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HomeHSNChapter 03HSN 0301 11 00

Freshwater

Live freshwater ornamental fish

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 0301 11 00 (Live freshwater fish) is subject to the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). A Health Certificate must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge is granted at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is
HSN code
0301 11 00
Chapter
03 · Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 03
Customs documentation
  • Health Certificate from exporter
  • ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Confirm the import is permitted under the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy for Chapter 03 before placing the purchase order. A Restricted classification means the consignment cannot be cleared without satisfying the applicable policy condition; verify the current condition with DGFT before shipment.
    ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 03
  2. 2
    Upload the Health Certificate (document code 6360AQ) in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is assessed. The customs proper officer will verify the uploaded document prior to granting out-of-charge; absence of the Health Certificate will prevent clearance.
    ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 03 · e-Sanchit document code 6360AQ
A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the Restricted status as a minor annotation rather than an operative bar on clearance. A consignment of live freshwater fish arriving without a current Health Certificate uploaded under document code 6360AQ will be detained at the port of entry; demurrage and ground rent accumulate rapidly given the perishable and live nature of the cargo, and the consignment may be subject to re-export or confiscation if clearance is not obtained promptly.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 0301 11 00 require BIS certification?
No, live freshwater fish fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a mandatory Health Certificate requirement at the bill-of-entry stage.
What document code must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for the Health Certificate?
The Health Certificate must be uploaded under document code 6360AQ in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge is granted; the customs proper officer verifies this upload as a pre-clearance step.
Can an importer obtain a waiver of the Restricted-import condition for live freshwater fish?
The ITC (HS) policy does not provide an automatic waiver; any permission to import under a Restricted classification must be obtained from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade before the consignment is shipped, as retrospective permissions are not guaranteed.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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