DGFT Amends ITC (HS) 2022 – Schedule I (Import Policy), Introduces New Pesticide Import Conditions
DGFT has amended ITC (HS) 2022 – Schedule I (Import Policy) to align it with the Finance Act, 2025 and introduced new certification requirements for pesticide imports.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), has issued Notification No. 44/2025-26 dated October 15, 2025, announcing important amendments to the Indian Trade Classification (Harmonised System) [ITC (HS)], 2022 – Schedule I (Import Policy). The changes have come into force with immediate effect.
According to the notification, the revision aims to ensure that India’s import policy is consistent with the latest fiscal and customs changes introduced through the Finance Act, 2025. The DGFT has exercised its powers under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, along with the provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, to carry out this synchronization.
Main Highlights
1. Introduction of a new Policy Condition (No. 07)
A new rule is added in Chapters 29 and 38:
“The import of pesticides will be subject to a Certificate of Registration issued by the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and must not be prohibited under the Insecticides Act, 1968.”
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Explanation: Importers of pesticides or chemical substances classified as pesticides must first obtain a valid CIB&RC registration certificate before importing them.
2. Changes to ITC (HS) Codes
The notification lists hundreds of amendments:
- Deletions – Certain HS codes are deleted or merged.
- Insertions / Splits – New HS codes are added or existing ones split for clarity.
- Policy Condition Updates – Many chemical and pesticide-related entries (especially in Chapters 29 and 38) now reference the new Policy Condition No. 07.
Examples:
- Codes like 29021920 (1-methyl cyclopropene) and 29125010 (metaldehyde) are now Free for import but subject to the pesticide registration condition.
- Certain rice and nut codes have been restructured or deleted, reflecting new trade classifications under the Finance Act.
3. Annexures
- Annexure I lists the specific HS codes inserted, deleted, or modified.
- Annexure II contains the updated descriptions, section/chapter notes, and supplementary notes, defining how new classifications and chemical groupings apply.
The notification takes immediate effect from 15 October 2025.
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