Customs Instruction No. 03/2024: Compliance with Boric Acid Standards

Introduction: Instruction No. 03/2024 from the Customs Department highlights the imperative for strict compliance with the Bureau of Indian Standards regarding Boric Acid. This article delves into the details of the instruction, shedding light on the standards, their implications, and the necessary actions for enforcement.

Detailed Analysis: The instruction underscores the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Order S.O. No. 1766 (E) dated 16.05.2019, which brought Boric Acid under BIS Standard IS 10116:2015. This entails adherence to specified criteria such as the presence of Polishing Compounds and appropriate packaging.

Salient Features of IS 10116:2015:

• Polishing Compounds: Defined limits for Sulphate and Chloride presence.
• Packaging: Mandates jute bags with suitable liners for packaging Boric Acid.

Customs officials are urged to sensitize themselves to ensure imported Boric Acid conforms strictly to IS 10116:2015 standards. Any encountered difficulties are to be promptly reported to the Board for resolution.

Conclusion: In conclusion, Instruction No. 03/2024 signifies a concerted effort towards ensuring the quality and safety of imported Boric Acid. By aligning with BIS standards, regulatory bodies aim to uphold industry integrity and protect consumer interests. Compliance with these standards not only fosters trade facilitation but also ensures the reliability of products in the market.

*****

F.No.401/09/2024-Cus.III
Government of India
Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
Room No. 229A, North Block, New Delhi

Instruction No. 03/2024-Customs Dated : 19.02.2024

To
All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners,
(Customs/ Customs (Preventive) /Customs and Central Taxes),
All Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners (Customs/ Customs (Preventive),
All Principal Director Generals/Director Generals under CBIC.

Madam/Sir,

Subject: – Compliance of imported consignments of Boric Acid (Technical Grade) with notified Bureau of India Standards (Standards for Boric Acid) Order, 2019-reg

Reference is invited to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Order S.O. No. 1766 ( E) dated 16.05.2019fthe Bureau of Indian Standards (Standards for Boric Acid) Order, 2019 vide which Boric Acid has been brought under BIS Standard IS 10116:2015 (copy enclosed). Copy of IS 10116:2015 (Reaffirmed in 2020) for Boric Acid is also enclosed.

2. The salient feature of the Bureau of Indian Standard IS 10116:2015 (Reaffirmed in 2020) for Boric Acid (Technical Grade) are as under:

a. Presence of Polishing Compounds comprising of Sulphate and Chloride in Boric Acid (Technical Grade) within the specified range.

b. Packing of Boric Acid (Technical Grade) in jute bags with suitable liner inside.

3. It is requested that necessary action may be taken to sensitize officers under your jurisdiction to undertake checking of all imported consignments of Boric Acid to ensure strict compliance with the specifications prescribed in IS 10116:2015 (Reaffirmed in 2020) for Boric Acid (Technical Grade).

4. The difficulties, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board.

5. Hindi version follows.

Encls: as stated above.

Yours faithfully,

(Radhe Krishna)
Under Secretary (Cus-III)
Email: [email protected]
Tele: 011 23094012

Copy to, The Agriculture Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi-110001.

(email: [email protected])

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare)
ORDER
New Delhi, the 16th May, 2019

S.O. 1766 (E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and (2) of section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016), the Central Government, after consulting the Bureau of Indian Standards, is of the opinion that it is necessary and expedient so to do in the public interest hereby makes the following Order, namely: –

1. Short title and commencement. – (1) This Order may be called the Bureau of Indian Standards (Standards for Boric Acid) Order, 2019.

(2) This Order shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Compulsory use of Standard Mark. — Goods or articles specified in column (I) of the Schedule shall conform to the corresponding Indian Standard given in column (2) thereof and shall bear the Standard Mark under a licence issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulation, 2018:

Provided that nothing in this Order shall apply in relation to goods or articles specified in this clause which is meant for export and which conforms to the specification required by the country of its export.

