Methylene Blue (CAS 61-73-4): import duty, licences and trade rules in India

Methylene blue is an organic chloride salt having 3,7-bis(dimethylamino)phenothiazin-5-ium as the counterion. For trade in India: No ban or licence needed. Normal trade rules apply; handle as its safety advice says. Import duty is about 27.73% (tariff item 3204 13 51). DGFT policy: import Free, export Free.

No ban or licence needed. Normal trade rules apply; handle as its safety advice says.

Checked 2026-10-31 against official Indian and international lists. Sources are given under each answer.

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Key facts

CAS number61-73-4
FormulaC16H18ClN3S
Also calledBasic blue 9, Methylthioninium chloride, Solvent blue 8, Swiss Blue
Tariff item (HS)3204 13 51
Total import dutyabout 27.73%
Anti-dumping duty (most producers)None found
DGFT import policyFree
DGFT export policyFree
SCOMET (export control)Not listed
NDPS / precursorNot listed

Every answer, with its source

Rules in IndiaOK

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.
  • Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) for tariff item 3204 13 51: Free, so no import licence is needed under trade policy.
Source: CIB&RC pesticide lists · CDSCO new drug approvals · NDPS RCS Order 2013 · DGFT ITC(HS) 2022, Schedule 1 Import Policy

Exporting from IndiaOK

No export licence needed
  • Not on the SCOMET export-control list or the precursor export list.
  • The buyer’s country may still have its own import rules.
  • Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) for tariff item 3204 13 51: Free.
Source: DGFT SCOMET list · NDPS RCS Order 2013 · DGFT ITC(HS) 2022, Schedule 2 Export Policy

Global treaties & export marketsOK

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.
  • 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.
Source: Stockholm Convention, all listed POPs · Rotterdam Convention Annex III · Montreal Protocol annexes (ozone layer, Kigali HFCs) · US EPA TSCA Inventory · ECHA REACH lists, as published in PubChem

Import dutyOK

About 27.73% of the import value
  • 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 3204 13 51: Blue 9 (methylene Blue).
Source: Customs Tariff of India, CBIC · Notification 45/2025-Customs · Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)

SafetyCHECK

Dangerous: handle with proper protection
  • Burns skin and eyes, eats into metal
  • Irritates skin, eyes or breathing
  • Harmful if swallowed
  • Causes serious eye damage
  • Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects
  • Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet (SDS) before handling.
Source: PubChem GHS classification

Price and suppliersNO DATA

Not on RasayanXchange yet
  • Post a requirement and we will find suppliers for you.
Source: RasayanXchange market data

US patentsCHECK

Some US product patents run to 2027-01-08
  • The molecule is free, but some US formulations or uses are still protected.
  • 7 generic companies already sell it in the US.
  • Indian patents are not checked.
Source: FDA Orange Book

Questions about Methylene Blue

What is the import duty on Methylene Blue in India?

The total import duty on Methylene Blue is about 27.73% of the import value under tariff item 3204 13 51, including basic customs duty, the social welfare surcharge and IGST. Check the latest notifications before you import.

Is there anti-dumping duty on Methylene Blue?

No anti-dumping duty on Methylene Blue was found in the Customs (ADD) notifications in force.

What is the HS code (tariff item) of Methylene Blue in India?

Methylene Blue falls under tariff item 3204 13 51 of the Customs Tariff of India.

Is Methylene Blue 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 Methylene Blue be imported freely into India?

Under DGFT's ITC(HS) import policy, Methylene Blue is Free.

Does exporting Methylene Blue from India need a licence?

No export licence needed. Not on the SCOMET export-control list or the precursor export list.

Is Methylene Blue hazardous?

Dangerous: handle with proper protection. Burns skin and eyes, eats into metal. Irritates skin, eyes or breathing. Harmful if swallowed.

Is Methylene Blue 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.

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Guidance from official lists, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with DGFT, customs or the regulator before you trade.