Ketamine

Ketamine medicaments not in retail packs

NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 3003 90 36 (Ketamine) is subject to control by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances authority under Rule 53 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules, which prohibits import of ketamine as a psychotropic substance except on production of an import certificate issued by the Narcotics Commissioner. Five mandatory documents — including the import licence for drugs, registration certificate, certificate of analysis, batch release certificate, and consignment label — must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge.

What this is

HSN code

3003 90 36

Chapter

30 · Pharmaceutical products

Primary regulator

NDPS · Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules (Rule 53 — psychotropic substance import prohibition)

Customs documentation

Import certificate from Narcotics Commissioner
Import licence for drugs from NDPS
Registration certificate from NDPS

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

NDPSNDPS·Narcotics Control Bureau

Compliance steps

1
Obtain an import certificate issued by the Narcotics Commissioner before shipment. Import of ketamine as a psychotropic substance is prohibited under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules except on production of this certificate; no bill of entry will be cleared without it.
Rule 53 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules
2
Upload all five mandatory documents in e-Sanchit prior to filing the bill of entry: Certificate of Analysis — Drug (document code 0010dc), Batch Release Certificate (document code 0030dc), Label of Consignment (document code 0110dc), Registration Certificate (Drugs) (document code 101dc1), and Import Licence for Drugs (document code 9111dc). The proper officer will verify each upload before granting out-of-charge.
NDPS CCR — e-Sanchit document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, 9111dc

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the drugs import licence (document code 9111dc) as sufficient and arriving at the port without the Narcotics Commissioner's import certificate, which is a distinct and separate instrument required by Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules. The import licence authorises the drug category; the import certificate specifically authorises the individual ketamine consignment. A consignment reaching the port with one but not the other will be detained pending the missing clearance, accruing demurrage and ground rent, with no provision for post-arrival rectification of the missing NDPS import certificate.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3003 90 36 require BIS certification?

No, ketamine medicaments not in retail packs fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances authority under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules, which classifies ketamine as a psychotropic substance whose import is prohibited except on production of a Narcotics Commissioner import certificate.

Are all five e-Sanchit document codes mandatory for every ketamine consignment?

Yes. The proper officer is directed to verify that document codes 0010dc, 0030dc, 0110dc, 101dc1, and 9111dc are each uploaded in e-Sanchit before granting out-of-charge; a missing upload on any one code will result in clearance being withheld.

What happens if the Narcotics Commissioner's import certificate has expired or covers a different quantity than the actual consignment?

A mismatch or expired certificate renders the import prohibited under Rule 53 of the NDPS Rules; the consignment is liable to seizure and the importer faces criminal liability under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 in addition to customs enforcement.

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