Chromo and art paper, coated

Coated chromo and art paper (surface-coated printing paper)

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4811 90 12 (Chromo and art paper, coated) 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. Import policy under Schedule-I of the ITC (HS) 2022 is Free, conditional on the importer obtaining an automatic PIMS Registration Number and declaring it on the bill of entry before customs clearance.

What this is

HSN code

4811 90 12

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

PIMS · ITC (HS) 2022, Chapter 48 — compulsory registration condition, DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020

Customs documentation

PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
Registration expiry declaration to CBIC
Bill of entry PIMS entry from importer

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
Apply for PIMS registration at https://imports.gov.in not earlier than the 75th day and not later than the 5th day before the expected date of arrival of the consignment. Pay the registration fee of ₹500; the system issues an automatic Registration Number valid for 75 days. Multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity are allowed within the validity 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. Failure to record a current, valid Registration Number prevents customs out-of-charge and may result in consignment detention and demurrage.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022
3
If importing into an SEZ, FTWZ, or as an EOU, obtain PIMS registration at the point of import into the zone. A subsequent DTA clearance of the same unprocessed paper does not require fresh PIMS registration; however, if processing in the SEZ/FTWZ/EOU changes the 8-digit HS code to another PIMS-covered tariff line, the DTA importer must register separately.
DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 45/2015-2020 dated 23-01-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is misreading the 75-day registration window: the application may not be submitted more than 75 days before expected arrival, and a Registration Number obtained too early will expire before the consignment arrives, rendering it invalid at the bill-of-entry stage. A fresh application is then required, and if the consignment has already arrived, the 5-day pre-arrival minimum cannot be met — resulting in detention until a new Registration Number is obtained.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4811 90 12 require BIS certification?

No, coated chromo and art paper falls outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by the compulsory PIMS registration condition under the ITC (HS) 2022, Chapter 48 policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

How long is the PIMS Registration Number valid, and can one registration cover multiple shipments?

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 the total quantity does not exceed the permitted quantity declared at registration.

Does a unit in an SEZ importing this paper need PIMS registration if the paper is subsequently cleared to the DTA without processing?

PIMS registration is required at the point of import into the SEZ or FTWZ; a subsequent DTA clearance of unprocessed paper does not trigger a second registration, but DTA clearance of paper processed into a different 8-digit PIMS-covered tariff line requires fresh registration by the DTA importer, per DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020.

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