Import Permit from Plant
Quarantine must for All Dual use Pesticides like Acrylonitrile for
Non-Insecticidal Use of Pesticides
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry
of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare of the Government of India have issued
an official customs instruction clarifying that an import permit is now a
strict statutory requirement for any substances under the Insecticides Act,
1968, intended for non-insecticidal or dual-use purposes.
Key Highlights
·
Statutory Shift: Under the newly enacted Insecticides
Third (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (published via Gazette Notification dated
July 8, 2026), obtaining a permit is no longer optional but has the full force
of law.
·
Acrylonitrile Inclusion: The
directive specifically overrides previous judicial exemptions (such as a 2025
Gujarat High Court order), confirming that dual-use substances like acrylonitrile
must strictly comply with the new rules.
·
Application Process & Fees:
Importers must submit applications online using Form IA along with a
non-refundable application fee of ₹5,000.
·
Permit Validity: Granted permits are valid for one
year. However, if the applicant holds a registration certificate showcasing
the pesticide is used as a manufacturing raw material, the validity extends to three
years.
·
Processing Timeline:
Complete applications will be processed in a time-bound manner, ideally within 30
to 45 days.
·
Exemptions: Import permits are not required
for small unit packs containing 5 grams or less of Certified Reference
Materials or Reference Standards.
[CBIC Instruction No. 18/2026-Customs dated
01.10.2026]
Subject: Requirement of
import permit for non-insecticidal use of insecticides.
Reference
is invited to the communication dated 21.09.2026 received from the Directorate
of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (DPPQ&S), Department of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, regarding the Gazette Notification
dated 08.07.2026 amending the Insecticides Rules, 1971 and mandating the
requirement of an import permit for non-insecticidal uses.
2.
The Registration Committee, in its 474th meeting held on 30.07.2026, considered
the Gazette Notification dated 08.07.2026 issued by the Department of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, namely the Insecticides Third Amendment
Rules, 2026, stipulating the requirement of an import permit for
non-insecticidal uses.
3.
The Registration Committee observed that the said notification is
statutory in nature and has force of law and is required to be adhered to by
all applicants desiring to import any of the substances included in the
Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, for non-insecticidal purposes.
4.
The Registration Committee has further decided that henceforth all applications
for import permit are to be made in the stipulated Form and that the
notification is required to be put in the public domain for information
and compliance of all stakeholders.
5.
It has also been specifically conveyed that, since the import permit
requirement has now been stipulated in the Insecticide Rules, 1971 by way of
the Gazette Notification dated 08.07.2026, the requirement of obtaining
an import permit is a statutory requirement and is required to be complied with
by all applicants for substances proposed to be imported for non-insecticidal
uses, including acrylonitrile.
6.
Accordingly, the above may be brought to the notice of all concerned
officers under your jurisdiction for information and compliance.
Difficulties,
if any, in implementation of these instructions may be brought to the notice of
the Board.
F.
No. 450/51/2018-Cus.III