Methyl salicylate

Methyl salicylate, salicylic acid ester for industrial or pharmaceutical use

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2918 23 10 (Methyl salicylate) 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) Rules, 1985 controls and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 apply as additional clearance requirements. Mandatory Chapter 29 qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus are required at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is

HSN code

2918 23 10

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
Determine whether the methyl salicylate consignment falls within the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968. If so, obtain registration and an import permit from the Secretariat of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee, and route the consignment only through ports notified 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
2
If the substance is imported for medical or scientific purposes under the NDPS regime, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 before shipment. Imports outside that medical/scientific category are governed by Appendix I to the ITC (HS) Schedule.
Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29
3
Comply with CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 by declaring mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for Chapter 29 commodities, as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2, with effect from 15 October 2023. Upload all mandatory e-Sanchit documents — certificate of analysis (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 · e-Sanchit document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, 9111dc

A word of counsel

The critical error on this tariff line is filing a bill of entry without first confirming whether the specific methyl salicylate formulation or concentration is scheduled under the Insecticides Act, 1968 — an oversight that results in consignment detention at the port of import because CIB&RC registration and permit are mandatory preconditions, not post-arrival formalities. Additionally, the Chapter 29 mandatory qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus must be declared in the import entry itself; failure to include them at filing stage, even where all PGA clearances are in order, attracts customs out-of-charge delay and potential monetary penalty.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2918 23 10 require BIS certification?

No, methyl salicylate is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968, with concurrent NDPS Rules, 1985 controls and DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29.

Which ports are permitted for import of insecticide-scheduled substances under this tariff line?

Import of substances scheduled under the Insecticides Act, 1968 is restricted to ports notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; the applicable port list should be confirmed with the CIB&RC Secretariat before placing the purchase order.

When does the NDPS import certificate requirement apply to methyl salicylate?

The import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 is required only where methyl salicylate falls within the NDPS scheduled-substance regime and is imported for medical or scientific purposes under Chapter VII-A; other import purposes are governed by Appendix I to the ITC (HS) Schedule.

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