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HomeHSNChapter 32HSN 3204 14 50

Direct greens (azo)

Direct green azo dyes and preparations

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3204 14 50 (Direct greens, azo) is subject to Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) mandatory declaration requirements under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, which requires additional qualifiers in import declarations for all commodities under Chapter 32 with effect from 15 October 2023. No separate sectoral PGA licence or permit is required, but the declaration-qualifier obligation applies at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is
HSN code
3204 14 50
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. 1
    Include all mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. These qualifiers apply to all commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808 and have been compulsory with effect from 15 October 2023.
    CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2
  2. 2
    Verify that the bill of entry correctly classifies the dye under CTH 3204 14 50 as a direct green azo dye. Misclassification within Chapter 32 — for example as a vat, reactive, or disperse dye — triggers re-assessment and potential misdeclaration proceedings under the Customs Act, 1962.
    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 without the Chapter 32 mandatory qualifiers introduced by CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, treating direct azo dyes as ordinary chemicals not subject to the enhanced declaration regime. Absent or incomplete qualifiers cause the bill of entry to be rejected or queried at the assessment stage, leading to consignment detention and accumulating demurrage; the obligation applies to every import regardless of quantity or end-use.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 3204 14 50 require BIS certification?
No, direct green azo dyes are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs mandatory declaration requirements under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, which mandates additional qualifiers in import declarations for Chapter 32 commodities effective 15 October 2023.
What are the mandatory qualifiers required at the bill-of-entry stage for this HSN?
The qualifiers are specified in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023; importers must review those paragraphs and ensure every applicable qualifier field is populated before filing.
Does the Chapter 32 qualifier obligation apply to small or sample shipments?
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus does not provide a de minimis or sample-shipment exemption; the mandatory qualifier obligation applies to all import declarations for commodities under Chapter 32 from 15 October 2023 onwards.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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