Ethyl formate (CAS 109-94-4): import duty, licences and trade rules in India
Ethyl formate is a formate ester resulting from the formal condensation of formic acid with ethanol. For trade in India: OK to trade, but watch: food residue limits. Import duty is about 27.73% (tariff item 2915 (estimate)).
Checked 2026-10-31 against official Indian and international lists. Sources are given under each answer.
Key facts
| CAS number | 109-94-4 |
|---|---|
| Formula | C3H6O2 |
| Also called | Areginal, Formic acid, ethyl ester, Ethyl methanoate, Ethyl formic ester |
| Tariff item (HS) | 2915 (estimate) |
| Total import duty | about 27.73% |
| 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.
- Normal factory, storage and GST rules still apply.
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 607-015-00-7): Flam. Liq. 2, Acute Tox. 4, Eye Irrit. 2, STOT SE 3. Suppliers in the EU must label it this way.
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: 2915, saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids and their derivatives (an ester, classified by its carboxylic acid group).
- 46 of 48 lines under heading 2915 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
- Catches fire easily
- Irritates skin, eyes or breathing
- Highly flammable liquid and vapor
- Harmful if swallowed
- Causes serious eye irritation
- Harmful if inhaled
- May cause respiratory irritation
- Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet (SDS) before handling.
Storage, transport & PESOOK
- Flash point about -20 °C (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)).
- 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 1190 (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 suppliersNO DATA
- Post a requirement and we will find suppliers for you.
Questions about Ethyl formate
What is the import duty on Ethyl formate in India?
The total import duty on Ethyl formate is about 27.73% of the import value under tariff item 2915 (estimate), including basic customs duty, the social welfare surcharge and IGST. Check the latest notifications before you import.
Is there anti-dumping duty on Ethyl formate?
No anti-dumping duty on Ethyl formate was found in the Customs (ADD) notifications in force.
What is the HS code (tariff item) of Ethyl formate in India?
Ethyl formate falls under tariff item 2915 (estimate) of the Customs Tariff of India.
Is Ethyl formate restricted or licensed in India?
No special Indian ban or licence found. Not on the Indian banned-pesticide, drug-precursor, narcotic, psychotropic or new-drug lists we check. Normal factory, storage and GST rules still apply.
Does exporting Ethyl formate from India need a licence?
No export licence needed. Not on the SCOMET export-control list or the precursor export list.
Is Ethyl formate hazardous?
Dangerous: handle with proper protection. Catches fire easily. Irritates skin, eyes or breathing. Highly flammable liquid and vapor.
Is Ethyl formate 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.