Methyl Ethyl Ketone (CAS 78-93-3): import duty, licences and trade rules in India
Butan-2-one is a dialkyl ketone that is a four-carbon ketone carrying a single keto- group at position C-2. For trade in India: OK to trade, but watch: rules in India; exporting from India. Import duty is about 27.73% (tariff item 2914 12 00). DGFT policy: import Free, export Free (conditions). NDPS precursor schedule: B, C.
Checked 2026-10-31 against official Indian and international lists. Sources are given under each answer.
Key facts
| CAS number | 78-93-3 |
|---|---|
| Formula | C4H8O |
| Also called | METHYL ETHYL KETONE, Butan-2-one, Butanone, Ethyl methyl ketone |
| Tariff item (HS) | 2914 12 00 |
| Total import duty | about 27.73% |
| Anti-dumping duty (most producers) | None found |
| DGFT import policy | Free |
| DGFT export policy | Free (conditions) |
| SCOMET (export control) | Not listed |
| NDPS / precursor | B, C |
Every answer, with its source
Rules in IndiaCHECK
- Listed in India's NDPS RCS Order 2013, Schedules B and C (drug precursor).
- Importing it needs a No Objection Certificate from the Narcotics Commissioner.
- Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) for tariff item 2914 12 00: Free, so no import licence is needed under trade policy.
- 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 IndiaCHECK
- Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) for tariff item 2914 12 00: Free, but with conditions. However, Export of Methyl Ethyl Ketone is free subject to No Objection Certificate from Narcotics Commissioner of India, Gwalior.
- Exporting it needs a No Objection Certificate from the Narcotics Commissioner.
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.
- A US DEA List II chemical (drug precursor): imports above the DEA threshold quantity need an import declaration.
- 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 606-002-00-3): Flam. Liq. 2, 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).
- 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 2914 12 00: Butanone (methyl ethyl ketone).
SafetyCHECK
- Catches fire easily
- Irritates skin, eyes or breathing
- Highly flammable liquid and vapor
- Causes serious eye irritation
- May cause drowsiness or dizziness
- Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet (SDS) before handling.
Storage, transport & PESOOK
- Flash point about -8.9 °C (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)).
- 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 1193 (Flammable Liquid): dangerous-goods rules apply by road, sea (IMDG) and air (IATA), with labels, packaging and a transport document.
Price and suppliersOK
- Latest Indian market rate ₹157/kg on 2026-10-28 (up 3.9% in 7 days).
- 1 supplier on RasayanXchange (Gujarat).
Questions about Methyl Ethyl Ketone
What is the import duty on Methyl Ethyl Ketone in India?
The total import duty on Methyl Ethyl Ketone is about 27.73% of the import value under tariff item 2914 12 00, including basic customs duty, the social welfare surcharge and IGST. Check the latest notifications before you import.
Is there anti-dumping duty on Methyl Ethyl Ketone?
No anti-dumping duty on Methyl Ethyl Ketone was found in the Customs (ADD) notifications in force.
What is the HS code (tariff item) of Methyl Ethyl Ketone in India?
Methyl Ethyl Ketone falls under tariff item 2914 12 00 of the Customs Tariff of India.
Is Methyl Ethyl Ketone restricted or licensed in India?
Controlled chemical: licence or registration needed. Listed in India's NDPS RCS Order 2013, Schedules B and C (drug precursor). Importing it needs a No Objection Certificate from the Narcotics Commissioner.
Can Methyl Ethyl Ketone be imported freely into India?
Under DGFT's ITC(HS) import policy, Methyl Ethyl Ketone is Free.
Does exporting Methyl Ethyl Ketone from India need a licence?
Export allowed with a licence or permission. Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) for tariff item 2914 12 00: Free, but with conditions. However, Export of Methyl Ethyl Ketone is free subject to No Objection Certificate from Narcotics Commissioner of India, Gwalior.
Is Methyl Ethyl Ketone hazardous?
Dangerous: handle with proper protection. Catches fire easily. Irritates skin, eyes or breathing. Highly flammable liquid and vapor.
Is Methyl Ethyl Ketone 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.