Containing less than 1 part hafnium to 500 parts zirconium by weight

Zirconium waste and scrap, nuclear-grade purity

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8109 91 00 (zirconium containing less than 1 part hafnium to 500 parts zirconium by weight) is classified as Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with import permitted only at specified ports and subject to the conditions of Para 2.54 and 2.55 of the Foreign Trade Policy. A Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) generated through the DGFT online portal is mandatory for scrap consignments, and waste imports carry an additional overlay under the Hazardous Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

What this is

HSN code

8109 91 00

Chapter

81 · Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 81; FTP Para 2.54 and 2.55

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from DGFT
Radioactive contamination clearance from PSIA
Hazardous Waste forms from CPCB

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate generated mandatorily through the DGFT online portal by a recognised Pre-Shipment Inspection Agency (PSIA), effective 1 July 2022. PSICs not generated through DGFT online systems on or after 1 July 2022 will not be accepted by Indian Customs; upload under document code 856001 in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry.
DGFT Trade Notice 03/2022-23 dated 26-04-2022 · Para 2.54 of HBP · FTP Para 2.32
2
Route the consignment only through the specified ports or locations notified for metallic scrap clearance under Para 2.54 of the HBP. If the export originates from a safe country or region and entry is through a specified port, the PSIC requirement is waived; confirm the safe-country status before shipment.
DGFT Public Notice 64/2015-20 dated 19-02-2020 · DGFT Public Notice 46/2015-20 dated 14-01-2022
3
Where the consignment constitutes waste, comply with Rules 11, 12 and 13 of the Hazardous Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 and submit valid Forms 2, 6, 7 and 9 as specified in Schedules III, VI and VIII. Follow the SOP for radioactive contamination random-checking per the Annexure to DGFT Public Notice 37/2015-20 dated 15-11-2021.
Hazardous Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, Rules 11, 12 and 13 · Para 8(B) of General Notes to ITC (HS) · DGFT PN 37/2015-20 dated 15-11-2021

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the nuclear-grade hafnium-ratio descriptor as solely a nuclear-industry concern and overlooking that the scrap-import regime — PSIC online generation, specified-port routing, and radioactive-contamination SOP — applies to all zirconium scrap regardless of end use. An offline-generated or paper PSIC dated on or after 1 July 2022 is treated as non-compliant, causing consignment detention and demurrage at the designated port even when every other document is in order.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8109 91 00 require BIS certification?

No. No BIS Quality Control Order covers zirconium or zirconium scrap under this tariff line. Import is governed exclusively by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, with compliance obligations under FTP Para 2.54, 2.55 and the Hazardous Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.

Is the PSIC required for all origins, including safe countries?

No. Per DGFT Public Notice 64/2015-20, imports from safe countries or regions are exempt from the PSIC requirement provided the consignment enters through a specified port; document code 856001 must still be uploaded in e-Sanchit if the PSIC is obtained.

What happens if the waste-import Hazardous Waste forms are missing at the bill of entry?

Absent Forms 2, 6, 7 and 9 as required under Rules 11, 12 and 13 of the Hazardous Waste (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 exposes the consignment to seizure and the importer to prosecution; customs out-of-charge will not be granted until the prescribed documentation is verified.

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