Acid blue 78 (solway sky blue B)

Acid dye, premetallised acid blue colourant

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3204 12 48 (Acid blue 78 — Solway Sky Blue B) is subject to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) mandatory additional-qualifier regime under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, operative from 15 October 2023. Importers must declare the prescribed Chapter 32 qualifiers in the import declaration at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is

HSN code

3204 12 48

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 from CBIC
Import declaration from CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Complete the mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 32 commodities in the import declaration as stipulated in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. This requirement has been operative from 15 October 2023 and applies to all bills of entry covering HSN 3204 12 48.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2
2
Ensure the additional qualifiers are accurately populated before filing; incomplete or absent qualifier declarations attract hold at the bill-of-entry assessment stage and may result in detention of the consignment pending re-filing.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is submitting an import declaration without the Chapter 32 additional qualifiers on the assumption that the chemical is a straightforward dye with no regulatory overlay. CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus applies across the entirety of Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808, and the qualifier fields are mandatory — not optional — from 15 October 2023; a declaration missing those fields will be held at assessment regardless of the completeness of the commercial invoice.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3204 12 48 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers acid dyes or premetallised colourants under this tariff line. The governing requirement is the CBIC mandatory additional-qualifier regime under Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 for Chapter 32 commodities.

What are the mandatory additional qualifiers required for Chapter 32 imports under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus?

The qualifiers are prescribed in Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 and must be declared in the import declaration; they cover commodity-specific chemical descriptors for all goods under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808.

From when did the mandatory qualifier requirement take effect for this HSN?

The requirement became operative from 15 October 2023 per CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023; all import declarations filed on or after that date must include the Chapter 32 qualifiers.

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