Epinephrine

Epinephrine hormone for medical and scientific use

NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2937 90 11 (Epinephrine) is subject to import controls under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) regime, with import for medical and scientific purposes permitted only after obtaining an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 governs non-medical/scientific imports via Appendix-I. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus mandates additional Chapter 29 qualifiers in the import declaration with effect from 15 October 2023.

What this is

HSN code

2937 90 11

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

NDPS · NDPS Rules, 1985 (Chapter VII-A, Rule 53 import certificate)

Customs documentation

Import certificate from NDPS
Registration certificate from CDSCO
Import licence for drugs from CDSCO

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

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
Obtain an import certificate under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 from the Central Bureau of Narcotics (cbn.nic.in) before shipment. This certificate is required for every consignment imported for medical or scientific purposes under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985, and must be uploaded in e-Sanchit under document code 9111dc alongside the drugs import licence.
Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29
2
Upload all five mandatory documents in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry: Certificate of Analysis — Drug (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate — Drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc). Consignments facilitated through PGA will be verified by the proper officer for OOC against these uploads.
e-Sanchit document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, 9111dc — CCR mandatory-document requirement
3
Include the mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for Chapter 29 commodities as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. Non-inclusion of these qualifiers from 15 October 2023 onwards renders the declaration deficient and may result in consignment detention pending rectification.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2

A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is conflating the NDPS import certificate under Rule 53 with the drugs import licence (document code 9111dc): they are distinct instruments issued by different authorities, and the absence of either independently prevents out-of-charge. Imports not falling within the medical or scientific-purpose category under Chapter VII-A are not routed through the NDPS import-certificate pathway at all — they are governed by Appendix-I of the ITC (HS) Schedule under DGFT policy condition 2 of Chapter 29, a fundamentally different legal track.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2937 90 11 require BIS certification?

No; no BIS Quality Control Order covers epinephrine or this hormone sub-heading. Import is governed by the NDPS Rules, 1985 — specifically Rule 53 for medical and scientific purposes — with DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 applying to non-medical or non-scientific imports.

Which five documents must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for epinephrine imports?

The mandatory uploads are: Certificate of Analysis — Drug (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate — Drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc); out-of-charge cannot be granted until all five are present in e-Sanchit.

What governs an epinephrine import that is not for medical or scientific purposes?

Such imports fall outside Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 and are instead governed by Appendix-I of the ITC (HS) Schedule under DGFT policy condition 2 of Chapter 29, which sets separate conditions and may restrict or prohibit the import.

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