Sodium nitroprusside (sodium nitroferricyanide)

Sodium nitroprusside, a complex cyanide compound

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 2837 20 50 (Sodium nitroprusside) is subject to mandatory additional qualifiers in import declarations under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, operative with effect from 15 October 2023 for all commodities under Chapter 28. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) requires importers to furnish the qualifiers stipulated in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of that Circular at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is

HSN code

2837 20 50

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

CBIC · Mandatory declaration qualifiers, Chapter 28 (Circular 23/2023-Cus)

Customs documentation

Chapter 28 qualifiers from CBIC
Bill of entry declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
At the time of filing the bill of entry, furnish the mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 28 commodities as stipulated in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. These qualifiers became compulsory with effect from 15 October 2023 and non-compliance triggers mis-declaration risk at the time of assessment.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2
2
Confirm that the import declaration accurately identifies the compound as sodium nitroprusside (sodium nitroferricyanide) under CTH 2837 20 50 and that all qualifier fields required for complex cyanides under Chapter 28 are populated before the bill of entry is assessed.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is filing a bill of entry without the Chapter 28 mandatory qualifiers on the assumption that sodium nitroprusside is a low-volume specialty chemical unlikely to attract scrutiny. CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus is uniform across all Chapter 28 headings irrespective of quantity or value; an incomplete qualifier field is treated as a mis-declaration and can attract a penalty under the Customs Act, 1962 and delay out-of-charge pending re-assessment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2837 20 50 require BIS certification?

No, sodium nitroprusside falls outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers complex cyanides. Import is governed by the CBIC declaration-qualifier requirement under Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 for Chapter 28 commodities.

What are the mandatory qualifiers required under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus for Chapter 28 imports?

The qualifiers are specified in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023; importers should review that Circular directly for the precise field-level requirements applicable to complex cyanides under Chapter 28.

From what date are the Chapter 28 qualifier requirements operative for this HSN?

The mandatory additional qualifier requirements under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus became operative with effect from 15 October 2023 for all commodities under Chapter 28, including CTH 2837 20 50.

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