Washing preparations (including auxiliary washing preparations) and cleaning preparations, having a basis of soap or other organic surface active agents

Washing and cleaning preparations based on soap or organic surface-active agents

NO PGA · STANDARD CUSTOMS PROCEDURE

HSN 3402 90 91 (washing and cleaning preparations having a basis of soap or other organic surface-active agents) 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. Other tariff lines within Chapter 34 — and, depending on claimed end-use, Chapter 38 — may carry compliance obligations; classification accuracy against the precise formulation and intended use is the principal importer risk.

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 the broader Chapter 34 heading: certain washing preparations, detergents, and surface-active formulations under heading 3402 are subject to Quality Control Orders that apply at the product-family level rather than the specific 8-digit line. Customs re-classification on examination — for instance, to a line covering retail-packed household detergents — triggers retrospective compliance and detention pending the relevant certification. Verify the formulation basis, packaging format, and intended use against the tariff before treating the absence of compliance as definitive.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 3402 90 91 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 washing preparation is retail-packed or marketed directly to consumers?

Retail-packed or consumer-facing detergent and cleaning formulations may fall under a sibling tariff line within Chapter 34 that attracts a Quality Control Order, triggering mandatory certification before import.

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