Dichlorotrifluoroethanes (HCFC-123)

Dichlorotrifluoroethanes, HCFC-123 refrigerant compounds

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2903 72 00 (Dichlorotrifluoroethanes, HCFC-123) is subject to Restricted-import controls under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), permissible only under policy conditions 1 and 4 of Chapter 29 per DGFT Notification 26/2015-20 dated 11-08-2020. Items falling within the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968 additionally require registration and import permit from the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Mandatory Chapter 29 additional qualifiers in the import declaration are required under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023.

What this is

HSN code

2903 72 00

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 authority
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
If the dichlorotrifluoroethane product is listed 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 is restricted to ports notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; diversion to an unnotified port exposes the consignment to seizure.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · ITC (HS) policy condition 1 and 4 of Chapter 29 · DGFT Notification 26/2015-20 dated 11-08-2020
2
Where the substance is scheduled under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances framework, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 for medical or scientific-purpose imports. All other NDPS-classified imports are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule under policy condition 2 of Chapter 29.
Chapter VII-A and Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29
3
File the bill of entry with the mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 29 commodities as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, effective 15-10-2023. Where import of specified hazardous substances exceeds notified quantities, take out an insurance policy under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 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 assuming that DGFT Restricted-import clearance under policy conditions 1 and 4 exhausts the compliance obligation. HCFC-123 may simultaneously trigger CIB&RC registration if the formulation appears in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968 and an NDPS import certificate if the substance is scheduled under the NDPS Rules, 1985 — both are independent of the DGFT policy condition and neither is waived by the other. Filing a bill of entry without the Chapter 29 mandatory qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus will result in customs detention from 15 October 2023 onwards regardless of PGA clearance status.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2903 72 00 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers dichlorotrifluoroethanes. Import is governed by DGFT Restricted-import policy conditions 1 and 4 of Chapter 29 under DGFT Notification 26/2015-20, with concurrent CIB&RC registration and permit requirements where the product falls within the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968.

Which ports are notified for import of insecticide-scheduled substances under this tariff line?

Import of insecticide-scheduled substances is restricted to places notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; the current notified list should be confirmed with the CIB&RC secretariat before placing the purchase order.

Does the NDPS import certificate requirement apply to all shipments of HCFC-123?

Only where the specific substance is scheduled under the NDPS framework; medical and scientific-purpose imports require an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985, while other NDPS-classified imports follow Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule under Chapter 29 policy condition 2.

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