Lithium carbonates

Lithium carbonates for pharmaceutical or industrial use

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 2836 91 00 (Lithium carbonates) is subject to Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) mandatory additional-qualifier declarations for Chapter 28 commodities under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, operative with effect from 15 October 2023. Where the imported lithium carbonate is classified as a drug, five additional CDSCO-linked documents — including a registration certificate and import licence for drugs — must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge.

What this is

HSN code

2836 91 00

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

CBIC · CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus (Chapter 28 mandatory qualifier declarations)

Customs documentation

Certificate of analysis from supplier
Registration certificate from CDSCO
Import licence for drugs from CDSCO

Compliance steps

1
Include all mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for this Chapter 28 commodity as stipulated in Para 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. These qualifiers are required at the bill-of-entry stage with effect from 15 October 2023 and non-compliance results in out-of-charge being withheld.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, Para 4.1 and 4.2
2
Where the lithium carbonate consignment is imported as a drug, upload the following documents in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry: certificate of analysis — drug (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 filing the bill of entry for lithium carbonate without the Chapter 28 mandatory qualifiers, on the assumption that the commodity is a straightforward industrial chemical requiring no additional declaration. CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus makes the qualifier fields mandatory for all Chapter 28 entries regardless of end-use; a deficient declaration triggers customs examination and detention pending amendment, accruing demurrage and ground rent. Where the same consignment is also classifiable as a drug, the full five-document drug-regime upload in e-Sanchit is a separate and independent requirement.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2836 91 00 require BIS certification?

No. Lithium carbonates are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by CBIC mandatory qualifier declarations under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus for Chapter 28 commodities, and by drug-regime document requirements where the product is imported as a pharmaceutical.

Are the Chapter 28 mandatory qualifiers required even for industrial-grade lithium carbonate not intended for pharmaceutical use?

Yes. CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus applies to all import declarations for Chapter 28 commodities with effect from 15 October 2023, regardless of end-use or grade; the qualifier obligation attaches at the tariff-line level, not at the end-use level.

What happens if the drug-regime documents are missing from e-Sanchit at the bill-of-entry stage?

The customs proper officer must withhold out-of-charge until document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, and 9111dc are all uploaded and verified in e-Sanchit; the consignment remains detained in the meantime, attracting demurrage and ground rent.

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