Metronidazole, metronidiazole benzoate

Metronidazole and metronidazole benzoate active pharmaceutical ingredients

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2933 29 20 (Metronidazole, metronidazole benzoate) is subject to drug import controls requiring a Registration Certificate and Import Licence for drugs uploaded in e-Sanchit under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registration and import permit apply where the substance falls within the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, and NDPS chapter VII-A import-certificate conditions govern any psychotropic-substance overlay under the NDPS Rules, 1985.

What this is

HSN code

2933 29 20

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

CIB&RC · Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971

Customs documentation

Registration certificate from CIB&RC
Import Licence for drugs from CDSCO
Import certificate from NDPS

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
Before filing the bill of entry, confirm whether the consignment falls within the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968. If so, obtain registration and an import permit from the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee; import is restricted to notified ports only 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
2
Upload all mandatory drug-import documents in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge: Certificate of Analysis — Drug (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate for Drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc). Where the substance is subject to NDPS chapter VII-A, an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 is also required.
NDPS Rules, 1985, Rule 53 and Chapter VII-A · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29
3
Include mandatory Chapter 29 additional qualifiers in the import declaration as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, effective 15 October 2023. Non-compliance results in the bill of entry being flagged for mismatch, causing detention and demurrage.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is filing the drug-import documents (101dc1, 9111dc) without first assessing whether the specific formulation also triggers CIB&RC registration as a pesticide under the Insecticides Act, 1968. Metronidazole-based substances can straddle the drug and insecticide schedules simultaneously; an importer who satisfies drug-import clearance but bypasses CIB&RC registration faces consignment seizure and prosecution under Section 17 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, independently of any Drugs and Cosmetics Act liability.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2933 29 20 require BIS certification?

No, metronidazole and metronidazole benzoate are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this heterocyclic organic chemical family. Import is governed by drug-import controls, CIB&RC registration where the Insecticides Act, 1968 Schedule applies, and NDPS Rules, 1985 conditions where the psychotropic-substance overlay is triggered.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?

The mandatory uploads are Certificate of Analysis — Drug (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate for Drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc); where the NDPS overlay applies, the Rule 53 import certificate must also be uploaded before out-of-charge.

When does the NDPS import-certificate requirement apply to this HSN?

The NDPS import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 applies when the consignment is imported for medical or scientific purposes under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules; imports outside that category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule per ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29.

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