Ferrous gluconate
Ferrous gluconate, gluconic acid salt for iron supplementation
HSN 2918 16 20 (Ferrous gluconate) is subject to Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registration and import permit under the Insecticides Act, 1968, where the substance figures in the Schedule to that Act. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) import-certificate controls under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 apply as a concurrent overlay, alongside Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 and mandatory Chapter 29 qualifiers per Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus.
- Registration certificate from CIB&RC
- Import permit from CIB&RC
- Chapter 29 qualifiers from CBIC
Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
- 1Verify whether the specific formulation of ferrous gluconate figures in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968. If it does, obtain a valid registration certificate and import permit from the Secretariat of CIB&RC before shipment, and confirm the port of import is a notified place under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971.Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29
- 2If the consignment is classified under the NDPS framework, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 before filing the bill of entry. Imports for medical and scientific purposes must comply with Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985; all other imports are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule.Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29
- 3Ensure compliance with CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 by including mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for Chapter 29 commodities with effect from 15-10-2023. Upload mandatory documents — certificate of analysis (0010dc), batch release certificate (0030dc), label of consignment (0110dc), registration certificate for drugs (101dc1), and import licence for drugs (9111dc) — in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge.CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, Para 4.1 and 4.2
The most frequent error on this tariff line is assuming that ferrous gluconate, being primarily an iron-supplement ingredient, falls outside the Insecticides Act Schedule and omitting the CIB&RC registration and port-of-import check entirely. Where the substance or its formulation does appear in the Schedule, import through a non-notified port under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 renders the consignment liable to seizure irrespective of whether all drug-related documents are otherwise complete. Confirm Schedule applicability with CIB&RC before the purchase order is placed, not at the bill-of-entry stage.