Ethanol (CAS 64-17-5): import duty, licences and trade rules in India
Ethanol is a primary alcohol that is ethane in which one of the hydrogens is substituted by a hydroxy group. For trade in India: OK to trade, but watch: import duty; food residue limits. Import duty is about 212.7% (tariff item 2207 10 90).
Checked 2026-10-31 against official Indian and international lists. Sources are given under each answer.
Key facts
| CAS number | 64-17-5 |
|---|---|
| Formula | C2H6O |
| Also called | ethyl alcohol, alcohol, grain alcohol, Methylcarbinol |
| Tariff item (HS) | 2207 10 90 |
| Total import duty | about 212.7% |
| Anti-dumping duty (most producers) | None found |
| SCOMET (export control) | Not listed |
| NDPS / precursor | Not listed |
Every answer, with its source
Rules in IndiaOK
- Not on the Indian banned-pesticide, drug-precursor, narcotic, psychotropic or new-drug lists we check.
- On India’s hazardous chemicals list (MSIHC Rules 1989). Importers must send the State authorities the consignment details and full safety information before each import (30 days ahead where possible, never later than the import date) and keep import records.
Exporting from IndiaOK
- Not on the SCOMET export-control list or the precursor export list.
- Not approved as a pesticide in the EU: food sent there must carry almost none of it.
- 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).
- Registered under EU REACH, so EU importers can buy it under an existing registration.
- Active on the US TSCA Inventory, so it can be imported into the US without a new-chemical notice.
- Listed on the Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals (AICIS), so it can be introduced into Australia as an existing industrial chemical.
- EU: harmonised classification (CLP Annex VI, index 603-002-00-5): Flam. Liq. 2. Suppliers in the EU must label it this way.
Import dutyCHECK
- About ₹212,700 duty on every ₹1,00,000 of import value (CIF).
- Made up of basic customs duty 150%, social welfare surcharge 15% and IGST 18%. IGST can usually be claimed back as input tax credit.
- Tariff item 2207 10 90: Undenatured ethyl alcohol, 80% vol or more.
- IGST can be lower (5%) for some uses; the stated rate is the higher one.
- A lower rate may apply under certain conditions; ask your customs broker.
- Other forms or grades fall under different lines (24.49% total).
SafetyCHECK
- Catches fire easily
- Irritates skin, eyes or breathing
- Highly flammable liquid and vapor
- Causes serious eye irritation
- Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet (SDS) before handling.
Storage, transport & PESOOK
- Flash point about 12.8 °C (CAMEO Chemicals).
- It is not a hydrocarbon, so the Petroleum Rules do not class it; storage still follows the state fire service’s rules and the factory licence.
- Ships as UN 1170 / UN 1987 (Flammable Liquid): dangerous-goods rules apply by road, sea (IMDG) and air (IATA), with labels, packaging and a transport document.
Food residue limitsCHECK
- India (FSSAI) has no specific limit, so the default 0.01 mg/kg applies to food.
- EU: not approved; most EU food limits are at the detection limit.
Price and suppliersOK
- No daily rate yet. Ask suppliers for a quote.
US patentsOK
- Generic versions can be sold in the US.
- Indian patents are not checked.
Questions about Ethanol
What is the import duty on Ethanol in India?
The total import duty on Ethanol is about 212.7% of the import value under tariff item 2207 10 90, including basic customs duty, the social welfare surcharge and IGST. Check the latest notifications before you import.
Is there anti-dumping duty on Ethanol?
No anti-dumping duty on Ethanol was found in the Customs (ADD) notifications in force.
What is the HS code (tariff item) of Ethanol in India?
Ethanol falls under tariff item 2207 10 90 of the Customs Tariff of India.
Is Ethanol restricted or licensed in India?
No ban or licence; import paperwork applies. Not on the Indian banned-pesticide, drug-precursor, narcotic, psychotropic or new-drug lists we check. On India’s hazardous chemicals list (MSIHC Rules 1989). Importers must send the State authorities the consignment details and full safety information before each import (30 days ahead where possible, never later than the import date) and keep import records.
Does exporting Ethanol from India need a licence?
No export licence needed. Not on the SCOMET export-control list or the precursor export list.
Is Ethanol hazardous?
Dangerous: handle with proper protection. Catches fire easily. Irritates skin, eyes or breathing. Highly flammable liquid and vapor.
Is Ethanol 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). Registered under EU REACH, so EU importers can buy it under an existing registration.
Related chemicals
Guidance from official lists, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with DGFT, customs or the regulator before you trade.