Other

Other paper or paperboard labels, not elsewhere specified

PIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 4821 90 90 (Other paper or paperboard labels) 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 PIMS registration, which requires advance submission of consignment information online and payment of a registration fee of ₹500 to obtain an automatic Registration Number before arrival.

What this is

HSN code

4821 90 90

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

Primary regulator

PIMS · ITC (HS) Free import 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 declaration 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 under PIMS at https://imports.gov.in not earlier than 75 days and not later than 5 days before the expected date of arrival of the consignment. Pay the registration fee of ₹500 to obtain the automatic Registration Number, which is valid for 75 days and permits multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity within that 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. Customs clearance of the consignment is contingent on these fields being correctly populated; a missing or expired Registration Number will prevent out-of-charge.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
3
If importing as an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU unit, register under PIMS at the point of entry into the zone. A DTA unit clearing processed goods from an SEZ/FTWZ/EOU must also obtain PIMS registration if the processing has changed the 8-digit HS code and the resulting 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 most common error on this tariff line is applying for PIMS registration too late — importers frequently treat it as a bill-of-entry formality rather than a pre-arrival obligation with a firm 5-day cut-off. Registration obtained on or after the expected date of arrival is invalid; the consignment is then detained at port, accruing demurrage and ground rent, while a fresh registration cycle is initiated. The 75-day validity window also closes multi-shipment planning: quantities not cleared within 75 days require a new registration and a new ₹500 fee.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4821 90 90 require BIS certification?

No, paper and paperboard labels are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Paper Import Monitoring System 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.

Can one PIMS Registration Number cover multiple bills of entry for the same consignment period?

Yes. Multiple bills of entry are permitted under the same Registration Number within the 75-day validity period, provided the total quantity does not exceed the quantity registered.

Does an EOU or SEZ unit need PIMS registration for imports of paper labels under this HSN?

Yes. Per DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020, PIMS registration is required at the point of import by SEZ, FTWZ, and EOU units; the exemption from a second registration applies only to DTA clearances of unprocessed items that were already registered under PIMS on entry into the zone.

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