Other

Live horses, asses, mules and hinnies (other equines)

AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0101 29 90 (live equines other than thoroughbred breeding horses) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) quarantine clearance, with a Veterinary Quarantine Certificate and Veterinary Health Certificate required at the bill-of-entry stage. The tariff line is Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), and import is permitted only upon satisfaction of both AQCS and policy conditions.

What this is

HSN code

0101 29 90

Chapter

01 · Live animals

Primary regulator

AQCS · Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (veterinary quarantine regime)

Customs documentation

Veterinary Quarantine Certificate from AQCS
Veterinary Health Certificate from exporting country
Laboratory Reports or COA 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 the Veterinary Quarantine Certificate from Animal Quarantine and Certification Services and upload it in e-Sanchit under document code 629000 before the bill of entry is filed. Customs out-of-charge will not be granted until this document is verified in e-Sanchit.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 01
2
Upload the Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country under document code 853AQ1, and the Laboratory Reports or Certificate of Analysis under document code 001AQ1, in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry. Both documents are mandatory for the CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 1 and Sl. No. 2 respectively) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · document codes 853AQ1 and 001AQ1

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is uploading only the Veterinary Quarantine Certificate and overlooking the separate requirement for the exporting country's Veterinary Health Certificate (document code 853AQ1) and the Laboratory Reports or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1). All three documents must be independently uploaded in e-Sanchit; a missing document code triggers detention at the port of import, with demurrage and ground rent accruing against the consignee while AQCS clearance remains outstanding.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0101 29 90 require BIS certification?

No, live equines are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services under the veterinary quarantine regime, with the tariff line classified as Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Which e-Sanchit document codes are mandatory at the bill of entry for this tariff line?

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

What is the consequence of filing a bill of entry without AQCS NOC routing for live equines?

Where the bill of entry has not been routed through AQCS for NOC, the customs proper officer is required to verify that all three mandatory documents are uploaded in e-Sanchit before granting out-of-charge; consignments without the required uploads are detained at the port.

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