Phthalic acid

Phthalic acid, aromatic polycarboxylic acid

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2917 39 30 (Phthalic acid) is subject to Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registration and import permit under the Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971, where the substance figures in the schedule to that Act. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) import-certificate conditions under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition No. 2 of Chapter 29 apply as additional overlays.

What this is

HSN code

2917 39 30

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Registration certificate from CIB&RC
Import permit from CIB&RC
Chapter 29 qualifiers from CBIC

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
Where phthalic acid figures in the schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, obtain registration and an import permit from the secretariat of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee before shipment. Import is permitted only at ports specified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; consignments routed through non-notified ports are liable to seizure.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · ITC (HS) policy condition No. 2 of Chapter 29
2
If the substance is classifiable as an NDPS item, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 for medical or scientific purpose imports. Imports outside that category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule and must satisfy the applicable DGFT policy conditions for Chapter 29.
Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition No. 2 of Chapter 29
3
File mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration as stipulated in Para 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, applicable to all Chapter 29 commodities with effect from 15 October 2023. Where import of specified hazardous substances exceeds the quantities notified under S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992, obtain a Public Liability Insurance policy under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.
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 assuming the CIB&RC regime is inapplicable because phthalic acid is primarily an industrial chemical — the Insecticides Act, 1968 schedule may capture intermediates and precursors, and the registration-and-permit obligation attaches the moment the substance appears in that schedule regardless of stated end-use. A shipment that arrives without the CIB&RC permit at a non-notified port faces simultaneous detention under the Insecticides Rules, 1971 and potential action under the Customs Act, 1962, with demurrage accruing during any rectification process.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2917 39 30 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers phthalic acid under this tariff line. Import is governed by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968 where the substance is schedule-listed, with NDPS Rules, 1985 and DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition No. 2 of Chapter 29 applying as additional overlays.

Are all imports of phthalic acid subject to CIB&RC registration, or only certain grades?

The CIB&RC registration and permit obligation applies only where phthalic acid figures in the schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968; importers should verify the current schedule before filing the bill of entry, as non-scheduled uses do not attract the permit requirement.

What is the consequence of importing without the Public Liability Insurance policy where hazardous-substance thresholds are exceeded?

Failure to hold the required insurance under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, notified via S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992, constitutes a violation independent of customs clearance and exposes the owner to statutory liability under that Act in addition to any customs-level enforcement.

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