Flax Seeds (Linseed / Alsi)
Elysium Agri exports brown flax seeds (linseed, alsi) from India's linseed belt in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, machine-cleaned or sortex to 99–99.8% purity. Every lot is tested for hydrocyanic acid, cadmium, aflatoxin, Salmonella and pesticide residues against EU limits.
Indian brown flax is rich in oil (38–42%) and omega-3 ALA, and is bought by bakeries, millers, health-food brands and oil pressers. India exported about 18,900 tonnes of linseed in 2024, mainly to the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and the UAE.
Flax Seeds Specification
Purity
99 / 99.5 / 99.8% (sortex)
Foreign Matter
≤ 0.5%
Moisture
8% max
Oil Content
≥ 38% (typical 38–42%)
Omega-3 ALA
About 50–57% of fatty acids
HCN
≤ 250 mg/kg (EU); ≤ 150 for retail raw use
Cadmium
≤ 0.5 mg/kg (EU)
Salmonella
Absent in 25 g
Container Load
20 ft ≈ 19–22 MT · 40 ft ≈ 26 MT
Flax Seeds (Linseed): Full Export Specification
The standard export specification for our brown flax seeds, set against the EU contaminant limits for linseed. Send your own specification with your enquiry.
| General | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Brown flax seeds / linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), whole | Alsi |
| Crop / season | Rabi crop, sown Oct–Nov; harvest Feb–Mar | — |
| Colour / size | Glossy brown; about 4–6 mm | Visual |
| Physical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Purity | 99 / 99.5 / 99.8% | Machine or sortex |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 0.5% | — |
| Broken seeds | ≤ 2% | — |
| Chemical | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Oil content | ≥ 38% (typical 38–42%) | ISO 659 |
| Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)On request | About 50–57% of total fatty acids | GC; on request |
| ProteinOn request | About 18–20% | On request |
| Hydrocyanic acid (HCN) | ≤ 250 mg/kg; ≤ 150 mg/kg for linseed sold raw to consumers | EU Reg 2023/915 |
| Cadmium | ≤ 0.5 mg/kg | EU Reg 2023/915 |
| Food safety | Specification | Test method / note |
|---|---|---|
| Aflatoxin | B1 ≤ 2 / total ≤ 4 µg/kg | HPLC |
| Pesticide residues (incl. glyphosate) | Within EU / US MRLs | LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25 g | ISO 6579-1 |
| Commercial | Specification | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 1204 00 90 (linseed, other than seed quality) | 1204 00 10 is seed quality |
| Packing | 25 kg paper or PP bags · 22.68 kg (50 lb) bags · 1 MT totes | — |
| Container load | 20 ft: about 19–22 MT · 40 ft: about 26 MT | See Flax Seed Packing and Container Loading |
| Shelf life | 12–24 months, cool (below 20 °C) and dry | Whole seed keeps well; ground flax oxidises quickly |
| Documents | Certificate of Analysis (HCN, cadmium, residues, Salmonella) · Phytosanitary Certificate · Certificate of Origin | — |
Brown or Golden Flax Seeds?
Brown and golden flax have almost the same nutrition. The difference is colour, taste and where each is grown.
| Brown flax | Golden flax | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Glossy brown | Golden yellow |
| Taste | Nutty, slightly earthy | Milder, buttery |
| Main origins | India, Canada, Russia | USA, Canada |
| Best for | Bakery, milling, oil, feed | Light-coloured bakery, retail |
| Availability from India | Standard | — |
| Typical composition (whole seed) | Per 100 g |
|---|---|
| Fat (oil) | 38–42 g |
| Omega-3 ALA | About 57% of fatty acids |
| Protein | 18–20 g |
| Dietary fibre | About 28 g |
| Lignans (SDG) | 0.7–1.9 g |
Composition from the Flax Council of Canada and exporter data; varies by variety and crop.
Choose Your Flax Seeds
Machine Cleaned 99%
For oil pressing and feed.
Sortex 99.5–99.8%
For bakery, milling and retail.
Also see: Chia Seeds →Sesame Seeds →
Flax Seed Packing and Container Loading
| Pack type | Net weight | Units per 20 ft | Net per 20 ft | Net per 40 ft HC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper bag | 25 kg | ≈ 760–880 | ≈ 19–22 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
| PP bag | 25 kg | ≈ 760–880 | ≈ 19–22 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
| Paper bag | 22.68 kg (50 lb) | ≈ 840–960 | ≈ 19–22 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
| Tote | 1,000 kg | ≈ 19–20 | ≈ 19–20 MT | ≈ 26 MT |
Where Flax Seeds Are Used
Bakery
Multigrain breads, crackers and toppings.
Milling
Ground flax and flax flour.
Health Foods and Cereals
Granola, bars and smoothie mixes.
Flaxseed Oil
Cold-pressed food oil.
Animal Feed
Omega-3 feed for poultry and livestock.
Industrial Linseed Oil
Paints and varnishes.
Flax Seeds Price: What Sets It
Flax seeds are priced per metric tonne FOB. Canada and Russia set the world price, and Indian flax usually sells at a premium for cleaned, food-grade seed.
- Purity: sortex 99.8% costs more.
- World crop: Canadian and Russian harvests set prices.
- Indian crop: the Feb–Mar rabi harvest.
- Compliance: HCN, cadmium and residue-tested lots for the EU.
- 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
Every lot of flax seed is cleaned, sorted and tested for hydrocyanic acid, cadmium, aflatoxin, pesticide residues and Salmonella against EU limits.
- Sourcing from MP and UP mandis
- Cleaning and sortex
- Lot sampling at an accredited lab
- HCN, cadmium, residue and Salmonella tests
- Export documents
Documents with every shipment
Get a Flax Seed Quote
Share your purity, type 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)
Are alsi and flax seeds the same?
Yes. Alsi is the Hindi name for flax seed, also called linseed (Linum usitatissimum).
What is the specification of flax seeds for export?
Export brown flax typically has 99–99.8% purity, ≤ 0.5% foreign matter, ≤ 8% moisture, oil content of at least 38%, HCN ≤ 250 mg/kg and cadmium ≤ 0.5 mg/kg (EU limits), with Salmonella absent and residues within EU limits.
What is the EU limit for HCN in linseed?
Under EU Regulation 2023/915, unprocessed linseed may contain up to 250 mg/kg hydrocyanic acid, or 150 mg/kg when sold raw to the final consumer, unless it is labelled for cooking and baking only.
What is the HS code for flax seeds?
Flax seeds (linseed) for food use are exported under HS 1204 00 90. HS 1204 00 10 is for seed quality.
What is the difference between golden and brown flax?
Brown and golden flax have similar nutrition. Brown flax is nuttier and grown mainly in India, Canada and Russia; golden flax is milder and grown mainly in North America.
When is flax harvested in India?
Linseed is a rabi crop sown in October and November and harvested in February and March, mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Who exports flax seeds from India?
Elysium Agri Corporation exports brown flax seeds (linseed) in machine-cleaned and sortex grades, tested for HCN, cadmium, aflatoxin, residues and Salmonella against EU limits.
