Weedicides and weed killing agents

Weedicides and weed killing agents (herbicides, anti-sprouting products)

DGFT CLEARANCE · CBIC CLEARANCE

HSN 3808 93 50 (Weedicides and weed killing agents) is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with import status designated as Free subject to policy conditions 1, 2, 4, and 7 of Chapter 38. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) mandates additional Chapter 38 qualifiers in import declarations, and import is restricted to notified ports under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971.

What this is

HSN code

3808 93 50

Chapter

38 · Miscellaneous chemical products

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Free import policy with conditions 1, 2, 4 and 7, Chapter 38

Customs documentation

Policy conditions declaration from DGFT
Chapter 38 qualifiers from CBIC
Formulations compliance from CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Confirm that the import satisfies ITC (HS) policy conditions 1, 2, 4, and 7 of Chapter 38, as updated by DGFT Notification 45/2025-26 dated 15-10-2025. Policy condition 7 is the operative condition added by this notification; non-compliance with any of the four conditions renders the consignment liable to detention at the port of import.
DGFT Notification 45/2025-26 dated 15-10-2025 · ITC (HS) policy conditions 1, 2, 4 and 7, Chapter 38
2
File the bill of entry with mandatory additional qualifiers for Chapter 38 commodities in the import declaration, as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, with effect from 15-10-2023. Missing or incomplete qualifiers for CTH 3808 attract customs query and clearance delay.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023, para 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 import covers formulations, ensure compliance with CBIC Circular 07/2014-Cus dated 07-03-2014 before filing out-of-charge.
Rule 45, 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 conflating the Free import status with unconditional clearance. DGFT Notification 45/2025-26 makes import Free but expressly subject to four policy conditions of Chapter 38; a consignment that clears the MIP check but fails a policy condition is treated as a Restricted-import violation. The port-restriction under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971 is a separate and independent requirement — a valid import licence does not cure arrival at an unnotified port.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3808 93 50 require BIS certification?

No, weedicides and weed killing agents fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy conditions of Chapter 38 administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus mandatory qualifier requirements and port restrictions under the Insecticides Rules, 1971.

What are the mandatory qualifiers required for CTH 3808 in the import declaration?

Paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 prescribe the additional qualifiers for commodities under Chapters 28, 29, 32, 39 and CTH 3808, with effect from 15-10-2023; these must be included in every import declaration for this CTI.

Does the Free import status under DGFT Notification 45/2025-26 remove all prior restrictions on this tariff line?

No. The Free status is subject to policy conditions 1, 2, 4, and 7 of Chapter 38, the notified-port restriction under Rule 45 of the Insecticides Rules, 1971, and the formulations compliance requirement under CBIC Circular 07/2014-Cus, all of which remain operative.

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