearance.
