Other

Other alkaloids, their salts, ethers, esters and derivatives

CIB&RC CLEARANCE · NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2939 79 00 covers residual alkaloids and their derivatives subject to dual primary regulation: the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) framework under the NDPS Rules, 1985 applies where the substance is a listed narcotic or psychotropic, and the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) registration and permit regime under the Insecticides Act, 1968 applies where the substance figures in the Insecticides Schedule. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus mandatory Chapter 29 qualifiers apply as additional clearance requirements.

What this is

HSN code

2939 79 00

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

NDPS · NDPS Rules, 1985 (Chapter VII-A); CIB&RC · Insecticides Act, 1968

Customs documentation

Import certificate from NDPS
Registration and permit from CIB&RC
Chapter 29 qualifiers from CBIC

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
Identify whether the specific alkaloid or derivative falls within the NDPS scheduled-substance list (including DMT, mescaline, psilocybine, mephedrone, methcathinone, α-PVP, and listed analogues). If so, obtain an import certificate under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 for medical or scientific use; imports for other use must comply with ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29.
NDPS Rules, 1985 · Chapter VII-A · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29
2
Where the substance figures in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, obtain registration and an import permit from the secretariat of the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee before shipment. Import is permitted only at restricted places of import as notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
Insecticides Act, 1968 · Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971
3
File the bill of entry with mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 29 commodities as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus with effect from 15-10-2023. Where import of specified hazardous substances exceeds the prescribed threshold quantities, take out a public liability insurance policy under the provisions of the PLI Act, 1991 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 most common error on this tariff line is importing an alkaloid derivative without first confirming whether the specific compound — or a salt or preparation of it — is a scheduled NDPS substance: the NDPS list includes not only parent compounds such as psilocybine and mescaline but also structural analogues such as 4-methylethcathinone and α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone. Presenting a general organic-chemistry import licence at the bill of entry does not discharge the NDPS import-certificate requirement, and consignments lacking the Chapter VII-A certificate are liable to seizure and criminal liability under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 2939 79 00 require BIS certification?

No, this residual alkaloid derivatives tariff line is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the NDPS Rules, 1985 where the substance is a scheduled narcotic or psychotropic, and by the Insecticides Act, 1968 where the compound is listed in the Insecticides Schedule, with DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 as the overarching import-policy overlay.

Are all alkaloids under this CTI subject to both NDPS and CIB&RC controls simultaneously?

No. The NDPS regime applies only to substances — or their salts and preparations — listed as narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, while the CIB&RC registration and port-restricted import regime applies only to compounds that appear in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968; a single compound could trigger both regimes, one, or neither.

What happens if the import is of a hazardous substance exceeding the prescribed quantity threshold?

The importer must obtain a public liability insurance policy under the PLI Act, 1991, as required by S.O. 227(E) dated 24-03-1992 issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests; failure to hold the policy before goods arrive constitutes a separate statutory violation independent of the NDPS or CIB&RC clearance.

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