Acid greens

Acid green dyes, premetallised acid dyes, mordant dye preparations

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3204 12 16 (Acid greens) is subject to mandatory additional declaration qualifiers in the import entry administered by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023. With effect from 15 October 2023, importers of commodities under Chapter 32 must include the stipulated chemical descriptors at the bill-of-entry stage as specified in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of that Circular.

What this is

HSN code

3204 12 16

Chapter

32 · Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments, paints and varnishes

Primary regulator

CBIC · CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, Chapter 32 mandatory qualifiers

Customs documentation

Chapter 32 qualifiers declaration from CBIC
Bill of entry with mandatory descriptors

Compliance steps

1
Ensure the import declaration for HSN 3204 12 16 includes all mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 32 commodities as specified in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. Non-compliant declarations filed on or after 15 October 2023 are liable to detention and reassessment at the port of entry.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2
2
Verify that the chemical descriptors and qualifiers required under the Circular are sourced from the supplier and incorporated into the bill of entry before filing; post-entry amendment to add missing qualifiers incurs delay, demurrage, and ground rent pending customs reassessment.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is filing the bill of entry with only the commercial product name — 'Acid Green [Colour Index number]' — without the mandatory chemical qualifier details required under Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. The Circular applies across Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808; an importer familiar with other dye families may assume compliance on the basis of a prior shipment cleared before 15 October 2023, but that clearance predates the operative date and provides no safe harbour.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3204 12 16 require BIS certification?

No, acid green dyes are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers synthetic organic colouring matter under this tariff line. Import compliance is governed by CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, which mandates additional chemical qualifier declarations in the bill of entry for Chapter 32 commodities with effect from 15 October 2023.

Which specific information must be declared as additional qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus for Chapter 32 imports?

The mandatory qualifiers are stipulated in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023; importers should obtain the required chemical descriptors from the foreign manufacturer before the bill of entry is filed.

Does the Chapter 32 qualifier requirement under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus apply to all acid dye sub-categories or only to acid greens?

The requirement applies to all commodities under Chapter 32 (as well as Chapters 28, 29, 39 and CTH 3808), so all acid dye sub-categories within Chapter 32 are captured; acid greens under HSN 3204 12 16 are not a special carve-out.

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