Pocket knives

Pocket knives with non-fixed blades

NO PGA · STANDARD CUSTOMS PROCEDURE

HSN 8211 93 10 (Pocket knives) is not covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order and carries no Partner Government Agency clearance requirement at the tariff-line level. Import follows the standard customs procedure: Importer-Exporter Code, bill of entry, commercial invoice, packing list. Other cutting tools and knives within Chapter 82 — particularly fixed-blade knives and blades for machinery under heading 8208 — may be classified under tariff lines that carry distinct compliance requirements.

No partner government agency notification covers this tariff line.

A word of counsel

The principal risk at this tariff line is misclassification: fixed-blade knives are separately classified within Chapter 82 and may attract different duty treatment, while multi-tool or utility knife products that combine blades with other implements can attract re-classification on customs examination. A retrospective re-classification triggers both detention and potential duty recovery. Confirming the blade mechanism — folding, retractable, or fixed — against the tariff description before shipment is the key due-diligence step.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8211 93 10 require any pre-import registration?

A valid Importer-Exporter Code is required for any commercial import; no product-specific registration applies to this tariff line.

What changes if the knife has a fixed blade rather than a folding or retractable blade?

Fixed-blade knives are classified under a separate tariff line within Chapter 82 and may attract different duty rates and compliance treatment, making accurate blade-mechanism identification essential before filing the bill of entry.

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