3. Certification and enforcement.- The Bureau of Indian Standards shall be the certifying and enforcing authority for the enforcement of the standards specified under clause 2, and may designate an officer not below the rank of the General Manager of the District Industries Center in the Department of Industries of the State Government to be the enforcing authority for the purpose of this Order.

SCHEDULE

Standards for Boric Acid

[ F. No. 13028/02/2018-PP-I]

ATISH CHANDRA, Jt. Secy.

Explanation. – For the purposes of this Schedule, the latest version of the Indian Standards, including the amendments thereof, as notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards from time to time, shall apply from the date as notified by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Boric Acid Specification

(First Revision)

Inorganic Chemicals Sectional Committee, CHD 01

FOREWORD

This Indian Standard (First Revision) was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draft finalized by the Inorganic Chemicals Sectional Committee had been approved by Chemical Division Council.

Boric acid is used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, abrasives, metal alloys, electrolytic condensers, explosives, nuclear energy, cosmetics and other industries. This standard covers specification for all these uses, except cosmetics which is covered under a separate standard, IS 263: 1990 ‘Boric acid for cosmetic industry — Specification’.

This standard was first published in 1982. In this revision, requirement for moisture has been modified for technical grade boric acid. Also, a requirement for polishing compounds has been incorporated for the technical grade boric acid prescribing the limits for chloride and sulphate. Packing clause has been also appropriately modified to include packing of technical grade boric acid in jute bags with liners.

The composition of the Committee responsible for formulation of this standard is given in Annex C.

For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with IS 2 : 1960 `Rules for rounding off numerical values (revised)’ . The number of significant places retained in the rounded off values should be the same as that of the specified value in this standard.

Indian Standard

BORIC ACID — SPECIFICATION

(First Revision)

1 SCOPE

This standard prescribes the requirements and the methods of sampling and test for boric acid used in the manufacture of capacitors, electronics, nuclear energy, foundries, fire proofing of workman’s apparel, glass and ceramics, explosives, refractories, paints, chemicals, dye intermediates, electroplating, leather, adhesives, enamel industries, carom board powder, talc powder and ramming mass.

2 REFERENCES

The standards listed below contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this standard. At the time of publication, the editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to revision and parties to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the standards indicated below:

3 GRADES

There shall be three grades of the material depending on the use, namely,

a) Special quality (SQ), for use in capacitors, electronics nuclear energy, foundries and fire proofing of workman’s apparel;

b) Technical (TECH), for use in glass, ceramics, explosives, refractories, paints, chemicals, dye intermediates, electroplating, leather, adhesives and enamel industries, talc powder, ramming mass and as carom board powder; and

c) Explosive.

4 REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Description

4.2 Special quality grade (SQ) material shall be in the form of granules only. The technical grade (TECH) and explosive grade material shall be in the form of granules, powder, crystals or flakes. Material of all grades shall be free from odour, dirt, foreign matter and visible impurities.

4.3 The material, when tested according to the methods prescribed in Annex A, shall comply with the requirements given in Table 1. Reference to the relevant clauses of Annex A is given in col 5 of the Table 1.

4.4 4dditional Requite went for Technics Grade Boric Acid

4.5 The technical grade boric acid shall also comply with the following additional requirements of polishing compounds when tested IC-ail-ding to the methods prescribed in Annex A. Re erence to ere evant c auses of Annex A is given in col 5 of the Table 1.

a) Chloride (as Cl), : 0.05 — 0.15 percent by mass

b) Sulphate (SO4), : 0.15 — 0.25 percent by mass

4.6 Boric Acid for Use in Explosives

The material shall meet the requirements for boric acid and moisture for technical grade (see, Table 1, col 4) and shall also conform to the following additional requirements when tested according to the methods prescribed in Annex A. Reference to the relevant clauses of Annex A is given in col 5 of the Table 1.

5 PACKING AND MARKING

5.1 Packing

The special quality and explosive grade material shall