Light naphtha

Light naphtha, petroleum light oils and preparations

PESO CLEARANCE

HSN 2710 12 21 (Light naphtha) is subject to Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) licensing under the Petroleum Rules, 2002, which mandates a licence from the Chief Controller of Explosives for the import, transport, and storage of Class A petroleum products including naphtha. The tariff line is Free under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) per Notification 51/2015-20 dated 18-03-2020, but import is permitted only through ports approved by the Ministry of Shipping and declared as customs ports.

What this is

HSN code

2710 12 21

Chapter

27 · Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes

Primary regulator

PESO · Petroleum Rules, 2002

Customs documentation

Import licence from PESO
Approved-port declaration to CBIC
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

PESOPESO·Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a licence from the Chief Controller of Explosives, Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO), Nagpur, covering import, transport, and storage of Class A petroleum products before the consignment is dispatched. The licence must be current at the time of bill-of-entry filing.
Petroleum Rules, 2002 · DGFT Notification 51/2015-20 dated 18-03-2020
2
Route the consignment exclusively through a port approved by the Ministry of Shipping in consultation with the Chief Controller and declared a customs port by the Commissioner of Customs. Arrival at an unapproved port renders the consignment liable to detention and seizure under the Petroleum Rules, 2002.
Petroleum Rules, 2002 (port-approval provision)
3
Ensure containers used for storing the imported light naphtha conform to the specifications prescribed under Rules 4, 5 and 6 of the Petroleum Rules, 2002. Non-conforming containers constitute a separate licence violation independent of the import-stage clearance.
Rules 4, 5 and 6 of the Petroleum Rules, 2002

A word of counsel

A recurring enforcement exposure on this tariff line is misdeclaration of light naphtha as low aromatic white spirit, hydrocarbon solvents, or Industrial Mixture Composition Plus (IMPS) to circumvent Class A petroleum licensing requirements — a pattern flagged in DRI Alert Circular 02/2020-CI dated 23-04-2020. Customs officers are directed to scrutinise product descriptions against laboratory analysis; a misdeclaration finding attracts confiscation of the consignment, monetary penalty, and potential prosecution under the Petroleum Rules, 2002, in addition to Customs Act liability.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2710 12 21 require BIS certification?

No, light naphtha is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation licensing under the Petroleum Rules, 2002, with the ITC (HS) Free-import policy administered by DGFT per Notification 51/2015-20.

Which ports are approved for sea import of light naphtha?

Import by sea is permitted only through ports approved by the Ministry of Shipping in consultation with the Chief Controller of Explosives and declared as customs ports by the Commissioner of Customs, per the Petroleum Rules, 2002; the current approved list should be confirmed with PESO before vessel booking.

Does the PESO licence cover only import, or also onward transport and storage?

The licence requirement extends to import, transport, and storage of Class A petroleum products including naphtha; separate PESO authorisation is required for each activity, and storage containers must additionally comply with Rules 4, 5 and 6 of the Petroleum Rules, 2002.

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