Other

Salts and esters of citric acid, other than listed

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

HSN 2918 15 90 (salts and esters of citric acid, other) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 where the substance is imported as a food or food additive, and to Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registration and import permit under the Insecticides Act, 1968 where the substance falls within the Schedule to that Act. NDPS import controls, DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29, and mandatory Chapter 29 qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus apply as additional clearance requirements.

What this is

HSN code

2918 15 90

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (food/food-additive use); CIB&RC · Insecticides Act, 1968 (pesticide schedule use)

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Registration certificate from CIB&RC
Import permit from CIB&RC

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
Determine the end-use of the consignment before filing the bill of entry. If the substance is imported for food or food-additive use, upload the FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and a Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) in e-Sanchit and ensure compliance with designated food-import entry points under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 · General Note 4(D) of ITC (HS) Schedule I · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023
2
If the substance falls within the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, obtain a registration certificate and import permit from the Secretariat of CIB&RC prior to shipment. Import of scheduled insecticides is restricted to notified places only — verify permissible ports under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 and upload the Registration Certificate (Drugs) (document code 101dc1) in e-Sanchit.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · Document code 101dc1
3
Include mandatory Chapter 29 additional qualifiers in the import declaration with effect from 15 October 2023, as stipulated in Para 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023. If the substance qualifies as an NDPS substance, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 for medical or scientific use, or comply with Appendix I of the ITC (HS) Schedule per ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29.
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 critical trap on this tariff line is that a single consignment may trigger multiple independent PGA clearances simultaneously — FSSAI for food-grade use, CIB&RC for pesticidal use, and NDPS controls if the substance is scheduled — with each PGA's document set required in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge. An importer who satisfies FSSAI clearance but ships to a port not notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 faces detention and potential confiscation of the CIB&RC-regulated portion, even where the food-grade fraction is fully licensed. Confirm all applicable PGA categorisations against the actual substance specification before purchase order placement.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2918 15 90 require BIS certification?

No, salts and esters of citric acid falling under this residual tariff line are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by FSSAI under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 for food-use applications, and by CIB&RC under the Insecticides Act, 1968 where the substance is scheduled as an insecticide, with NDPS and DGFT policy overlays as applicable.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry for this HSN?

Depending on the applicable PGA regime, the mandatory documents include: Certificate of Analysis — Drug (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Specimen Copy of Label (0110FS), Registration Certificate — Drugs (101dc1), FSSAI Import Licence (911001), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc), as verified by the proper officer before out-of-charge.

Do the NDPS import controls apply to all salts and esters of citric acid under this tariff line?

No. NDPS controls apply only where the specific substance imported is scheduled under the NDPS Rules, 1985; non-scheduled substances are governed by ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 and the relevant sectoral PGA. Importers should verify the scheduled status of their specific substance via the Central Bureau of Narcotics at cbn.nic.in before shipment.

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