Litho and offset paper

Litho and offset paper weighing less than 40 g/m2

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4802 54 20 (Litho and offset paper) is subject to compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022. The import policy is Free subject to this mandatory advance registration, under which importers must obtain an automatic Registration Number before the consignment arrives. SEZ, FTWZ, and EOU units are equally subject to PIMS registration at the point of import.

What this is

HSN code

4802 54 20

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

PIMS · ITC (HS) Free policy subject to compulsory PIMS registration, Chapter 48

Customs documentation

PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
Bill of Entry with registration expiry date
ITC (HS) policy compliance declaration

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

PIMSPIMS·Paper Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Register on the PIMS online portal at https://imports.gov.in and obtain the automatic Registration Number by paying the ₹500 registration fee. Apply no earlier than the 75th day and no later than the 5th day before the expected date of arrival; the Registration Number is valid for 75 days and covers multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity within that period.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · ITC (HS) 2022 Chapter 48 policy condition
2
Enter the PIMS Registration Number and its expiry date in the bill of entry at the time of filing. Customs out-of-charge is conditional on this entry; a bill of entry filed without a valid Registration Number and expiry date will be held until the deficiency is rectified.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
3
If the goods enter or clear through an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU, confirm whether PIMS registration applies at each stage. Registration is required at import into the SEZ/FTWZ/EOU; DTA clearance of unprocessed paper already registered under PIMS does not require fresh registration, but DTA clearance of paper processed with an 8-digit HS code change does require a new PIMS registration if the processed item falls under a PIMS-covered tariff line.
DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 45/2015-20 dated 23-01-2023

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is mis-timing the PIMS registration application. The window is strict: applications submitted more than 75 days before the expected date of arrival are rejected by the system, and applications submitted fewer than 5 days before arrival generate a Registration Number too late to be entered on the bill of entry. A consignment arriving without a live Registration Number is detained at port, attracting demurrage and ground rent until a valid registration is obtained and the bill of entry is re-filed.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4802 54 20 require BIS certification?

No, litho and offset paper under this tariff line falls outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020, with the import policy classified as Free subject to compulsory PIMS registration.

How long is a PIMS Registration Number valid, and can it cover more than one bill of entry?

The automatic Registration Number is valid for 75 days from issuance. Multiple bills of entry are permitted under the same registration number within that validity period, provided each bill of entry does not exceed the permitted quantity registered.

Does an EOU or SEZ unit need separate PIMS registration when clearing processed paper into the DTA?

Only if processing in the SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU has resulted in a change of 8-digit HS code and the processed item falls under a PIMS-covered tariff line; if the paper is unprocessed and was already registered at the time of entry into the zone, no additional registration is required for DTA clearance, per DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020.

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