Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid, a phenolic carboxylic acid chemical
HSN 2918 21 10 (Salicylic acid) 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, with import restricted to notified places under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Rules, 1985 controls apply as a concurrent overlay for scheduled-substance imports, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 governs residual import policy. Mandatory Chapter 29 additional qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus apply at the bill-of-entry stage.
- 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.
- 1Confirm whether salicylic acid in the specific formulation or use-category imported is scheduled under the Insecticides Act, 1968. If it is, obtain a valid registration certificate and import permit from the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee, and route the consignment only through places notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971.Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29
- 2Where the consignment qualifies as a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 before dispatch. Imports falling outside the medical and scientific purposes category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule.Rule 53 and Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29
- 3File the bill of entry with mandatory additional qualifiers 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. Upload all mandatory e-Sanchit documents — certificate of analysis for drugs (0010dc), batch release certificate (0030dc), label of consignment (0110dc), registration certificate for drugs (101dc1), and import licence for drugs (9111dc) — before out-of-charge.CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023
The most common error on this tariff line is failing to determine, before filing the bill of entry, whether the specific imported grade or formulation of salicylic acid is scheduled under the Insecticides Act, 1968 — an omission that leaves the importer without the requisite CIB&RC registration and import permit and exposes the consignment to detention and seizure at the designated port. The CIB&RC and NDPS obligations are independent triggers assessed by substance schedule, not by end-use declaration, and both may apply simultaneously to a single consignment. The Chapter 29 mandatory qualifier requirement under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus is a separate bill-of-entry obligation that applies regardless of PGA routing.