Other

Other propellant powders (non-blasting)

PESO CLEARANCE

HSN 3601 00 90 (Other propellant powders) is subject to Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) Form LE-8 licensing under the Explosives Rules, 2008. The tariff line is Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) subject to policy condition no. 1 of Chapter 36, and import is permitted only through specified ports notified under Rule 44 of the Explosives Rules, 2008.

What this is

HSN code

3601 00 90

Chapter

36 · Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations

Primary regulator

PESO · Explosives Rules, 2008

Customs documentation

Form LE-8 licence from PESO
Specified-port declaration to CBIC
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

PESOPESO·Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Form LE-8 licence from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation covering the category and quantity of propellant powder to be imported. The licence must be current and uploaded in e-Sanchit under document code 911PE1 before the bill of entry is filed and out-of-charge is granted.
Explosives Rules, 2008 · Form LE-8 · ITC (HS) policy condition 1 of Chapter 36
2
Route the consignment exclusively through one of the specified ports notified under Rule 44 of the Explosives Rules, 2008. Diversion to an unspecified port renders the consignment liable to seizure and constitutes a breach of the Restricted-import policy condition.
Rule 44 of the Explosives Rules, 2008
3
Confirm compliance with Rules 7, 14, 15 and 45 of the Explosives Rules, 2008, governing transport, storage, and handling of propellant powders. Non-conformance with any of these provisions constitutes a separate Explosives Rules contravention independent of the Form LE-8 licence condition.
Rules 7, 14, 15 and 45 of the Explosives Rules, 2008

A word of counsel

The residual "Other" category under HSN 3601 00 90 encompasses propellant powders that are not blasting powder — smokeless powders, single-base and double-base propellants among them — and importers sometimes underestimate that the full PESO licensing and specified-port regime applies identically to this sub-heading as to 3601 00 10. A Form LE-8 licence obtained for one propellant category does not automatically cover a differently classified propellant; verify that the licence scope expressly covers the specific propellant type being shipped before the consignment departs.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3601 00 90 require BIS certification?

No, propellant powders under this tariff line fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation licensing under the Explosives Rules, 2008, with the ITC (HS) Restricted-import overlay administered by DGFT under policy condition 1 of Chapter 36.

Which ports are permitted for import of propellant powders under this HSN?

Import is permitted only through the specified ports notified under Rule 44 of the Explosives Rules, 2008; the active port list is published by PESO and must be confirmed before the bill of lading is issued.

Does the Form LE-8 licence obtained for blasting powder (HSN 3601 00 10) also cover other propellant powders under HSN 3601 00 90?

Not automatically — the Form LE-8 licence must expressly cover the specific propellant category being imported; a licence scoped to blasting powder does not extend to smokeless or other propellant powders classified under the residual sub-heading.

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