Thiophosphoric esters (phosphorothioates) and their salts; their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives

Thiophosphoric esters, phosphorothioates and their derivatives

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2920 19 20 (Thiophosphoric esters and phosphorothioates) 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. Imports of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS)-listed compounds are additionally governed by Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 applies as the overarching trade-policy overlay.

What this is

HSN code

2920 19 20

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
Confirm whether the specific thiophosphoric ester or phosphorothioate being imported figures in 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 before shipment, and note that ports of import are restricted 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 an NDPS-listed compound, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 for medical and scientific purposes per Chapter VII-A; imports outside that category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule. File the bill of entry with the mandatory Chapter 29 additional qualifiers in the import declaration as stipulated in paras 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, effective 15 October 2023.
Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023
3
Where the consignment involves specified hazardous substances exceeding prescribed quantities, the owner must obtain an insurance policy under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 before import clearance. Reference S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992 issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests for the schedule of specified quantities and insurance requirements.
Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 · S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992

A word of counsel

The dual-regime trap on this tariff line is the most costly oversight: importers who secure only the CIB&RC permit often fail to check whether the same compound is independently scheduled under the NDPS Rules, 1985, which imposes a separate import-certificate requirement under Rule 53 that the insecticide permit does not satisfy. A consignment cleared under CIB&RC authority alone, where the substance is also NDPS-listed, is liable to seizure and criminal prosecution under the NDPS Act, 1985 — an outcome no rectifiable-documentation procedure can reverse after out-of-charge.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2920 19 20 require BIS certification?

No; no BIS Quality Control Order covers thiophosphoric esters or phosphorothioates. Import is governed by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968 for Schedule-listed substances, with an NDPS Rules, 1985 overlay where the compound is also a scheduled narcotic or psychotropic substance.

Are all ports available for import of insecticide-scheduled phosphorothioates?

No. Places at which insecticides may be imported are restricted under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; the permitted ports must be confirmed with CIB&RC before shipment to avoid consignment detention at an unnotified port.

What happens if the CBIC Chapter 29 additional qualifiers are omitted from the import declaration?

Omission of the mandatory qualifiers stipulated in paras 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus (effective 15 October 2023) renders the bill of entry non-compliant, exposing the consignment to detention and a customs penalty under the Customs Act, 1962.

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