Chloroethane (ethyl chloride)

Chloroethane (ethyl chloride), halogenated hydrocarbon solvent

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2903 11 20 (Chloroethane / ethyl chloride) is subject to registration and import permit requirements of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) under the Insecticides Act, 1968 and Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971, where the substance figures in the Schedule to that Act. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) import-certificate conditions under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 apply concurrently, and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2 to Chapter 29 governs the residual import framework.

What this is

HSN code

2903 11 20

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

CIB&RC · Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971

Customs documentation

Registration and permit from CIB&RC
Import certificate from NDPS
Chapter 29 qualifiers from CBIC

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

CIB&RCCIB&RC·Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee

NDPSNDPS·Narcotics Control Bureau

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

Compliance steps

1
Where chloroethane figures in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, obtain registration and an import permit from the Secretariat of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee before shipment. Import must be routed only through ports notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; diversion to an unnotified port renders the consignment liable to detention.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971
2
Where the substance is being imported for medical or scientific purposes under the NDPS framework, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 (Chapter VII-A). Imports outside this category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule under DGFT policy condition no. 2 to Chapter 29.
Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2 to Chapter 29
3
At the bill of entry, upload the mandatory additional qualifiers required for Chapter 29 commodities in the import declaration, as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, with effect from 15 October 2023. If the consignment involves a specified hazardous substance exceeding the specified quantities, an insurance policy under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 is required per S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is importing chloroethane under the NDPS medical-or-scientific-purpose carve-out without first confirming whether the consignment also triggers the Insecticides Act, 1968 Schedule — the two regimes are independent and both may apply simultaneously to the same shipment. A current NDPS import certificate does not satisfy the CIB&RC registration and permit requirement, and failure to hold both clearances at the bill-of-entry stage results in consignment detention and potential confiscation under the Insecticides Act.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2903 11 20 require BIS certification?

No, chloroethane (ethyl chloride) is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968, with a concurrent NDPS import-certificate requirement under the NDPS Rules, 1985 and DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2 to Chapter 29.

Which ports are notified for the import of insecticides under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971?

The notified import points are prescribed under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 and should be verified with the CIB&RC Secretariat before the purchase order is placed, as routing through an unnotified port attracts detention of the consignment.

When does the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 obligation arise for this tariff line?

The insurance requirement under S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992 is triggered when the import quantity of the specified hazardous substance exceeds the threshold quantities prescribed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests; the owner must take out an insurance policy before or at the time of import.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: CIB&RC / NDPS / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.