Oleyl alcohol

Industrial fatty alcohol, oleyl alcohol

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 3823 70 30 (Oleyl alcohol) is subject to an ITC (HS) import policy condition administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) that prohibits the import of any directly potable alcohol or alcohol which can be used for making potable alcohol. Importers must demonstrate that the consignment falls outside this prohibition before customs out-of-charge is granted.

What this is

HSN code

3823 70 30

Chapter

38 · Miscellaneous chemical products

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

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

Compliance steps

1
Confirm at the bill-of-entry stage that the oleyl alcohol being imported is industrial-grade and cannot be used to make potable alcohol. The ITC (HS) policy condition for this tariff line prohibits import of any directly potable alcohol or alcohol which can be used for making potable alcohol.
ITC (HS) import policy condition, Chapter 38, HSN 3823 70 30
2
Prepare and retain an end-use declaration or certificate of analysis from the foreign manufacturer confirming the industrial-fatty-alcohol nature of the product and the absence of potable-alcohol application. Upload supporting documentation in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry.
ITC (HS) import policy condition, Chapter 38, HSN 3823 70 30

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming that any fatty alcohol with CAS credentials for oleyl alcohol clears the policy condition automatically. The ITC (HS) prohibition is end-use-agnostic: if the product can be used to make potable alcohol, import is not permitted regardless of the declared industrial purpose. A Certificate of Analysis from the manufacturer explicitly confirming non-potable, industrial-grade specification is the primary instrument to rebut a customs officer's challenge.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3823 70 30 require BIS certification?

No, oleyl alcohol is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy condition administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, which prohibits the import of any directly potable or potable-alcohol-capable product under this tariff line.

What documentation distinguishes industrial oleyl alcohol from a prohibited alcohol under the ITC (HS) policy condition?

A manufacturer's Certificate of Analysis confirming industrial-grade fatty alcohol specification and the absence of potable or potable-alcohol-precursor characteristics is the standard instrument; an end-use declaration from the importer uploaded in e-Sanchit supports the bill-of-entry record.

Is the prohibition absolute, or are there exemptions for industrial users?

The ITC (HS) policy condition as stated permits no exemption: import of any directly potable alcohol or alcohol which can be used for making potable alcohol is not permitted, regardless of the importer's stated industrial end-use.

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