Import permit is now a must for importing insecticides for non-insecticidal use
The Insecticides Third Amendment Rules, 2026 wrote the import-permit requirement into the Insecticides Rules, 1971. CBIC has asked customs officers to enforce it, and it names acrylonitrile.
Key facts
- Who it affects
- Importers of substances listed in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, for non-insecticidal use
- What it is
- Action needed
- Section
- Customs
- Published
- 1 October 2026
In 30 seconds
- An import permit is a statutory requirement for importing any substance in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968 for non-insecticidal purposes.
- The requirement comes from the Insecticides Third Amendment Rules, 2026, notified on 8 July 2026.
- All applications for an import permit are to be made in the stipulated Form.
- The instruction names acrylonitrile among the substances covered.
What the document says
“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”
— CBIC Instruction 18/2026-Customs
What changes, and what does not
| Point | Position now | Changed? |
|---|---|---|
| Import permit for non-insecticidal use | Statutory requirement under the Insecticides Rules, 1971 | Mandatory |
| Form of application | The Form stipulated in the notification of 8 July 2026 | No change |
| Substances covered | Those in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, including acrylonitrile | No change |
What an importer should do
- Check whether what you import is listed in the Schedule to the Insecticides Act, 1968, even if you use it for something other than pest control.
- If it is, obtain the import permit before the goods arrive, applying in the stipulated Form.
- Applications already pending with the CIB&RC secretariat are to be dealt with under the revised guidelines, so expect to be asked for the new Form.
How it got here
- The Insecticides Third Amendment Rules, 2026 are notified in the Gazette.
- The Registration Committee, at its 474th meeting, decides to follow the notification and the stipulated Form.
- The Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage writes to CBIC and DGFT.
- CBIC issues Instruction 18/2026-Customs to its field offices.
SourceCBIC Instruction 18/2026-Customs
Open the original ↗ Published 1 October 2026. Updated 8 October 2026. This report is for general information and is not professional advice. Read the source document before acting on it.