Nuclear reactors

Nuclear reactors for power or research use

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8401 10 00 (Nuclear reactors) is subject to the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), making import permissible only under DGFT authorisation. No sectoral PGA clearance is documented in the customs record beyond the DGFT policy restriction, though the strategic and dual-use nature of nuclear reactors engages broader treaty and national-security controls at the licensing stage.

What this is

HSN code

8401 10 00

Chapter

84 · Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 84

Customs documentation

Import Licence from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy compliance declaration

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a DGFT Import Licence before filing the bill of entry. The tariff line is Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy; import without a valid licence renders the consignment liable to seizure and confiscation under the Customs Act, 1962.
ITC (HS) Import Policy, Chapter 84 — Restricted status
2
Upload the DGFT Import Licence in e-Sanchit at the bill-of-entry stage and ensure the licence is current and covers the specific reactor type and quantity being imported. The proper officer will verify the mandatory licence document before granting out-of-charge.
ITC (HS) Import Policy, Chapter 84 — Restricted status

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that a general industrial-machinery import authorisation satisfies the Restricted-import condition for nuclear reactors. Nuclear reactors are strategically sensitive goods; the DGFT Import Licence must specifically cover this tariff line and the consignment quantity, and any discrepancy between the licensed description and the actual goods results in detention, demurrage, and potential confiscation pending DGFT clarification.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8401 10 00 require BIS certification?

No, nuclear reactors are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy for Chapter 84, which requires a DGFT Import Licence before clearance.

What happens if a nuclear reactor is imported without a valid DGFT Import Licence?

Import of a Restricted-policy tariff line without a valid licence exposes the consignment to seizure and confiscation under the Customs Act, 1962, with monetary penalties and potential criminal liability for the importer of record.

Does the Restricted-import status apply to all sub-types of nuclear reactors under this HSN?

Yes, the Restricted-import condition applies to the tariff line 8401 10 00 as a whole; no sub-category carve-out is documented in the ITC (HS) policy record for this CTI.

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