FILTER BLOCKS, SLABS AND PLATES, OF PAPER PULP

Filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4812 00 00 (Filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp) is subject to compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under Chapter 48 of the ITC (HS) 2022. Import policy is Free, but consignments may not be cleared without a valid PIMS Registration Number entered on the bill of entry.

What this is

HSN code

4812 00 00

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

PIMS · ITC (HS) Free with compulsory PIMS registration, Chapter 48

Customs documentation

PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy declaration to CBIC
Bill of entry with PIMS expiry date

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 a PIMS Registration Number at https://imports.gov.in no earlier than 75 days and no later than 5 days before the expected date of arrival. Pay the registration fee of ₹500. The Registration Number is valid for 75 days and multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity are allowed within that validity window.
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 will not grant out-of-charge clearance for a consignment where this information is absent or where the registration has expired.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
3
For SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU imports, obtain PIMS registration at the point of entry into the zone. If the imported paper filter product is subsequently cleared to the Domestic Tariff Area after processing that changes the 8-digit HS code to another PIMS-covered tariff line, a fresh DTA-importer PIMS registration is required before customs clearance.
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 misclassifying the goods at the bill-of-entry stage: filter elements made of textile, glass, or composite materials do not belong under CTH 4812 — they fall under CTH 5911, CTH 7019, or CTH 8421 respectively, per CBEC Circular 24/2013 dated 27-06-2013. Filing under 4812 for a composite-media filter attracts a classification dispute, potential re-assessment, and duty short-payment liability; verify constituent material before generating the PIMS registration, since the registration is tied to the declared tariff line.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4812 00 00 require BIS certification?

No, filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the ITC (HS) 2022 Chapter 48 policy condition.

How early can a PIMS registration application be submitted, and how long does the Registration Number remain valid?

An application may be submitted no earlier than 75 days before the expected date of arrival and must be submitted no later than 5 days before arrival; the Registration Number is valid for 75 days from issue, per DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020.

Is PIMS registration required for an EOU or SEZ unit importing filter blocks of paper pulp?

Yes — PIMS registration is required at the point of import into the SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU. A further registration is required by the DTA purchaser only if subsequent processing in the zone changes the product to a different 8-digit tariff line that is itself covered under PIMS, per DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020.

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