Gibberellic acid

Gibberellic acid, plant-growth regulators

DGFT CLEARANCE · CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3808 93 30 (Gibberellic acid) is subject to ITC (HS) import policy conditions 1, 2 and 4 of Chapter 38, administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with import of insecticide-class products restricted to notified ports under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus mandates additional mandatory qualifiers in import declarations for CTH 3808 with effect from 15 October 2023.

What this is

HSN code

3808 93 30

Chapter

38 · Miscellaneous chemical products

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) policy conditions 1, 2 and 4, Chapter 38

Customs documentation

ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
Chapter 38 qualifiers declaration from CBIC
Import permit from notified port authority

Compliance steps

1
Verify compliance with ITC (HS) import policy conditions 1, 2 and 4 of Chapter 38 before filing the bill of entry. Non-compliance with any applicable policy condition renders the consignment liable to detention and Restricted-import enforcement by DGFT.
ITC (HS) Import Policy, Chapter 38, conditions 1, 2 and 4
2
File the import declaration with the mandatory additional qualifiers for CTH 3808 as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, applicable with effect from 15 October 2023. Declarations for Chapter 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808 commodities that omit these qualifiers are liable to rejection at the bill-of-entry stage.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2
3
Route the consignment only through ports notified for insecticide imports under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971. Where the consignment is a formulation, also confirm compliance with CBIC Circular 07/2014-Cus dated 07-03-2014.
Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 · CBIC Circular 07/2014-Cus dated 07-03-2014

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is filing the import declaration without the CTH 3808 mandatory qualifiers introduced by CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus — a defect that surfaces only at the bill-of-entry verification stage and results in outright rejection rather than a rectifiable discrepancy. Gibberellic acid formulations carry an additional compliance layer under Circular 07/2014-Cus that pure-substance importers may overlook; confirm whether the imported goods qualify as a formulation before filing.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3808 93 30 require BIS certification?

No, gibberellic acid and plant-growth regulators under this tariff line are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by ITC (HS) policy conditions 1, 2 and 4 of Chapter 38 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a port restriction under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971.

What are the mandatory qualifiers required at the bill of entry for CTH 3808?

CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30 September 2023 requires mandatory additional qualifiers in import declarations for all commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808, as detailed in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2, with effect from 15 October 2023.

Does the port restriction under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 apply to gibberellic acid?

Yes. Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 restricts the ports at which insecticides may be imported, and gibberellic acid classified under CTH 3808 falls within the ambit of that restriction; consignments arriving at non-notified ports are liable to seizure.

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