Earth colours

Earth colours containing 70% or more combined iron

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 2821 20 00 (Earth colours) is subject to customs oversight by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) under mandatory Chapter 28 additional-qualifier requirements operative from 15 October 2023. Importers must furnish mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration per CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, covering commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808.

What this is

HSN code

2821 20 00

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

CBIC · Mandatory Chapter 28 qualifier regime, CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus

Customs documentation

Chapter 28 qualifiers from CBIC
Certificate of analysis from supplier
Label of consignment from importer

Compliance steps

1
File 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. These qualifiers are mandatory with effect from 15 October 2023 and non-compliance will prevent out-of-charge at the bill-of-entry stage.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2
2
Upload all mandatory documents in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry: Certificate of Analysis (document code 0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (document code 0030dc), Label of Consignment (document code 0110dc), Registration Certificate for Drugs (document code 101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (document code 9111dc).
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · e-Sanchit document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, 9111dc

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating earth colours as a straightforward inorganic-pigment commodity and neglecting the drug-related document suite — Certificate of Analysis, Batch Release Certificate, Registration Certificate, and Import Licence for Drugs — that the CCR maps to this CTI. Even where the specific import is a pigment-grade material rather than a pharmaceutical input, the mandatory e-Sanchit upload requirement applies, and failure to upload any single document code prior to out-of-charge results in consignment detention.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 2821 20 00 require BIS certification?

No, earth colours under this tariff line are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Compliance is governed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs under the mandatory Chapter 28 additional-qualifier regime prescribed by CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this HSN?

The mandatory uploads are: Certificate of Analysis (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate for Drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc), all required before customs out-of-charge.

When did the mandatory additional-qualifier requirement for Chapter 28 come into effect?

The requirement became operative on 15 October 2023 under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30 September 2023, which covers import declarations for commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808.

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