Dodecan-1-ol (lauryl alcohol), hexadecan-1-ol (cetyl alcohol) and octadecan-1-ol (stearyl alcohol)

Lauryl, cetyl and stearyl fatty alcohols (organic chemicals)

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2905 17 00 (lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol) is subject to Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registration and import permit under the Insecticides Act, 1968 where any product under this tariff line figures in the Schedule to that Act. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Rules, 1985 controls apply concurrently where the substance meets scheduled criteria, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 governs residual import eligibility. Mandatory Chapter 29 additional qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 are required in all import declarations with effect from 15 October 2023.

What this is

HSN code

2905 17 00

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Registration certificate from CIB&RC
Import permit from CIB&RC
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
Determine whether the specific product being imported figures in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968. If it does, obtain registration and an import permit from the secretariat of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee, and route the consignment only through ports notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29
2
Where the substance qualifies as an NDPS-scheduled substance, import is permissible for medical or scientific purposes under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 only after obtaining an import certificate under Rule 53 of those Rules. All other imports of NDPS-scheduled substances are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule.
Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · Appendix-I to ITC (HS) Schedule · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29
3
File mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for all commodities under Chapter 29, 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. Where the consignment exceeds specified quantities of a hazardous substance, obtain 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 importing under the assumption that lauryl, cetyl or stearyl alcohol is a straightforward industrial chemical, without checking whether the specific formulation or product figures in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968. A product found to be an unregistered scheduled insecticide at the port of import is liable to seizure and the importer faces prosecution under the Insecticides Act; the CIB&RC registration and import permit must be secured before shipment departs, as there is no retrospective remedy at the bill-of-entry stage.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2905 17 00 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers acyclic fatty alcohols under this tariff line. Import is governed by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968 where the product is a scheduled insecticide, and by NDPS Rules, 1985 controls where the substance is NDPS-scheduled.

Which ports are permitted for import of insecticides under this tariff line?

Import of products falling under the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968 is restricted to places notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; the current list should be confirmed with CIB&RC before placing the purchase order.

When does the NDPS import certificate requirement apply to this HSN?

The import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 is required only where the specific substance under this CTI is a scheduled NDPS substance and is being imported for medical or scientific purposes; imports outside that category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule, which may restrict or prohibit the import entirely.

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