Methylcellulose

Methylcellulose, cellulose chemical derivatives in primary forms

FSSAI CLEARANCE

HSN 3912 39 12 (Methylcellulose) is subject to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Import Licence and labelling compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, when imported for food use. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy condition under General Note 4(D) of Schedule I restricts entry to designated food-import ports, and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Circular 23/2023-Cus mandates mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for Chapter 39 commodities.

What this is

HSN code

3912 39 12

Chapter

39 · Plastics and articles thereof

Primary regulator

FSSAI · Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

Customs documentation

Import Licence from FSSAI
Specimen copy of label from FSSAI
Chapter 39 qualifiers from CBIC

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

FSSAIFSSAI·Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a valid FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and ensure a Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) is uploaded in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer will verify both documents are present before granting out-of-charge.
FSSAI Import Licence document code 911001 · Specimen Copy of Label document code 0110FS · CBIC Instruction 09/2023-Cus dated 07-03-2023
2
Include mandatory additional qualifiers in the import declaration for this Chapter 39 commodity, as stipulated in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus, with effect from 15 October 2023. Declarations lacking the required qualifiers are liable to be held at the bill-of-entry stage.
CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus dated 30-09-2023 · Para 4.1 and 4.2
3
Verify compliance with CBIC Instruction 21/2025-Customs dated 02-07-2025 regarding proof of registration on the Centralised EPR Portal for Plastic Packaging, applicable to plastic-packaging associated with this import. Route the consignment through a designated food-import port in compliance with General Note 4(D) of Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022.
CBIC Instruction 21/2025-Customs dated 02-07-2025 · General Note 4(D) of Schedule I, ITC (HS) 2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is overlooking the Chapter 39 mandatory additional qualifiers under CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus while focusing solely on the FSSAI Import Licence — the two are independent obligations and a bill of entry deficient in Chapter 39 qualifiers will be detained even where the FSSAI licence and label are current and uploaded. Additionally, importers sourcing methylcellulose for food-additive applications should confirm designated-port routing under General Note 4(D) before vessel departure, as port diversion after dispatch results in detention and accruing demurrage.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3912 39 12 require BIS certification?

No, methylcellulose and cellulose chemical derivatives in primary forms are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with CBIC Circular 23/2023-Cus mandatory Chapter 39 qualifier requirements applying at the bill-of-entry stage.

Are both document codes 911001 and 0110FS mandatory uploads in e-Sanchit for this HSN?

Yes. The FSSAI Import Licence (document code 911001) and the Specimen Copy of Label (document code 0110FS) must both be uploaded in e-Sanchit; out-of-charge will not be granted until the proper officer confirms both are present.

Does the Centralised EPR Portal registration requirement under CBIC Instruction 21/2025-Customs apply to all methylcellulose imports?

The EPR portal registration obligation applies where plastic packaging is associated with the import; importers should verify applicability based on the packaging form of their specific consignment against the requirements of CBIC Instruction 21/2025-Customs dated 02-07-2025.

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