Dextromethorphan (CAS 125-71-3): import duty, licences and trade rules in India
Dextromethorphan is a 6-methoxy-11-methyl-1,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydro-2H-10,4a-(epiminoethano)phenanthrene in which the sterocenters at positions 4a, 10 and 10a have S-configuration. For trade in India: Stop and check: narcotic or psychotropic: NDPS licences needed; export needs an NDPS authorisation. Import duty is about 27.73% (tariff item 2933 (estimate)). NDPS listing: narcotic.
Checked 2026-10-31 against official Indian and international lists. Sources are given under each answer.
Key facts
| CAS number | 125-71-3 |
|---|---|
| Formula | C18H25NO |
| Also called | d-Methorphan, delta-Methorphan, Dextromorphan, Dextromethorfan |
| Tariff item (HS) | 2933 (estimate) |
| Total import duty | about 27.73% |
| Anti-dumping duty (most producers) | None found |
| SCOMET (export control) | Not listed |
| NDPS / precursor | narcotic |
Every answer, with its source
Rules in IndiaSTOP
- Levomethorphan is a narcotic drug (UN 1961 Convention, controlled in India as a manufactured drug) under India’s NDPS Act, 1985; its salts and preparations are covered too.
- Making, holding, selling or using it needs licences under the NDPS Rules; every import and export needs an authorisation from the Narcotics Commissioner.
- Trading it without these licences is a serious criminal offence.
- Not on the Indian banned-pesticide, drug-precursor, narcotic, psychotropic or new-drug lists we check.
- Normal factory, storage and GST rules still apply.
Exporting from IndiaSTOP
- Every export of a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance needs an export authorisation from the Narcotics Commissioner, matched to an import certificate from the buying country.
- Not on the SCOMET export-control list.
- The buyer’s country may still have its own import rules.
Global treaties & export marketsOK
- Not listed by the Stockholm Convention (persistent pollutants), the Rotterdam Convention (prior consent before export) or the Montreal Protocol (ozone layer).
- No EU REACH registration found: an EU importer (or your only representative) must register it before importing a tonne or more a year. Medicines and pesticide actives follow their own EU rules.
- Not on the US TSCA Inventory, which does not cover medicines or pesticides; those are regulated by the FDA and EPA (FIFRA).
Import dutyOK
- About ₹27,730 duty on every ₹1,00,000 of import value (CIF).
- No tariff line names this chemical, so we worked out its likely heading from its structure: 2933, heterocyclic compounds with nitrogen hetero-atom(s) only (ring containing nitrogen).
- 82 of 88 lines under heading 2933 pay basic customs duty 7.5%; with social welfare surcharge and IGST 18% that makes about 27.73%.
- Confirm the exact 8-digit code with your customs broker before you import.
SafetyCHECK
- Poisonous, even in small amounts
- Toxic if swallowed
- Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet (SDS) before handling.
Price and suppliersNO DATA
- Post a requirement and we will find suppliers for you.
US patentsCHECK
- The molecule is free, but some US formulations or uses are still protected.
- 21 generic companies already sell it in the US.
- Indian patents are not checked.
Questions about Dextromethorphan
What is the import duty on Dextromethorphan in India?
The total import duty on Dextromethorphan is about 27.73% of the import value under tariff item 2933 (estimate), including basic customs duty, the social welfare surcharge and IGST. Check the latest notifications before you import.
Is there anti-dumping duty on Dextromethorphan?
No anti-dumping duty on Dextromethorphan was found in the Customs (ADD) notifications in force.
What is the HS code (tariff item) of Dextromethorphan in India?
Dextromethorphan falls under tariff item 2933 (estimate) of the Customs Tariff of India.
Is Dextromethorphan restricted or licensed in India?
Narcotic or psychotropic: NDPS licences needed. Levomethorphan is a narcotic drug (UN 1961 Convention, controlled in India as a manufactured drug) under India’s NDPS Act, 1985; its salts and preparations are covered too. Making, holding, selling or using it needs licences under the NDPS Rules; every import and export needs an authorisation from the Narcotics Commissioner.
Does exporting Dextromethorphan from India need a licence?
Export needs an NDPS authorisation. Every export of a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance needs an export authorisation from the Narcotics Commissioner, matched to an import certificate from the buying country.
Is Dextromethorphan hazardous?
Dangerous: handle with proper protection. Poisonous, even in small amounts. Toxic if swallowed. Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet (SDS) before handling.
Is Dextromethorphan regulated under global treaties or in the EU and US?
No treaty or export-market restriction found. Not listed by the Stockholm Convention (persistent pollutants), the Rotterdam Convention (prior consent before export) or the Montreal Protocol (ozone layer). No EU REACH registration found: an EU importer (or your only representative) must register it before importing a tonne or more a year. Medicines and pesticide actives follow their own EU rules.
Related chemicals
Guidance from official lists, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with DGFT, customs or the regulator before you trade.