Circular No. 10/2022 
F.No. 524/18/2017-STO(TU) 
Government of India 
Ministry of Finance 
Department of Revenue 
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs) 
Tariff Unit 
North Block, New Delhi 
Dated: 25.07.2022 
To, 
All 
Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs/Customs (Preventive), 
All 
Principal Chief Commissioners/Chief Commissioners of Customs and Central Tax 
All 
Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Customs/Customs (Preventive) 
All 
Principal Commissioners/Commissioners of Customs and Central Tax 
Sir, 
Subject: Clarification on Electro-Chemiluminescence Immunoassay kits-Reg. 
In relation to the benefit of exemption of duties accorded to Chemiluminescence 
Immuno Assay (CLIA) kits, the Board is in receipt of representations seeking 
a clarification 
on whether Electro chemiluminescence Immuno Assay (ECLIA) kits are covered under the 
ambit of CLIA diagnostic kits. 
2. The relevant entries and the notifications are as below: 
a) Serial no 167(A) of Notification 50/2017(Cus) read with Serial no 57 of List 4 
b) Serial no. 180 to Schedule I of Notification 01/2017(Integrated Tax-Rate) , read with 
Serial no 178 to List 1 
The notifications against the said serial numbers specify CLIA diagnostic kits'. However, 
there is no specific mention of ECLIA diagnostic kits. 
3. The matter was examined in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family 
Welfare(MoHFW). The significant points on which a clarification was sought from MoHFW 
and the 
response received are tabulated below 
Response from MOHFW 
Chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) is 
la widely used detection method which 
combines the highly-sensitive 
chemiluminescence assay with highly-
specific Immune response and affinity of 
antibodies. In CLIA diagnostic kits, 
chemiluminescence technique is combined 
with immunochemical reactions. CLIA Kits 
are designed to detect the 
chemiluminescence reactions. In CLIA the 
label, i.e. the true "indicator" of the analytic 
reaction, is a luminescent molecule. 
S.No 
1. How is a CLIA diagnostic kit 
defined? 
What are the different 
parameters that need to fulfilled to be 
considered 
as a CLIA diagnostic kit? 
Clarification sought
Cireular No. 10/2022 
S.No. 
Whether CLIA is a generic term thatCLIA have different label systems according 
ncludes other technologies such asto the difference of physical chemistry 
ECLIA cte. 
Clarification sought 	Response from MOHFW 
mechanism of the light emission which are 
.If yes, what are the other technologies mention below : 
that are considercd to be included 
within CLIA 
i. Label Chemical Directly Involved in the 
Light Emission Reaction 
i. Enzyme Catalyzed Light Emission 
Reaction 
ii. Redox Reaction Mediated Light 
Emission Reaction (ECLIA). 
Whether an ECLIA diagnostic kit that isCLIA 
imported can also be used as a CLIA 
diagnostic kit. 
ECLIA 
immunoassay) 
and 
(Electrochemiluminescence 
both, are advanced methods of Immunof 
diagnostics based on the concept of 
antibody-antigen binding. CLIA uses a 
chemical 
chemiluminescence following antibody-
antigen binding while ECLIA uses an 
electrochemical 
chemiluminescence 
immunoassay technique. Both techniques are 
rapid, specific and similar in following 
points 
reaction to generate 
5. What are the parameters on the basis of 
which it is concluded that CLIA and 
ECLIA are one and the same. 
reaction 
generate 
the 
to 
signals 
in 
Both use the concept 
o 
chemiluminescence for detection. 
Both techniques rely on the concept ot 
antigen-antibody binding. 
Both are mainly used tfor 
disease 
diagnostics based on analyte detection. 
6 Whether CLIA and ECLIA kits can be Chemiluminescence lmmuno assay (CLIA) 
is a self suflicient kit which provides 
asensitive, high throughput alternative to 
conventional colorimetrie methodologies. In 
Chemiluminescence Immuno assay (CLIA). 
the luminescence is produced as a result of 
chemical 
reaction where as in Electro 
Chemiluninescencelmmunoassay (ECLIA). 
theluminescenee 
is produced 
as a result of 
electrochemical reaction. The CLIA and 
ECLIA canaccommodate many 
immunoasay principles while providing 
superior performance and theapplications, 
uses of both the techniques are same. Hence 
both CLIA and ECLIA are one and the 
same. 
considered 
the same and if the 
Cxemption granted 
to CLIA can be 
extended to ECLIA.
Circular No. 10/2022 
The above clarifications from MotIFW clearly elaborate the various aspects of CLIA 
and ECLIA kits. It is advised that field formations take into account the above clarifications 
and make reasonable decisions on the assessment of the CLIA and ECLIA Kits. 
Hindi version follows. 
Varun Koundinya 
STO (Tariff Unit) 
Customs Policy Wing