N-methyl-para-aminophenol sulphate (motol)
N-methyl-para-aminophenol sulphate (metol, photographic developer)
HSN 2922 29 31 (N-methyl-para-aminophenol sulphate, commonly known as metol) 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 apply concurrently, and the tariff line carries Chapter 29 mandatory additional qualifiers under 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 substance falls within the schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968. If listed, obtain both a registration certificate and an import permit from the Secretariat of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee, and confirm the consignment will enter only through a port 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
- 2If the substance is subject to NDPS controls, obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 before shipment for medical or scientific purposes. Imports outside that category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule and require prior DGFT clearance.Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29
- 3Upload mandatory 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) — in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Also ensure all Chapter 29 additional qualifiers required under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus are included in the import declaration with effect from 15 October 2023.CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 (para 4.1 and 4.2)
The most common error on this tariff line is assuming the CIB&RC and NDPS regimes are mutually exclusive — in practice, both can apply simultaneously to a single consignment of this substance, and a clearance from one PGA does not substitute for the other. Additionally, the port-of-import restriction under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 is absolute: arrival at an unnotified port triggers detention and seizure irrespective of whether the registration certificate and import permit are current and properly uploaded in e-Sanchit.