Subheading · Chapter 34 · Section VI, Products of the chemical or allied industries
HS 3401 11Soap, organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap, organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent: for toilet use (including medicated products)
Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster
- Customs duty
- 10%
- 3 tariff items
- GST now
- 5% or 18%
- depending on the goods
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- kg
- Duty in China
- 0%
- On Indian goods
Codes under this subheading
3 codes. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.
| Code | Description | Customs duty | GST now | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3401 11 10 | Medicated toilet soaps | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 3401 11 20 | Shaving soaps other than shaving cream | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 3401 11 90 | Other | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
Importing into India
Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 3 tariff items: 10%. The rules below cover this whole code.
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty
None in force on this code as on 19 Oct 2026.
Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items
- Free: 3 tariff items
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now 5% or 18%, depending on the goods.
- Until 21 September 2025 18%.
- Change: Changed.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 251 | Toilet Soap (other than industrial soap) in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 66 | Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap[other than toilet soap in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes]; organic surface active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent | 18% |
History
| Period | Rate | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Until 21 Sep 2025 | 18% | 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) |
| From 22 Sep 2025 | 5% or 18% | 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate) |
Exporting from India
Export duty
Nil. The Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act does not list these goods, so no export duty is charged.
Duty drawback (All Industry Rates)
| Drawback item | Goods | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3401 | Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap; organic surface- active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent | 1.2% | — |
Drawback items follow the 4-digit heading, not the 8-digit code: claim the one that describes your goods. Rates of notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) as amended, in force on 19 Oct 2026.
Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items
- Free: 3 tariff items
What buyers pay abroad: import duty in the US, UK, EU and Australia for 3401 11, and China's below.
China: the same goods (3401 11)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 2 in force and 1 expired under 3401 11. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.
| China code | Goods | Duty on Indian goods | MFN | Import VAT | Export rebate | Licences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3401.11.00.10 | Mercurial skin-lightening soap for toilet use, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap盥洗用含汞亮肤肥皂,条状、块状或模制形状的,以及用肥皂浸渍、涂面或包覆的纸、絮胎、毡呢及无纺织物 | 0%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 6.5% | 13% | 13% | 89 |
| 3401.11.00.90 | Other soap and organic surface-active products for toilet use其他盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品 | 0%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 6.5% | 13% | 13% | ABMN |
- India is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). With an APTA certificate of origin, Indian goods pay China's APTA rate where the line has one; China applies the lower of that and its provisional rate.
- The export VAT rebate is what China refunds its own exporters. When China cuts it, Chinese export prices tend to rise.
Every Chinese code in full
3401.11.00Soap in bars, etc., & organic surface-active products for toilet use
3401.11.00.10Mercurial skin-lightening soap for toilet use, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap盥洗用含汞亮肤肥皂,条状、块状或模制形状的,以及用肥皂浸渍、涂面或包覆的纸、絮胎、毡呢及无纺织物
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 130%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 23 Aug 2026
Licences and certificates
- 8Export prohibited禁止出口商品
- 9Import prohibited禁止进口商品
Inspection and quarantine
None.
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Appearance外观
- 4.Packing specifications包装规格
- 5.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 6.Model型号
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
- 9.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 2.6%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
- Asia-Pacific (APTA)
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 5%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 5.5%
- Indonesia
- 0%
- Philippines
- 0%
- Myanmar
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 3401110010101Mercurial skin-lightening soap for toilet use (incl. medicated products), in bars, cakes or moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap (mercury content > 1 ppm) (cosmetics for infant bathing)盥洗用含汞亮肤肥皂(包括含有药物的产品),条状、块状或模制形状的,以及用肥皂浸渍、涂面或包覆的纸、絮胎、毡呢及无纺织物(含汞量超过百万分之一)(婴幼儿淋洗类肤用化妆品)
- 3401110010102Mercurial skin-lightening soap for toilet use (incl. medicated products), in bars, cakes or moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap (mercury content exceeding 1 ppm) (rinse-off cosmetics for adult face)盥洗用含汞亮肤肥皂(包括含有药物的产品),条状、块状或模制形状的,以及用肥皂浸渍、涂面或包覆的纸、絮胎、毡呢及无纺织物(含汞量超过百万分之一)(成人面部淋洗类化妆品)
- 3401110010103Mercurial skin-lightening soap for toilet use (incl. medicated products), in bars, cakes or moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap (mercury content exceeding 1 ppm) (rinse-off cosmetics for adult body)盥洗用含汞亮肤肥皂(包括含有药物的产品),条状、块状或模制形状的,以及用肥皂浸渍、涂面或包覆的纸、絮胎、毡呢及无纺织物(含汞量超过百万分之一)(成人体用淋洗类化妆品)
- 3401110010104Toilet soap containing mercury for skin lightening (including medicated products), in bars, cakes or moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap (mercury content exceeding 1 ppm) (other products)盥洗用含汞亮肤肥皂(包括含有药物的产品),条状、块状或模制形状的,以及用肥皂浸渍、涂面或包覆的纸、絮胎、毡呢及无纺织物(含汞量超过百万分之一)(其他产品)
