Lithographic ink and jelly

Black lithographic printing ink and jelly

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3215 11 10 (Lithographic ink and jelly) is subject to Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, which mandates additional qualifiers in import declarations for all commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808, effective 15 October 2023. No sectoral PGA licence or permit applies to this tariff line; compliance is achieved at the bill-of-entry stage through the mandatory declaration overlay.

What this is

HSN code

3215 11 10

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

CBIC · Mandatory declaration qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, Chapter 32

Customs documentation

Chapter 32 qualifiers from CBIC
Bill of entry declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Ensure the import declaration for HSN 3215 11 10 includes all mandatory additional qualifiers stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. These qualifiers apply to all commodities under Chapter 32 and must be furnished at the time of filing the bill of entry.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · Paras 4.1 and 4.2 · effective 15-10-2023
2
Verify that the bill of entry correctly identifies the specific product description — lithographic ink and jelly under the black-ink subheading — so that the Chapter 32 qualifier requirement is not overlooked on account of a generic ink description.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is filing a standard bill of entry without appending the Chapter 32 additional qualifiers required under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2. The circular covers five broad chapter groupings; importers who handle chemicals across Chapters 28, 29, 39 or CTH 3808 frequently apply the qualifiers selectively to those chapters and omit them for Chapter 32 inks, exposing the consignment to detention and a misdeclaration finding at the customs gate.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3215 11 10 require BIS certification?

No; no BIS Quality Control Order covers lithographic printing ink or jelly. Compliance for this tariff line is governed solely by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs mandatory-qualifier regime under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023.

From which date do the mandatory Chapter 32 qualifiers apply to this HSN?

The mandatory additional qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus apply with effect from 15 October 2023 to all commodities under Chapter 32, including HSN 3215 11 10.

Does the mandatory-qualifier obligation under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus apply only to Chapter 32, or to other chapters as well?

The circular covers commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808; importers of lithographic ink under Chapter 32 must comply with the qualifiers specified in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2, regardless of whether they also import goods under the other covered chapters.

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