Petroleum bitumen

Petroleum bitumen, residues of petroleum oils

CPCB CLEARANCE

HSN 2713 20 00 (Petroleum bitumen) is subject to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) environmental monitoring and the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under revised Policy Condition 6 of Chapter 27 of ITC (HS) 2022. Import of petroleum coke for fuel use is prohibited; sector-specific feedstock and actual-user conditions govern permitted categories. DGFT import authorisation applies to restricted sub-categories of petroleum coke within the same heading.

What this is

HSN code

2713 20 00

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

CPCB · ITC (HS) Policy Condition 6 of Chapter 27, read with CAQM Order dated 14-02-2024

Customs documentation

Actual-user declaration to DGFT
Import Authorisation from DGFT
CPCB compliance declaration

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

CPCBCPCB·Central Pollution Control Board

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

Compliance steps

1
Confirm the end-use category at the bill of entry: petroleum bitumen and permitted petroleum coke imports are allowed only as feedstock or raw material on an actual-user basis for cement, lime kiln, calcium carbide, gasification, graphite electrode, or aluminium industries. Any diversion to fuel use or trade attracts ITC (HS) Restricted-import enforcement and CPCB regulatory action.
ITC (HS) 2022, Schedule I, Policy Condition 6 of Chapter 27 · S.O. 1129(E) dated 07-03-2024
2
Where the consignment falls under a Restricted sub-category — including low-sulphur petroleum coke for integrated steel plants — obtain a DGFT Import Authorisation before filing the bill of entry. Aluminium industry importers of raw petroleum coke or calcined petroleum coke must comply with the annual volume caps and all conditions in the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas order dated 14-02-2024.
DGFT Notification 10/2023 dated 02-06-2023 · S.O. 2408(E) dated 02-06-2023 · CAQM Order F.No.160014/16/2021-MERD/PETCOKE-35 dated 14-02-2024
3
Ensure sulphur-content monitoring compliance: for needle pet coke the sulphur content must be below 0.8%, monitored by State Pollution Control Boards or CPCB; for low-sulphur pet coke used in integrated steel plants, continuous sulphur dioxide analysers must be installed in stacks and monitored by SPCBs or CPCB as per MoEF&CC guidelines.
MoEF&CC O.M. No. Q-18011/54/2018-CPA dated 10-09-2018 · ITC (HS) 2022 Policy Condition 6(d) of Chapter 27

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating HSN 2713 20 00 (petroleum bitumen) as entirely uncontrolled because it is not petroleum coke — the Policy Condition 6 compliance framework and CPCB monitoring obligations attach to the Chapter 27 heading as a whole. Importers who omit the actual-user and end-use declarations at the bill of entry expose the consignment to detention and ITC (HS) Restricted-import enforcement even where the bitumen itself is imported for road or construction use, because customs officers apply the chapter-level condition without distinguishing the sub-product at first verification.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2713 20 00 require BIS certification?

No, petroleum bitumen is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy under Policy Condition 6 of Chapter 27 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with CPCB environmental monitoring as the primary regulatory overlay.

Do the annual volume caps for aluminium industry petroleum coke imports apply to petroleum bitumen under HSN 2713 20 00?

The volume caps in S.O. 1129(E) dated 07-03-2024 and the CAQM Order dated 14-02-2024 are directed at raw petroleum coke and calcined petroleum coke; petroleum bitumen at 2713 20 00 is a distinct product but remains subject to the actual-user and end-use declaration requirements of Policy Condition 6 of Chapter 27.

What happens if imported petroleum bitumen is diverted to fuel use after clearance?

Diversion to fuel use violates the actual-user condition and the prohibition under Policy Condition 6 of Chapter 27 of ITC (HS) 2022, attracting ITC (HS) enforcement by DGFT including cancellation of import authorisation, monetary penalty, and potential CPCB regulatory action for violation of the environmental monitoring conditions.

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