Benzoic acid

Benzoic acid, its salts and esters

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

HSN 2916 31 10 (Benzoic acid) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, given its dual-use as a food preservative and chemical intermediate. Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registration and import permit apply where the substance falls within the schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) import-certificate controls under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 govern any scheduled-substance end-use. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 and mandatory Chapter 29 qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus apply as additional customs overlays.

What this is

HSN code

2916 31 10

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 supplier

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
Before filing the bill of entry, upload all applicable e-Sanchit documents: FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001), Certificate of Analysis — Drug (document code 0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (document code 0030dc), label of consignment (document code 0110dc), Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110fs), Registration Certificate for Drugs (document code 101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (document code 9111dc). The proper officer will verify these prior to out-of-charge.
CCR mandatory-document list · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022
2
If the benzoic acid consignment figures in the schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, obtain a registration certificate and import permit from the secretariat of CIB&RC before shipment. Import of scheduled insecticide substances is restricted to places notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; routing to a non-notified port attracts detention.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971
3
Comply with CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, which mandates additional qualifiers in the import declaration for all commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808 as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2, with effect from 15-10-2023. Where the substance is imported for medical or scientific purposes under the NDPS regime, obtain the import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 · Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that a single regulatory clearance — typically the FSSAI Import Licence obtained for food-grade benzoic acid — satisfies the full multi-PGA overlay. Benzoic acid is a scheduled substance under more than one regulatory framework simultaneously; if the consignment or its declared end-use brings it within the Insecticides Act, 1968, a separate CIB&RC registration and port-restricted import permit are also required, and the Chapter 29 mandatory qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus must appear in the import declaration regardless of which PGA clearance applies.

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 31 10 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers benzoic acid or its salts and esters under this tariff line. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with concurrent CIB&RC and NDPS controls where end-use or scheduling brings those regimes into operation.

Which e-Sanchit document codes are mandatory at the bill of entry for this HSN?

The CCR mandates upload of document codes 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 for Drugs), and 9111dc (Import Licence for Drugs) before customs out-of-charge.

Does the NDPS import-certificate requirement apply to all imports of benzoic acid?

No. The NDPS import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 applies only where the consignment 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 under ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29.

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