Sodium citrate

Sodium citrate, salts and esters of citric acid

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

HSN 2918 15 20 (Sodium citrate) 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-grade chemical used as a food additive and preservative. Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registration and import permit apply where the substance figures in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) import-certificate controls apply under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 and CBIC Chapter 29 mandatory qualifier requirements under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus apply as additional customs overlays.

What this is

HSN code

2918 15 20

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
Upload the 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) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Consignments not routed through the PGA for NOC must have all these documents verified by the proper officer before out-of-charge.
CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023 · CBIC Instruction 10/2022-Cus dated 28-06-2022 · FSSAI order dated 18-11-2022
2
Include mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for Chapter 29 commodities as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, with effect from 15 October 2023. Route the consignment through one of the 79 designated food-import entry points in compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · General Note 4(D) of ITC (HS) Schedule I 2022
3
Where the substance falls within the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, obtain CIB&RC registration and an import permit, and import only through the restricted places notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Where NDPS controls are triggered, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 as per ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29; imports for medical and scientific purposes are governed by Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985.
Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 · Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating sodium citrate as a single-regime import when it may simultaneously attract FSSAI food-additive controls, CIB&RC insecticide controls, and NDPS certificate requirements depending on the declared end-use and formulation. An importer who secures only the FSSAI licence and omits the Chapter 29 mandatory qualifiers in the import declaration faces detention under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus from 15 October 2023; additionally, where the substance exceeds specified quantities of hazardous substances, a Public Liability Insurance policy under S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992 is a separate obligation that is frequently overlooked.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2918 15 20 require BIS certification?

No, sodium citrate is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers salts and esters of citric 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 depending on end-use, and DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29.

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

The mandatory documents are Certificate of Analysis — Drug (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Specimen Copy of Label (0110fs), Registration Certificate for Drugs (101dc1), FSSAI Import Licence (911001), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc), all to be uploaded before customs out-of-charge per CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus.

When does the NDPS import certificate requirement apply to sodium citrate?

The NDPS import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 is required where sodium citrate or a co-imported substance in the consignment is listed under Appendix I to the ITC (HS) Schedule or qualifies for importation under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules for medical and scientific purposes; details are available at cbn.nic.in.

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