Trifluoromethane (HFC-23)

Trifluoromethane, hydrofluorocarbon HFC-23

DGFT CLEARANCE · CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 2903 41 00 (Trifluoromethane / HFC-23) is classified as Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), permissible only with an import authorisation backed by a recommendation from the Ozone Cell, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), per policy condition 05 of Chapter 29 of ITC (HS) 2022. Mandatory additional Chapter 29 qualifiers in the import declaration are required under Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023.

What this is

HSN code

2903 41 00

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 29, policy condition 05

Customs documentation

Import Authorisation from DGFT
Ozone Cell recommendation from MoEF&CC
Chapter 29 qualifiers from CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Obtain an Import Authorisation from DGFT supported by a written recommendation from the Ozone Cell, MoEF&CC, before filing the bill of entry. Import of HFC-23 without a current, quantity-specific Import Authorisation constitutes a Restricted-policy violation and renders the consignment liable to detention and re-export.
ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule I, Chapter 29, policy condition 05 · DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020 dated 09-03-2022
2
Ensure the import declaration includes all mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 29 commodities as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, effective 15 October 2023. Non-compliant declarations are subject to rejection at the bill-of-entry stage.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the DGFT Import Authorisation as a routine licence renewal and overlooking that each authorisation must be underwritten by a fresh Ozone Cell recommendation tied to the specific quantity and import period. An expired or quantity-exhausted authorisation — even one that was valid at the time of placing the purchase order — will not support out-of-charge, and the consignment will be detained pending a fresh MoEF&CC recommendation, with demurrage and ground rent accruing in the interim.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2903 41 00 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers HFC-23 or this product family. Import is governed by the DGFT Restricted-import policy under ITC (HS) 2022 Chapter 29, policy condition 05, requiring an Import Authorisation with Ozone Cell, MoEF&CC recommendation.

What are the mandatory Chapter 29 qualifiers required at the bill of entry?

CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 prescribes additional qualifiers for import declarations covering Chapter 29 commodities; the specific parameters are set out in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 and must be included in every import declaration filed on or after 15 October 2023.

Is the Ozone Cell recommendation a one-time approval or required for each import?

The Ozone Cell recommendation underpins each DGFT Import Authorisation and is quantity-specific; importers must obtain a fresh recommendation aligned to each authorisation period and quantity, as the authorisation does not carry over unutilised volumes to a subsequent period.

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