Ciprofloxacine and its salts

Ciprofloxacin and its salts, antibiotic substance

NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 2941 90 30 (Ciprofloxacin and its salts) is subject to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) import certificate requirements under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985, specifically Rule 53, for imports intended for medical and scientific purposes. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 29 governs all other imports, and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 mandates additional Chapter 29 qualifiers in the import declaration.

What this is

HSN code

2941 90 30

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 for imports of ciprofloxacin and its salts intended for medical or scientific purposes. Details and the application process are available at http://cbn.nic.in. Imports falling outside the medical/scientific category are governed by Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule under ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29.
Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 · Rule 53, NDPS Rules, 1985 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to 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 for Drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc). Customs out-of-charge will not be granted until all codes are present in e-Sanchit.
CCR e-Sanchit document codes: 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, 9111dc
3
Ensure 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 leads to detention at the bill-of-entry stage.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming the drug registration certificate and import licence alone satisfy customs clearance, while overlooking the NDPS import certificate under Rule 53 as a parallel and independent requirement. Where ciprofloxacin is being imported for medical or scientific purposes, both the NDPS certificate and the full suite of five e-Sanchit drug documents must be simultaneously present; a consignment cleared for drug purposes but without the Rule 53 certificate is detained as an NDPS violation, attracting potential criminal liability under the NDPS Act, 1985.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2941 90 30 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers antibiotic substances such as ciprofloxacin and its salts. Import is governed by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances framework under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, 1985, with the DGFT ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29 applying to non-medical/scientific imports.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?

Five codes are mandatory: Certificate of Analysis — Drug (0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (0030dc), Label of Consignment (0110dc), Registration Certificate for Drugs (101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111dc); out-of-charge is withheld until all five are verified.

What governs imports of ciprofloxacin that are not for medical or scientific purposes?

Such imports fall under Appendix-I to the ITC (HS) Schedule as referenced in ITC (HS) policy condition 2 to Chapter 29, administered by DGFT; the NDPS medical/scientific exemption route under Chapter VII-A of the NDPS Rules, 1985 is not available for those consignments.

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