Import Permit Mandatory for Substances Under Insecticides Act, 1968 Imported for Non-Insecticidal Purposes: CBIC Clarifies
Background and Context
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) has issued Instruction No. 18/2026-Customs dated 01.10.2026, bringing to the attention of all field formations a significant regulatory development concerning the import of substances listed under the Insecticides Act, 1968 when such substances are intended for non-insecticidal purposes. This instruction has direct compliance implications for importers dealing with scheduled chemicals — including acrylonitrile — that fall within the purview of insecticides legislation but are sought to be imported for end uses other than pest control or insecticidal applications.
The instruction traces its origin to a communication dated 21.09.2026 received from the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (DPPQ&S), functioning under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. That communication pertained to a Gazette Notification dated 08.07.2026, which introduced amendments to the Insecticides Rules, 1971 through what is formally designated as the Insecticides Third Amendment Rules, 2026.
The Gazette Notification and Its Regulatory Significance
The Gazette Notification dated 08.07.2026 issued by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare formally amended the Insecticides Rules, 1971 to incorporate the requirement of obtaining an import permit for non-insecticidal uses of substances that are scheduled under the Insecticides Act, 1968. This amendment is not merely procedural guidance — it carries the weight of a statutory mandate.
The Registration Committee, at its 474th meeting held on 30.07.2026, deliberated upon the implications of the Insecticides Third Amendment Rules, 2026 and arrived at a clear finding: the Gazette Notification is statutory in character and therefore carries the full force of law. Compliance with this notification is not discretionary but obligatory for all persons or entities intending to import any substance included in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968 for purposes that are non-insecticidal in nature.
Key Regulatory Finding: The Registration Committee has confirmed that the import permit requirement introduced by the Gazette Notification dated 08.07.2026 is a statutory obligation — not an advisory or administrative requirement — and must be complied with by all relevant importers without exception.