3401.11.00.90Other soap and organic surface-active products for toilet use其他盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品
incl. products containing medicaments, in strips, blocks or moulded shapes包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 130%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 23 Aug 2026
Licences and certificates
- AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
- BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
Inspection and quarantine
- MImport commodity inspection进口商品检验
- NExport commodity inspection出口商品检验
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Appearance外观
- 4.Packing specifications包装规格
- 5.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 6.Model型号
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
- 9.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 2.6%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
- Asia-Pacific (APTA)
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 5%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 5.5%
- Indonesia
- 0%
- Philippines
- 0%
- Myanmar
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 3401110090101Other soap for toilet use and organic surface-active products (including medicated products, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes) (special cosmetic efficacy soap)其他盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品(包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状)(特殊化妆品功效香皂)
- 3401110090102Other soap and organic surface-active products for toilet use (incl. medicated products, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes) (non-special cosmetic functional soaps)其他盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品(包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状)(非特殊化妆品功效香皂)
3401.11.00.00Soap for toilet use and organic surface-active products盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品Expired
incl. products containing medicaments, in strips, blocks or moulded shapes包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 130%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- None
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 4 Jan 2021
Licences and certificates
- AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
- BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
Inspection and quarantine
- NExport commodity inspection出口商品检验
- MImport commodity inspection进口商品检验
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Appearance外观
- 4.Packing specifications包装规格
- 5.Brand品牌
- 6.Model [Article No.]型号[货号]
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 4.2%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 3%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 3401110000101Soap and organic surface-active products for toilet use (including medicated products, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes) (cosmetics for bathing infants)盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品(包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状)(婴幼儿淋洗类肤用化妆品)
- 3401110000102Soap and organic surface-active products and preparations for toilet use (including medicated products, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes) (toilet soap)盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品(包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状)(盥洗用皂)
- 3401110000103Soap for toilet use and organic surface-active products (incl. medicated products, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes) (cosmetic semi-finished products)盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品(包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状)(化妆品半成品)
- 3401110000104Soap and organic surface-active products for toilet use (including medicated products, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes) (other cosmetics)盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品(包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状)(其他化妆品)
- 3401110000109Soap and organic surface-active products for toilet use (incl. medicated products, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes) (rinse-off cosmetics for adult face)盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品(包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状)(成人面部淋洗类化妆品)
- 3401110000110Soap and organic surface-active products for toilet use (incl. medicated products, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes) (rinse-off cosmetics for adult body)盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品(包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状)(成人体用淋洗类化妆品)
- 3401110000111Soap and organic surface-active products and preparations for toilet use (including medicated products, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes) (other products)盥洗用皂及有机表面活性产品(包括含有药物的产品、呈条状、块状或模制形状)(其他产品)
China's tariff as compiled by HS编码网 from China Customs, the State Council Tariff Commission and the State Taxation Administration. The Chinese is the original.
Nearby codes
Previous3307 90OtherOne level up3401Soap, organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap, organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergentNext3401 19Other
Sources
- GSTN HSN code masterChecked 13 Oct 2026
- DGFT ITC(HS) import and export policyChecked 9 Oct 2026
- GST rate per HSN (archived GSTZen extract)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- Customs Tariff of India (First Schedule): sections, chapters, notes and statutory BCDChecked 19 Oct 2026
- GST rates on goods, before and after 22 September 2025Checked 18 Oct 2026
- BIS compulsory certification: products and Quality Control OrdersChecked 18 Oct 2026
- Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties in force (India)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's export duty (Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and notifications 27/2011, 55/2022, 22/2024)Checked 18 Oct 2026
- India's All Industry Rates of duty drawback (notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.))Checked 19 Oct 2026
- China customs tariff (HS编码网)Checked 19 Oct 2026
For information, not a customs ruling. Only notifications published in the Gazette have legal force; confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE before you price a deal.