Pseudoephedrine (INN) and its salts

Pseudoephedrine and its salts, controlled alkaloid

CIB&RC CLEARANCE

HSN 2939 42 00 (Pseudoephedrine and its salts) is subject to a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Narcotics Commissioner, Gwalior, as a precondition to import under DGFT Notification 39/2015-2020 dated 03-10-2018, which classifies import as Free subject to Foreign Trade Policy condition no. 3. Where the substance falls within the schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, registration and a permit from the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) are additionally required, with import restricted to notified places under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971.

What this is

HSN code

2939 42 00

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

CIB&RC · Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971 (where scheduled); Narcotics Commissioner NOC under DGFT FTP condition no. 3

Customs documentation

NOC from Narcotics Commissioner Gwalior
Registration certificate from CIB&RC
Import licence for drugs from issuing authority

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. Import is Free under the ITC (HS) policy only upon satisfaction of Foreign Trade Policy condition no. 3; consignments arriving without a current NOC are liable to detention and re-export.
DGFT Notification 39/2015-2020 dated 03-10-2018 · ITC (HS) FTP condition no. 3
2
If the consignment falls within the schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, obtain registration and an import permit from the secretariat of CIB&RC and route the consignment through a place notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Upload mandatory documents — Certificate of Analysis (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate for drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for drugs (9111dc) — in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · e-Sanchit document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, 9111dc
3
Ensure import declarations for Chapter 29 commodities include the mandatory additional qualifiers stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, applicable with effect from 15-10-2023. Where imports of specified hazardous substances exceed prescribed quantities, take out a public liability insurance policy under the provisions of the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 as per S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992

A word of counsel

The dual-track nature of this tariff line is the most frequent source of clearance failures: importers who secure the Narcotics Commissioner NOC assume compliance is complete, only to discover that their particular formulation or salt also falls within the schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968 and separately requires CIB&RC registration, a CIB&RC import permit, and routing through a notified place under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971. A consignment cleared under the NOC alone but lacking CIB&RC authorisation for a scheduled substance faces seizure under the Insecticides Act, independent of the narcotics-precursor compliance already satisfied.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2939 42 00 require BIS certification?

No, pseudoephedrine and its salts are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Narcotics Commissioner NOC requirement under DGFT Notification 39/2015-2020 and, where the substance is scheduled under the Insecticides Act, 1968, by CIB&RC registration and permit under the Insecticides Rules, 1971.

Which documents must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage?

The mandatory e-Sanchit uploads are: Certificate of Analysis (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate for drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for drugs (9111dc); out-of-charge will not be granted until all five are verified.

Does the public liability insurance requirement apply to all imports of this substance?

No. The insurance obligation under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 (S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992) is triggered only when the import quantity of the specified hazardous substance exceeds the prescribed threshold quantity; smaller consignments below that threshold are not subject to the insurance condition.

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