Processed (brown)

Processed brown silica sand and quartz sand

PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 2505 10 12 (Processed brown silica/quartz sand) is subject to Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) clearance under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003. The tariff line is Free under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), but import remains conditional on a valid Phytosanitary Certificate and PPQS Import Permit uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge.

What this is

HSN code

2505 10 12

Chapter

25 · Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement

Primary regulator

PPQS · Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003

Customs documentation

Import Permit from PPQS
Phytosanitary Certificate from exporting country
ITC (HS) free-import declaration from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

PPQSPPQS·Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary regime

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Obtain an Import Permit issued by the Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage authority (document code 911PQ1) before the consignment is dispatched. The permit must be uploaded in e-Sanchit and verified at the bill of entry prior to out-of-charge.
Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 · document code 911PQ1
2
Ensure a valid Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) issued by the competent authority of the exporting country accompanies the consignment. Upload the certificate in e-Sanchit; the proper officer will verify its presence before granting out-of-charge on PGA-facilitated bills.
Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 · document code 851000

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that the Free ITC (HS) import status dispenses with plant quarantine documentation. The tariff line is Free for duty purposes, but the Plant Quarantine Order, 2003 requirement is an independent PGA overlay that is not waived by the ITC policy status. Consignments arriving without the PPQS Import Permit and Phytosanitary Certificate uploaded in e-Sanchit are detained at the port pending compliance, accruing demurrage and ground rent irrespective of duty clearance.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2505 10 12 require BIS certification?

No, processed brown silica and quartz sand is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, with the ITC (HS) Free-import policy administered by DGFT.

Are both the PPQS Import Permit and the Phytosanitary Certificate mandatory at the bill of entry?

Yes. Both document code 911PQ1 (Import Permit from PPQS) and document code 851000 (Phytosanitary Certificate) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before the proper officer grants out-of-charge, even where the bill has not been routed through the PGA for a NOC.

Does the Free import status under ITC (HS) mean no PGA clearance is required?

No. The Free ITC (HS) classification relates to import-policy licensing, not to phytosanitary compliance; the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 applies independently, and failure to present valid PPQS documentation results in detention of the consignment.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: PPQS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.