Chloromethyl phenozy acetic acid (M.C.P.A.)

MCPA herbicide, chloromethyl phenoxy acetic acid

DGFT CLEARANCE · CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3808 93 10 (Chloromethyl phenoxy acetic acid / MCPA) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), classified as Free subject to policy conditions 1, 2, 4, and 7 of Chapter 38 per DGFT Notification 45/2025-26 dated 15-10-2025. Import is additionally restricted to specified ports under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971, and mandatory Chapter 38 additional qualifiers in import declarations are required under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus.

What this is

HSN code

3808 93 10

Chapter

38 · Miscellaneous chemical products

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Free import policy with conditions, Chapter 38

Customs documentation

Chapter 38 qualifiers from CBIC
Policy condition compliance from DGFT
Port-of-import declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Verify that the import satisfies ITC (HS) policy conditions 1, 2, 4, and 7 of Chapter 38 before filing the bill of entry. DGFT Notification 45/2025-26 dated 15-10-2025 governs the current policy status; non-compliance with any applicable condition converts the otherwise Free classification into a Restricted-import breach.
DGFT Notification 45/2025-26 dated 15-10-2025 · ITC (HS) policy conditions 1, 2, 4 and 7 of Chapter 38
2
File the bill of entry only at a port notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 for import of insecticides. Consignments routed through an unnotified port are liable to detention and seizure regardless of the Free import policy status.
Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971
3
Include all mandatory additional qualifiers for CTH 3808 in the import declaration, in accordance with paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus with effect from 15-10-2023. Where the consignment comprises formulations, ensure compliance with CBIC Circular 07/2014-Cus dated 07-03-2014.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, para 4.1 and 4.2 · CBIC Circular 07/2014-Cus dated 07-03-2014

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the Free import status as unconditional clearance and omitting the mandatory Chapter 38 additional qualifiers in the import declaration. CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus makes those qualifiers a hard requirement at the bill-of-entry stage from 15 October 2023; a declaration filed without them is liable to query, detention, and demurrage pending rectification. The port-of-import restriction under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 compounds the risk if the nominated port is not one notified for insecticide imports.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3808 93 10 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers this herbicide product family. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Chapter 38 policy conditions, with CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus mandatory qualifiers applying at the bill-of-entry stage.

Which ports are notified for import of MCPA under this tariff line?

Permitted ports of import are those notified under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971; the current list should be confirmed with the relevant authority before shipment, as diversion to an unnotified port constitutes a separate statutory breach.

Do the Chapter 38 additional qualifiers apply to both technical-grade and formulated MCPA imports?

Yes, CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus applies to all import declarations for CTH 3808 from 15 October 2023; for formulation-specific requirements, additional compliance with CBIC Circular 07/2014-Cus dated 07-03-2014 is required.

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