Whales, dolphins and porpoises (mammals of the order Cetacea); manatees and dugongs (mammals of the order Sirenia); seals, sea lions and walruses (mammals of the sub-order Pinnipedia)

Live cetaceans, sirenians and pinnipeds (whales, dolphins, seals)

AQCS CLEARANCE · WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 0106 12 00 covers live whales, dolphins, porpoises, manatees, dugongs, seals, sea lions and walruses, all of which are subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) veterinary quarantine clearance and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) CITES permit controls. The tariff line is Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) subject to Policy Condition No. 6 of Chapter 01.

What this is

HSN code

0106 12 00

Chapter

01 · Live animals

Primary regulator

AQCS · Animal Quarantine and Certification Services; WCCB · Wildlife Protection Act (CITES controls)

Customs documentation

CITES Certificate from WCCB
Veterinary Quarantine Certificate from AQCS
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

AQCSAQCS·Animal Quarantine and Certification Services

WCCBWCCB·Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a valid CITES Certificate from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau before shipment. All species under this tariff line — cetaceans, sirenians and pinnipeds — are listed under CITES appendices, and an import without a current CITES permit constitutes a wildlife offence. Upload the certificate in e-Sanchit under document code 626000.
ITC (HS) Policy Condition No. 6 of Chapter 01 · CITES Certificate document code 626000
2
Secure a Veterinary Quarantine Certificate from Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) and upload it in e-Sanchit under document code 629000 before the bill of entry is filed. The customs proper officer must verify both the CITES Certificate and the Veterinary Quarantine Certificate in e-Sanchit before granting out-of-charge.
AQCS Veterinary Quarantine Certificate document code 629000 · ITC (HS) Policy Condition No. 6 of Chapter 01

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the AQCS veterinary clearance as the sole gate and dispatching the consignment without a current CITES import permit from WCCB. Because cetaceans, sirenians and pinnipeds are CITES-listed, a missing or expired CITES Certificate results in seizure of the animals and criminal liability under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 — a consequence that cannot be remedied post-arrival by retrospective documentation.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0106 12 00 require BIS certification?

No, live marine mammals fall entirely outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services veterinary quarantine requirements and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau CITES permit controls, with the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy overlay under Policy Condition No. 6 of Chapter 01.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage?

The CITES Certificate (document code 626000) and the Veterinary Quarantine Certificate (document code 629000) must both be uploaded in e-Sanchit; the customs proper officer verifies both before granting out-of-charge.

What is the consequence of importing without a valid CITES Certificate for these species?

Import without a valid CITES Certificate constitutes a wildlife offence attracting seizure of the animals and criminal prosecution; WCCB enforcement under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 applies regardless of whether the AQCS veterinary clearance is in order.

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