Tetracycline/oxytetra-cycline and their salts

Tetracycline and oxytetracycline antibiotics, salts thereof

NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2941 30 20 (Tetracycline/oxytetracycline and their salts) is subject to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) import certificate requirements under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985, for imports intended for medical and scientific purposes under Chapter VII-A of those Rules. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 governs all other imports, and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) mandates additional Chapter 29 qualifiers in the import declaration with effect from 15 October 2023.

What this is

HSN code

2941 30 20

Chapter

29 · Organic chemicals

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Import certificate from NDPS
Import licence for drugs from CDSCO
Registration certificate 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 if the import is for medical or scientific purposes under Chapter VII-A. Imports outside that category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule under DGFT policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 and must satisfy those conditions before the bill of entry is filed.
Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29
2
Upload all mandatory documents in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is presented for out-of-charge: Certificate of Analysis — Drug (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate — Drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc). A PGA-facilitated bill that has not been routed through the PGA for NOC must be verified by the proper officer to confirm all five documents are present.
CBIC CCR e-Sanchit document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, 9111dc
3
Ensure that the import declaration includes the mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 29 commodities as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, operative with effect from 15 October 2023. Non-compliance with the qualifier requirement renders the bill of entry liable to rejection or detention pending amendment.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2

A word of counsel

The dual-track structure of this tariff line is the most common source of error: importers treating tetracycline salts as ordinary bulk chemicals overlook that NDPS-scheduled substances require the Rule 53 import certificate regardless of the commercial description on the invoice. Where the consignment is not routed for medical or scientific purposes, Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule applies — and the Chapter 29 mandatory qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus are compulsory in both tracks; missing qualifiers alone are sufficient to trigger detention at the port of entry.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2941 30 20 require BIS certification?

No, tetracycline and oxytetracycline salts are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the NDPS Rules, 1985 — specifically Rule 53 for medical and scientific purposes — alongside DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 for all other imports.

Which five documents must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge for this tariff line?

The mandatory e-Sanchit documents are: Certificate of Analysis — Drug (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate — Drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc); all five must be present before the proper officer grants out-of-charge.

When do the CBIC Chapter 29 mandatory qualifiers apply, and what happens if they are omitted?

The additional qualifiers mandated by CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 apply to all import declarations for Chapter 29 commodities with effect from 15 October 2023; an import declaration filed without the stipulated qualifiers is liable to rejection or detention pending amendment of the bill of entry.

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