Yellow ochre

Yellow ochre, inorganic pigment and colouring matter

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3206 49 30 (Yellow ochre) is subject to mandatory additional qualifiers in import declarations under Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, operative from 15 October 2023. The circular applies to all commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32 and 39 and CTH 3808, requiring importers to furnish specified technical parameters at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is

HSN code

3206 49 30

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Chapter 32 qualifiers from CBIC
Technical declaration from importer

Compliance steps

1
Include all mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for HSN 3206 49 30 as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. These qualifiers cover technical and compositional parameters for commodities under Chapter 32 and must be furnished at the bill-of-entry stage with effect from 15 October 2023.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paras 4.1 and 4.2
2
Verify that the import declaration accurately reflects the product's chemical and technical identity consistent with the qualifier requirements. An incomplete or inaccurate qualifier declaration renders the bill of entry liable to a query, detention, or amendment demand by the assessing officer.
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 on the grounds that yellow ochre is a straightforward mineral pigment with no PGA licence requirement. CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus applies irrespective of whether a sectoral PGA clearance is needed; an incomplete qualifier declaration triggers a query from the assessing officer and stalls out-of-charge, accruing demurrage and ground rent.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3206 49 30 require BIS certification?

No, yellow ochre is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the mandatory additional qualifier requirements under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, which applies to all commodities under Chapter 32 with effect from 15 October 2023.

What are the mandatory qualifiers required in the import declaration for this HSN?

The qualifiers are specified in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus and cover technical and compositional parameters for Chapter 32 commodities; the precise fields must be populated at the bill-of-entry stage before out-of-charge is granted.

Does the CBIC circular 23/2023-Cus qualifier requirement apply to all importers of yellow ochre, including small-scale buyers?

Yes, the requirement applies to all importers of commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808 without exemption for import volume or importer category, effective 15 October 2023.

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