Screen printing ink

Black screen printing ink

CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3215 11 40 (Screen printing ink) 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 commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808, effective 15 October 2023. These mandatory qualifiers under paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of the Circular must be furnished at the bill-of-entry stage before out-of-charge.

What this is

HSN code

3215 11 40

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 (mandatory Chapter 32 qualifiers)

Customs documentation

Chapter 32 qualifiers from CBIC
Import declaration from CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Furnish the 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 Chapter 32 and are a precondition for out-of-charge at the bill-of-entry stage.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paras 4.1 and 4.2, effective 15-10-2023
2
Ensure the bill of entry correctly reflects the 8-digit CTH 3215 11 40 and that the qualifier fields are populated for this tariff line. Incomplete or missing qualifiers will cause the declaration to be flagged for examination, resulting 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 populating the Chapter 32 mandatory qualifier fields introduced by CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, on the assumption that screen printing ink is a straightforward commodity requiring no special declaration. Omission of these qualifiers — applicable across Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808 — triggers a mismatch flag at the customs system level, leading to consignment detention pending a corrected declaration.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3215 11 40 require BIS certification?

No, black screen printing ink is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, which mandates additional qualifiers in the import declaration for Chapter 32 commodities effective 15 October 2023.

Which specific qualifier fields must be completed at the bill of entry for this tariff line?

The mandatory additional qualifiers are those stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023; importers should consult the Circular directly for the field-level specification applicable to Chapter 32 commodities.

Does the Chapter 32 qualifier obligation apply to all screen printing inks or only black variants?

The obligation under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus applies at the chapter level to all commodities under Chapter 32, not limited to black or screen-printing variants; CTH 3215 11 40 falls squarely within its scope.

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