Metaldehyde

Metaldehyde, cyclic polymer of acetaldehyde (molluscicide, slug pellet)

CDSCO CLEARANCE · CIB&RC CLEARANCE · +3 OTHER PGAS

HSN 2912 50 10 (Metaldehyde) is subject to mandatory registration or import permit from the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) under Section 9 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, as metaldehyde is a listed insecticide under Section 3(e) of the Schedule to that Act. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) registration conditions under G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020 and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) policy conditions 2 and 3 of Chapter 29 apply as concurrent overlays. The import policy is Free subject to policy condition no. 7 of Chapter 29 per DGFT Notification 44/2025-26 dated 15-10-2025.

What this is

HSN code

2912 50 10

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Registration certificate or import permit from CIB&RC
Chapter 29 mandatory qualifiers from CBIC
CDSCO registration compliance from CDSCO

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

CDSCOCDSCO·Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation

CIB&RCCIB&RC·Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee

MOHFWMOHFW·Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

MEFCCMEFCC·Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

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
Obtain a valid Certificate of Registration or import permit from the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee before filing the bill of entry. Import is restricted to the source specified on the certificate or permit; no consignment may be sourced from any other origin. Where metaldehyde is imported for a non-insecticidal purpose, a separate import permit from the Registration Committee is still mandatory.
Section 9 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · CBIC Circulars 35/2011 dated 09-08-2011 and 7/2014 dated 07-03-2014
2
Ensure mandatory additional qualifiers are declared in the import declaration for Chapter 29 commodities at the bill-of-entry stage, as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, with effect from 15-10-2023. Non-compliance with the Chapter 29 qualifier requirements attracts hold and re-examination by Customs.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · DGFT Notification 44/2025-26 dated 15-10-2025 · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 7, Chapter 29
3
Where the quantity of metaldehyde imported qualifies as a specified hazardous substance exceeding prescribed thresholds, obtain a Public Liability Insurance policy as required under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. Also confirm that NDPS policy conditions 2 and 3 of Chapter 29 and, where applicable, CDSCO conditions under G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020 are satisfied before out-of-charge.
S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992 by MoEF · G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020 issued by MOHFW · ITC (HS) Chapter 29 policy conditions 2 and 3

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating CIB&RC registration as a generic chemical licence and overlooking the source-of-import restriction: the certificate of registration or permit specifies the exact approved supplier, and a consignment from any other source — even if the substance is identical — is treated as an unauthorised import subject to seizure under the Insecticides Act, 1968. Importers who switch supplier mid-contract without obtaining an amended or fresh CIB&RC registration routinely face consignment detention at the port of import pending re-examination, with no rectification option available at the bill-of-entry stage.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2912 50 10 require BIS certification?

No, metaldehyde is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers cyclic polymers of aldehydes. Import is governed primarily by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968, with concurrent CDSCO, NDPS, and CBIC Chapter 29 qualifier overlays.

Is a separate CIB&RC permit needed if metaldehyde is imported for non-insecticidal use?

Yes. Even where the stated end-use is non-insecticidal, an import permit from the Registration Committee under the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation is mandatory under Section 9 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, because metaldehyde is a listed insecticide under Section 3(e) of the Schedule to that Act.

What happens if the consignment is shipped from a source not named on the CIB&RC certificate?

The consignment is treated as an unauthorised import; no insecticide may be imported from a source other than that specified on the certificate of registration or permit, and the consignment is liable to seizure under the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971.

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