Quick answer
Boric acid is listed as an insecticide under the Insecticides Act, 1968, so ceramic, glass, fibreglass and enamel manufacturers must obtain a CIB&RC import permit on Form IA before importing it for industrial use. Permits are generally valid for one year.
Why is boric acid regulated?
Boric acid kills cockroaches and ants, so it appears in the Schedule. Most imports, though, go into frits, glazes, glass and fibreglass. For those uses the Act requires an import permit rather than pesticide registration.
Who imports it?
- Ceramic tile and sanitaryware makers, notably in Morbi
- Glass and borosilicate manufacturers
- Fibreglass and glass-wool producers
- Enamel and frit makers
- Borate and flame-retardant producers
How to apply
File Form IA with the prescribed government fee. The most important evidence is your three-year consumption and how boric acid enters each recipe. Requests more than 30% above the average need departmental justification.
Tips
- Keep the grade identical across application, MSDS and invoice
- Name the actual manufacturer as source; use a change of source before switching
- Renew at least two months before the one-year expiry
See our boric acid permit service.
Sources and official references
- Insecticides (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified by G.S.R. 597(E) dated 8 July 2026, with the CIB&RC public notice dated 6 August 2026 (Gazette of India)
- Global Agriculture: India issues guidelines for import of insecticides for non-insecticidal and dual-use purposes (13 August 2026)
- CIB&RC checklist for customs on import of pesticides (reported 23 February 2022)
Reviewed on by the regulatory team at Pransh Pesticides Advisory Private Limited, CIB&RC consultants since 2011. This page is general guidance; the notified Rules and CIB&RC notices prevail.