Newspaper ink

Black printing ink for newspapers

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3215 11 20 (Newspaper ink) is subject to Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) mandatory additional-qualifier requirements in import declarations under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, operative with effect from 15 October 2023. The circular applies to all commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808, and requires chemical-composition qualifiers at paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 to be declared on the bill of entry.

What this is

HSN code

3215 11 20

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Chapter 32 qualifiers from CBIC
Bill of entry declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Declare the mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 32 commodities in the import declaration at the bill-of-entry stage, in accordance with paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus. This requirement has been operative with effect from 15 October 2023 and applies to all newspaper-ink consignments under CTH 3215.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2
2
Ensure the chemical-composition details required by the qualifier framework are obtained from the foreign supplier before the bill of entry is filed. Incomplete or missing qualifiers will prevent customs out-of-charge and may result in consignment detention and demurrage.
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 chemical-composition qualifiers, treating newspaper ink as a routine commodity that needs only the standard tariff declaration. CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus makes the additional qualifiers at paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 mandatory — not advisory — and a declaration filed without them is treated as incomplete, attracting detention and ground rent until the bill of entry is amended and the qualifiers supplied.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3215 11 20 require BIS certification?

No, newspaper ink is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs mandatory-qualifier regime under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, which requires chemical-composition declarations for all commodities under Chapter 32.

From which date are the Chapter 32 mandatory qualifiers operative for newspaper ink?

The mandatory additional qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus are operative with effect from 15 October 2023 and apply to import declarations for all commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808.

What happens if the chemical-composition qualifiers are omitted from the bill of entry?

An incomplete declaration under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus renders the bill of entry non-compliant, and the customs proper officer may withhold out-of-charge, resulting in consignment detention, demurrage, and ground rent until a corrected declaration is filed.

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