Cartons, boxes, cases, intended for thepacking of match sticks

Folding cartons and boxes for match stick packing

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4819 20 10 (Cartons, boxes, cases for match-stick packing) 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 is otherwise Free under Schedule I of the ITC (HS) 2022, but the PIMS Registration Number and its expiry date must be entered on the bill of entry before customs clearance.

What this is

HSN code

4819 20 10

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

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

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 no earlier than the 75th day and no later than the 5th day before the expected date of arrival. Pay the registration fee of ₹500 to obtain the automatic Registration Number, which remains valid for 75 days. Multiple bills of entry are permitted under the same Registration Number within its validity period for the permitted quantity.
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 on the bill of entry at the time of filing. Customs will not grant out-of-charge for consignments where these fields are absent or where the Registration Number has expired.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022
3
Units in SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU must register under PIMS at the point of import into the zone. A DTA unit clearing unprocessed paper goods from a SEZ/FTWZ/EOU is exempt from fresh PIMS registration, but if processing in the zone resulted in an 8-digit HS code change and the processed item falls under a PIMS-covered tariff line, the DTA importer must obtain a fresh PIMS registration.
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 application window as a 75-day advance-notice requirement rather than as both the earliest and latest bounds bracketing the expected arrival date. An application filed on the 76th day before arrival is rejected; an application filed on the 4th day before arrival is equally out-of-window. Importers frequently plan registration around vessel booking rather than against the expected port-arrival date, leaving the Registration Number absent from the bill of entry and the consignment detained pending re-registration.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4819 20 10 require BIS certification?

No, folding cartons and boxes for match-stick packing are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the compulsory registration requirement under the Paper Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020.

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

The Registration Number is valid for 75 days from issuance. Multiple bills of entry may be filed under the same Registration Number within that validity period, provided the permitted quantity is not exceeded.

Does a SEZ or EOU unit importing match-box cartons need PIMS registration?

Yes — registration is required at the point of import into the SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU. A subsequent DTA clearance of unprocessed goods already registered at zone-entry does not require fresh registration, but a DTA clearance of zone-processed goods with a changed 8-digit HS code requires a new PIMS registration if the processed item falls under a covered tariff line.

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