Acetic acid

Acetic acid, saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acid

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 2915 21 00 (Acetic acid) is subject to mandatory additional qualifier declarations under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, applicable to all Chapter 29 organic chemical import entries with effect from 15 October 2023. Importers must also guard against misdeclaration of acetic anhydride — a controlled substance requiring a No Objection Certificate from the Narcotics Commissioner, Gwalior — as glacial acetic acid.

What this is

HSN code

2915 21 00

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

CBIC · CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus; Chapter 29 mandatory qualifiers

Customs documentation

Chapter 29 qualifiers from CBIC
Certificate of Analysis from supplier
NOC from Narcotics Commissioner

Compliance steps

1
File the bill of entry with all mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 29 commodities as stipulated in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. These qualifiers are mandatory in the import declaration with effect from 15 October 2023, and non-compliance results in the bill being held for examination.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2
2
Upload in e-Sanchit the Certificate of Analysis (document code 0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (document code 0030dc), Label of Consignment (document code 0110dc), Registration Certificate for drugs (document code 101dc1), and Import Licence for drugs (document code 9111dc) before out-of-charge where these documents are triggered by the import declaration.
CBIC e-Sanchit document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, 9111dc
3
Verify that the goods declared as acetic acid are not acetic anhydride; acetic anhydride is a controlled substance prohibited for import without a NOC from the Narcotics Commissioner, Gwalior. Misdeclaration as glacial acetic acid attracts seizure and criminal liability under the narcotics control framework.
Letter F.No. VII/15/7/2013/Ops dated 20-11-2019, NCB, New Delhi

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is overlooking the rescission of the Acetic Acid (Quality Control) Order, 2019 — S.O. 2791(E) was rescinded by S.O. 3378(E) dated 23-07-2025 — and continuing to treat this HSN as BIS-regulated. The live obligation is the Chapter 29 mandatory-qualifier declaration under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus; an entry filed without the stipulated qualifiers will be flagged for examination regardless of the underlying product purity or grade.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2915 21 00 require BIS certification?

No. The Acetic Acid (Quality Control) Order, 2019 [S.O. 2791(E) dated 05-08-2019] was rescinded by S.O. 3378(E) dated 23-07-2025; no BIS Quality Control Order currently covers this product. The operative obligation is the Chapter 29 mandatory qualifier declaration under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus.

Which e-Sanchit document codes are required at the bill of entry for acetic acid?

Where triggered by the import declaration, the following must be uploaded in e-Sanchit: Certificate of Analysis (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate for drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for drugs (9111dc) before customs out-of-charge.

Why does acetic anhydride create a compliance risk on this tariff line?

Acetic anhydride is a controlled substance and its import is prohibited without a NOC from the Narcotics Commissioner, Gwalior; customs officers are specifically directed to verify that consignments declared as glacial acetic acid are not misdeclared acetic anhydride, with seizure and criminal liability as the consequence of misdeclaration.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.