Lactic Acid (CAS 50-21-5): import duty, licences and trade rules in India
2-hydroxypropanoic acid is a 2-hydroxy monocarboxylic acid that is propanoic acid in which one of the alpha-hydrogens is replaced by a hydroxy group. For trade in India: OK to trade, but watch: food residue limits. Import duty is about 27.73% (tariff item 2918 11 10). DGFT policy: import Free, export Free.
Checked 2026-10-31 against official Indian and international lists. Sources are given under each answer.
Key facts
| CAS number | 50-21-5 |
|---|---|
| Formula | C3H6O3 |
| Also called | DL-Lactic acid, 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-hydroxypropionic acid, Milk acid |
| Tariff item (HS) | 2918 11 10 |
| Total import duty | about 27.73% |
| Anti-dumping duty (most producers) | None found |
| DGFT import policy | Free |
| DGFT export policy | Free |
| 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.
- Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) for tariff item 2918 11 10: Free, so no import licence is needed under trade policy.
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.
- Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) for tariff item 2918 11 10: Free.
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.
Import dutyOK
- About ₹27,730 duty on every ₹1,00,000 of import value (CIF).
- Made up of basic customs duty 7.5%, social welfare surcharge 0.75% and IGST 18%. IGST can usually be claimed back as input tax credit.
- Tariff item 2918 11 10: Lactic acid.
SafetyCHECK
- Burns skin and eyes, eats into metal
- Irritates skin, eyes or breathing
- Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
- Causes skin irritation
- Causes serious eye damage
- Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet (SDS) before handling.
Storage, transport & PESOOK
- Ships as UN 3265 (Corrosive): 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 patentsCHECK
- The molecule is free, but some US formulations or uses are still protected.
- 0 generic companies already sell it in the US.
- Indian patents are not checked.
Questions about Lactic Acid
What is the import duty on Lactic Acid in India?
The total import duty on Lactic Acid is about 27.73% of the import value under tariff item 2918 11 10, including basic customs duty, the social welfare surcharge and IGST. Check the latest notifications before you import.
Is there anti-dumping duty on Lactic Acid?
No anti-dumping duty on Lactic Acid was found in the Customs (ADD) notifications in force.
What is the HS code (tariff item) of Lactic Acid in India?
Lactic Acid falls under tariff item 2918 11 10 of the Customs Tariff of India.
Is Lactic Acid 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.
Can Lactic Acid be imported freely into India?
Under DGFT's ITC(HS) import policy, Lactic Acid is Free.
Does exporting Lactic Acid from India need a licence?
No export licence needed. Not on the SCOMET export-control list or the precursor export list.
Is Lactic Acid hazardous?
Dangerous: handle with proper protection. Burns skin and eyes, eats into metal. Irritates skin, eyes or breathing. Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
Is Lactic Acid 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.