Benzyl alcohol

Benzyl alcohol, cyclic alcohol organic chemical

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2906 21 00 (Benzyl alcohol) is subject to Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registration and import permit under the Insecticides Act, 1968, where the substance figures in the Schedule to that Act, with import locations restricted under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) controls under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 apply as a concurrent overlay, and mandatory Chapter 29 additional qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus are required in the import declaration.

What this is

HSN code

2906 21 00

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Registration certificate from CIB&RC
Import licence 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
Where the benzyl alcohol consignment falls within 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 dispatch. Route the consignment only through the restricted import locations specified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29
2
Upload the registration certificate for drugs (document code 101dc1) and the import licence for drugs (document code 9111dc) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer verifies these uploads before granting out-of-charge; consignments missing either document are detained.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · e-Sanchit document codes 101dc1 and 9111dc
3
Include mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for Chapter 29 commodities as stipulated in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, effective 15 October 2023. Where the imported quantity of a specified hazardous substance exceeds the prescribed threshold, obtain a Public Liability Insurance policy under S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 · S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming the NDPS overlay applies only to manifestly narcotic products: benzyl alcohol is a listed precursor chemical and imports not undertaken for medical or scientific purposes under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 — with an import certificate obtained under Rule 53 — are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule, which imposes separate Restricted-import conditions. Mischaracterising the end-use category at the bill-of-entry stage triggers NDPS-enforcement consequences in addition to CIB&RC permit liability.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2906 21 00 require BIS certification?

No, benzyl alcohol is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers cyclic alcohols. Import is governed by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968, with a concurrent NDPS precursor-chemical overlay under the NDPS Rules, 1985.

When is the NDPS import certificate under Rule 53 required for benzyl alcohol?

An import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 is required when the substance is imported for medical or scientific purposes under Chapter VII-A of those Rules; imports outside that category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule per ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29.

Do the mandatory Chapter 29 qualifiers apply even if the benzyl alcohol is not a pesticide?

Yes. CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 mandates additional qualifiers in import declarations for all commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808 with effect from 15 October 2023, regardless of whether the specific substance is scheduled under the Insecticides Act, 1968.

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