Decorative laminates
Decorative laminates under Paper Import Monitoring System
HSN 4823 90 19 (Decorative laminates) is subject to compulsory registration under the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under ITC (HS) policy Chapter 48, effective from 1 October 2022. Importers must obtain an automatic PIMS Registration Number by paying a registration fee of ₹500 and enter the Registration Number and its expiry date on the bill of entry to obtain customs clearance.
- PIMS Registration Number from DGFT
- Registration expiry declaration on Bill of Entry
- ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
- 1Apply for a PIMS Registration Number 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 automatic Registration Number is valid for 75 days and permits multiple bills of entry for the permitted quantity within the validity period.DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
- 2Enter the PIMS Registration Number and its expiry date on the bill of entry at the time of filing. Customs clearance — out-of-charge — will not proceed unless both fields are populated and the registration is current.DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022
- 3If importing into or clearing from a Special Economic Zone, Free Trade and Warehousing Zone, or Export Oriented Unit, confirm the PIMS registration point and any processing-related reclassification. PIMS registration is required at the point of import by an SEZ/FTWZ unit or EOU; DTA clearance from an SEZ/FTWZ/EOU requires fresh PIMS registration only where processing has resulted in an 8-digit HS code change to 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
The most common error on this tariff line is applying for PIMS registration too close to the vessel's arrival date. The registration window closes on the 5th day before expected arrival, and a consignment reaching port without a current, bill-of-entry-linked Registration Number faces detention and demurrage until the importer obtains a fresh registration — which cannot be backdated. The 75-day validity also catches importers who apply early and then reschedule shipment beyond the expiry window, voiding the original registration and requiring a repeat application and fee.