Livestock

Live asses imported as livestock

AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0101 30 20 (Live asses — Livestock) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) veterinary clearance under the Live Stock Importation Act, 1898, and the import is classified as Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). A Veterinary Quarantine Certificate, a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the exporting country, and Laboratory Reports or Certificate of Analysis must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge.

What this is

HSN code

0101 30 20

Chapter

01 · Live animals

Primary regulator

AQCS · Live Stock Importation Act, 1898 (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 AQCS clearance and ensure the Veterinary Quarantine Certificate (document code 629000) is uploaded in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The consignment cannot receive customs out-of-charge until this document is verified by the proper officer.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy
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 stage. Both documents are mandatory for the CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 1 and Sl. No. 2) 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 treating the Veterinary Health Certificate from the exporting country as a substitute for — rather than a complement to — the AQCS-issued Veterinary Quarantine Certificate. Both are independently mandatory and carry separate document codes (853AQ1 and 629000 respectively); a bill of entry uploaded with only one of them will be held at the port pending the missing document, attracting detention, demurrage, and ground rent while AQCS clearance is obtained.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0101 30 20 require BIS certification?

No, live asses are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers live animals. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services under the Live Stock Importation Act, 1898, with the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by DGFT.

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

Three codes are mandatory: Veterinary Quarantine Certificate (629000), Veterinary Health Certificate from the exporting country (853AQ1), and Laboratory Reports or Certificate of Analysis (001AQ1), all per CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.

What happens if the consignment arrives without AQCS NOC routing?

The proper officer must verify all three mandatory documents in e-Sanchit before granting out-of-charge; a consignment lacking any of them is detained at the port, and out-of-charge is refused until the full AQCS documentation set is uploaded and verified.

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