Sorbic acid

Sorbic acid, unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acid

FSSAI CLEARANCE · CIB&RC CLEARANCE · +1 OTHER PGAS

HSN 2916 19 60 (Sorbic acid) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as a food-use chemical, and to registration and import-permit requirements of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) under the Insecticides Act, 1968 where the substance figures in the Schedule to that Act. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) controls under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 apply as additional overlays.

What this is

HSN code

2916 19 60

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Registration certificate from CIB&RC
Certificate of Analysis from CBIC

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

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
Upload the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001), Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS), Certificate of Analysis — Drug (document code 0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (document code 0030dc), Label of Consignment (document code 0110dc), Registration Certificate — Drugs (document code 101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (document code 9111dc) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer will verify each document before granting out-of-charge.
CBIC CCR e-Sanchit mandatory document requirement · FSSAI Import Licence 911001 · Document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 0110FS, 101dc1, 9111dc
2
Where the imported consignment falls within the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, obtain registration and an import permit from the Secretariat of CIB&RC before shipment. Import is restricted to the places notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; routing to any other port or place is not permitted.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29
3
Include the mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration as required for Chapter 29 commodities under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, operative with effect from 15 October 2023. Declarations without the stipulated qualifiers per paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of that Circular will be held deficient at assessment.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paras 4.1 and 4.2

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating FSSAI clearance as the only gate and overlooking the CIB&RC registration requirement when the specific batch or formulation is scheduled under the Insecticides Act, 1968. A consignment that satisfies all FSSAI document codes but lacks the CIB&RC permit will be detained at the port under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971, regardless of FSSAI clearance status — and the two regimes run in parallel, not in sequence. Verify the current Schedule to the Insecticides Act against the substance specification before placing the purchase order.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 2916 19 60 require BIS certification?

No, sorbic acid is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acid. Import is governed primarily by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with CIB&RC and NDPS overlays where the substance falls within their respective schedules.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?

The mandatory document codes are 911001 (FSSAI Import Licence), 0010dc (Certificate of Analysis — Drug), 0030dc (Batch Release Certificate), 0110dc (Label of Consignment), 0110FS (Specimen Copy of Label), 101dc1 (Registration Certificate — Drugs), and 9111dc (Import Licence for Drugs), all of which must be uploaded before out-of-charge.

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

The NDPS import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 applies where the consignment is being 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 under ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29.

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