Phosphorous trichloride

Phosphorus trichloride, technical grade (PCl3)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 4581

HSN 2812 13 00 (phosphorus trichloride) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 4581:1978 (reaffirmed 2015) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 16 December 2020, by virtue of the Phosphorous Trichloride (Quality Control) Order, 2020. Chemical Weapons Convention post-import notification requirements administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade apply as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

2812 13 00

Chapter

28 · Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 4581:1978 (reaffirmed 2015) · effective 16-12-2020

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 4581:1978 for phosphorus trichloride. Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, and licensed manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Phosphorous Trichloride (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 1897(E) dated 16-06-2020 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Ensure every consignment bears the ISI standard mark and the supplier's CM/L licence number under Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product container or primary packaging, not on the outer transport packaging alone.
Phosphorous Trichloride (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 1897(E) dated 16-06-2020 · General Note 2 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy
3
Within 30 days of import, notify consignment details to the National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention, Cabinet Secretariat; Ministry of External Affairs (D&ISA); Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals; and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. Submit a copy of the bill of entry to DGFT within the same 30-day window.
Appendix-II of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · CWC Act and Rules · Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 28
4
Include mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for Chapter 28 commodities as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. This requirement has applied with effect from 15 October 2023.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2
5
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention, demurrage, and potential re-export or confiscation.
BIS Act, 2016 · Phosphorous Trichloride (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating the Chemical Weapons Convention post-import notification as the headline compliance obligation while allowing the BIS QCO to receive secondary attention. The CWC notification is a post-import administrative step; the BIS CM/L verification against IS 4581:1978 is a pre-clearance statutory gate — phosphorus trichloride imported without a valid CM/L from the licensed supplier is liable to detention and confiscation at port regardless of CWC compliance status. Confirm the CM/L scope expressly covers technical-grade PCl3 and the specific manufacturing facility before the purchase order.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2812 13 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. Conformity to IS 4581:1978 (reaffirmed 2015) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 16 December 2020; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering phosphorus trichloride.

Is the Chemical Weapons Convention notification required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. Phosphorus trichloride is a Category 1C chemical under Appendix-II of the ITC (HS) Import Policy; the importer must notify consignment details to four designated authorities and submit a bill of entry copy to DGFT within 30 days of import, independently of the BIS obligation.

What mandatory declaration qualifiers apply to this HSN at the time of filing the bill of entry?

CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30 September 2023 requires mandatory additional qualifiers in import declarations for Chapter 28 commodities per paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2, effective 15 October 2023; these must be included on every bill of entry for HSN 2812 13 00.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all grades and manufacturing facilities of a supplier?

No. The CM/L is facility-specific and product-scope-specific; phosphorus trichloride produced at a plant not covered by the licensed scope, or outside the specification range of IS 4581:1978, is not covered and customs will detain such consignments.

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