Phenylethyl alcohol

Phenylethyl alcohol, cyclic alcohol aromatic derivative

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2906 29 20 (Phenylethyl alcohol) is subject to dual primary-regulator controls: the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) requires registration and an import permit where the substance figures in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) import-certificate requirements apply under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 where the substance is notified. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 governs non-medical/scientific NDPS imports, and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus mandates Chapter 29 mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration effective 15 October 2023.

What this is

HSN code

2906 29 20

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

CIB&RC · Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971 (where scheduled); NDPS Rules, 1985

Customs documentation

Registration certificate from CIB&RC
Import permit from CIB&RC
Import certificate from NDPS

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 phenylethyl alcohol formulation or substance is listed in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968. If scheduled, obtain registration and an import permit from the secretariat of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee before shipment, 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
2
Where the substance is notifiable under NDPS, import for medical and scientific purposes requires an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 (details at http://cbn.nic.in). Imports outside the medical/scientific category are governed by Appendix I to the ITC (HS) Schedule per ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29. Upload all mandatory documents — certificate of analysis (0010dc), batch release certificate (0030dc), label of consignment (0110dc), registration certificate for drugs (101dc1), and import licence for drugs (9111dc) — in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge.
Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29
3
File the import declaration with mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 29 commodities as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, effective 15 October 2023. Where import quantity of specified hazardous substances exceeds notified thresholds, obtain a Public Liability Insurance policy under S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992 of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
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 on the assumption that only one of the two primary regimes applies. Phenylethyl alcohol may simultaneously attract CIB&RC scheduled-pesticide controls and NDPS notification controls depending on its specific application and concentration — and both sets of documents must be present in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge. A consignment cleared against only one PGA's documents while the other PGA's requirement remains outstanding faces detention, demurrage, and potential confiscation under the respective statute.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2906 29 20 require BIS certification?

No, phenylethyl alcohol is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968 where the substance is scheduled, and by the NDPS Rules, 1985 where applicable, with DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 as the overarching policy overlay.

Which ports are permitted for import of insecticide-scheduled substances under this HSN?

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

What triggers the Public Liability Insurance requirement for this tariff line?

Where the imported quantity of specified hazardous substances exceeds the threshold quantities notified under S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the importer must hold a Public Liability Insurance policy before the consignment is released.

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