Difenoxin (INN) and its salt

Difenoxin and its salts, scheduled narcotic heterocyclic compound

CIB&RC CLEARANCE

HSN 2933 33 16 (Difenoxin (INN) and its salt) is subject to a No Objection Certificate from the Narcotics Commissioner, Gwalior, before import, and registration and import permit from the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) where the substance figures in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968. Import is otherwise Free under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), subject to policy condition 3 of Chapter 29, which mandates post-import notification to the National Authority, Chemical Weapons Convention, and DGFT within 30 days.

What this is

HSN code

2933 33 16

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

NOC from Narcotics Commissioner Gwalior
Registration and import permit from CIB&RC
Chapter 29 qualifiers from CBIC

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

CIB&RCCIB&RC·Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a No Objection Certificate from the Narcotics Commissioner, Gwalior, before filing the bill of entry. Where difenoxin or its salt appears in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, also obtain registration and an import permit from the Secretariat of CIB&RC, and ensure import is routed only through a port specified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022
2
Include all mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration as required by CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2, applicable to commodities under Chapter 29 with effect from 15 October 2023. Non-compliance renders the bill of entry deficient and liable to detention.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · ITC (HS) policy condition 3 of Chapter 29
3
Within 30 days of import, notify consignment details to the National Authority, Chemical Weapons Convention (Cabinet Secretariat/Ministry of External Affairs), the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, and DGFT, and submit a copy of the bill of entry to DGFT. Where import quantities exceed the threshold specified under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, take out an insurance policy per S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992.
ITC (HS) policy condition 3 of Chapter 29 · DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022 · S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the ITC (HS) Free-import status as though it dispenses with pre-import clearances. The Narcotics Commissioner NOC is a hard pre-import condition — not a post-clearance formality — and absence of that NOC at the bill-of-entry stage constitutes an unauthorised import of a scheduled narcotic compound, attracting seizure and criminal liability independent of any DGFT or CIB&RC proceeding. The 30-day post-import notification obligation to DGFT and the National Authority is a separate, continuing obligation and non-compliance triggers its own penalty under policy condition 3 of Chapter 29.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2933 33 16 require BIS certification?

No, difenoxin and its salts are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Narcotics Commissioner NOC requirement and, where the substance is scheduled, by CIB&RC registration and import permit under the Insecticides Act, 1968, with DGFT policy condition 3 of Chapter 29 as the overarching ITC (HS) overlay.

Is import of difenoxin restricted to certain ports?

Yes. Where difenoxin falls within the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, import is restricted to specified places under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; the active list of permitted ports should be confirmed with CIB&RC before shipment.

What happens if the 30-day post-import notification to DGFT and the National Authority is missed?

Failure to notify within 30 days of import and to submit the bill of entry copy to DGFT constitutes non-compliance with ITC (HS) policy condition 3 of Chapter 29, per DGFT Notification 54/2015-20, and exposes the importer to DGFT enforcement action including suspension of import entitlements.

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