Household soaps

Household soaps, other than toilet or medicated varieties

NO PGA · STANDARD CUSTOMS PROCEDURE

HSN 3401 19 41 (Household soaps) is not covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order and carries no Partner Government Agency clearance requirement at the tariff-line level. Import follows the standard customs procedure: Importer-Exporter Code (IEC), bill of entry, commercial invoice, packing list. Toilet soaps and medicated soaps classified elsewhere within Chapter 34 may attract distinct compliance obligations, making precise product characterisation essential before filing.

No partner government agency notification covers this tariff line.

A word of counsel

The absence of compliance at this tariff line does not extend to neighbouring lines within Chapter 34: toilet soaps, medicated soaps, and liquid skin-washing preparations each carry their own classification and may attract Quality Control Order coverage or drug-cosmetic scrutiny. Re-classification by customs on examination triggers retrospective compliance, including detention pending the relevant clearance. Verify the product's intended use, formulation, and labelling against the customs tariff before relying on the absence of compliance here.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3401 19 41 require any pre-import registration?

A valid Importer-Exporter Code is required for any commercial import; no product-specific registration applies to this tariff line.

What changes if the soap is marketed as a toilet soap or contains medicated ingredients?

Toilet soaps and medicated soap formulations are classified under separate tariff lines within Chapter 34 and may attract Quality Control Order obligations or drug and cosmetics regulatory requirements, triggering retrospective compliance on re-classification.

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