Lauryl alcohol

Industrial fatty alcohol, lauryl alcohol

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 3823 70 20 (Lauryl alcohol) is subject to an ITC (HS) import policy prohibition administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT): import of any directly potable alcohol, or alcohol capable of being used to make potable alcohol, is not permitted under the ITC (HS) policy condition for this tariff line.

What this is

HSN code

3823 70 20

Chapter

38 · Miscellaneous chemical products

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy prohibition, Chapter 38

Customs documentation

ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
End-use declaration from importer

Compliance steps

1
Verify that the lauryl alcohol to be imported is not directly potable and cannot be used for making potable alcohol before filing the bill of entry. If the product falls within the prohibited description, import is not permitted under the ITC (HS) policy condition for this CTI.
ITC (HS) import policy condition, Chapter 38, HSN 3823 70 20
2
Prepare and retain an end-use declaration confirming the industrial application of the lauryl alcohol — for example, as a surfactant, lubricant, or chemical intermediate — to demonstrate that the consignment does not attract the potable-alcohol prohibition at the bill-of-entry stage.
ITC (HS) import policy condition, Chapter 38, HSN 3823 70 20

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is underestimating the breadth of the ITC (HS) potable-alcohol prohibition: the policy condition bars not only directly potable alcohol but also any alcohol capable of being converted into potable alcohol, and lauryl alcohol's industrial pedigree alone does not create a blanket exemption. Customs officers may request technical documentation — a Certificate of Analysis, process description, or end-use undertaking — to confirm the product falls outside the prohibition before granting out-of-charge.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3823 70 20 require BIS certification?

No, industrial fatty alcohols are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, which prohibits import of any directly potable alcohol or alcohol usable to make potable alcohol.

Is lauryl alcohol categorically prohibited, or does the restriction depend on end-use?

The ITC (HS) policy condition bars import of any alcohol that is directly potable or capable of being used for making potable alcohol; the restriction turns on the product's characteristics, so an importer must be prepared to demonstrate the industrial-only nature of the specific lauryl alcohol grade.

What happens if a consignment is detained on suspicion of falling within the potable-alcohol prohibition?

A consignment assessed as prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy condition is liable to confiscation and the importer faces monetary penalty under the Customs Act, 1962; re-export may be permitted at the discretion of the proper officer pending adjudication.

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