Pure-bred breeding animals

Live pure-bred breeding horses, asses, mules and hinnies

AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0101 21 00 (Pure-bred breeding animals) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) quarantine clearance, with mandatory upload of a Veterinary Quarantine Certificate and a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the exporting country. The tariff line is Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and out-of-charge is withheld until all AQCS documents are verified in e-Sanchit.

What this is

HSN code

0101 21 00

Chapter

01 · Live animals

Primary regulator

AQCS · Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (ITC (HS) Restricted import, Chapter 01)

Customs documentation

Veterinary Quarantine Certificate from AQCS
Veterinary Health Certificate from exporting country
Laboratory Reports from AQCS

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

AQCSAQCS·Animal Quarantine and Certification Services

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Obtain AQCS quarantine clearance prior to filing the bill of entry. The Veterinary Quarantine Certificate (document code 629000) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit; customs out-of-charge will not be granted until the proper officer confirms this upload for PGA-facilitated bills.
AQCS quarantine requirement · CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022
2
Upload the Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the exporting country (document code 853AQ1) and Laboratory Reports or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1) in e-Sanchit, as required for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 1 and Sl. No. 2 respectively) of Circular No. 24/2022-Cus.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 (Annexure A, Sl. No. 1 and 2)

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is arriving at the port of entry with only the exporting-country Veterinary Health Certificate and no AQCS-issued Veterinary Quarantine Certificate. These are two distinct documents serving two distinct compliance tracks: the Health Certificate (853AQ1) confirms the animal's status at origin, while the Quarantine Certificate (629000) is the AQCS-issued clearance following India-side quarantine inspection. Missing either triggers detention of the live animal consignment, accruing handling and quarantine-facility charges until deficiency is rectified.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0101 21 00 require BIS certification?

No, live pure-bred breeding equines fall entirely outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services quarantine requirements and the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?

Three documents are mandatory: the Veterinary Quarantine Certificate (document code 629000), the Veterinary Health Certificate from the exporting country (document code 853AQ1), and Laboratory Reports or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1), as listed in Annexure A of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.

What are the consequences of importing without AQCS clearance under this Restricted tariff line?

Consignments without a valid Veterinary Quarantine Certificate are denied out-of-charge by the proper officer; live animals held pending quarantine rectification attract detention, quarantine-facility charges, and potential re-export or confiscation under applicable animal-quarantine law.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: AQCS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.