Of wild animals

Bones and horn-cores of wild animals, unworked or defatted

AQCS CLEARANCE · WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 0506 90 91 (Bones and horn-cores of wild animals) is prohibited from import under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT); no general commercial import is permitted. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) apply concurrent clearance requirements — including a CITES certificate and veterinary health certificate — for any consignment that proceeds under a valid exemption or permit.

What this is

HSN code

0506 90 91

Chapter

05 · Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified

Primary regulator

AQCS · Animal quarantine and wildlife controls; WCCB · Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Customs documentation

CITES certificate from WCCB
Health certificate from AQCS
Laboratory report from AQCS

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
Note that import of bones and horn-cores of wild animals is prohibited under the ITC (HS) import policy. Before proceeding, confirm that the consignment qualifies under a recognised legal exemption and that both the WCCB CITES certificate (document code 626000) and the AQCS health certificate (document code 6360AQ) are in hand and uploaded in e-Sanchit prior to filing the bill of entry.
ITC (HS) Import Policy, Chapter 05 · CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022
2
Upload the veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country (document code 853AQ1) and the laboratory report or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1) in e-Sanchit. Both documents are mandatory per the CTI-specific Annexure A of Circular 24/2022-Cus before customs out-of-charge is granted.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022, Annexure A (Sl. No. 1 and Sl. No. 2)

A word of counsel

The critical error on this tariff line is treating the CITES certificate as sufficient to overcome the ITC (HS) prohibition. CITES certification satisfies the WCCB/AQCS overlay but does not lift the DGFT import prohibition — both must be resolved independently. Consignments arriving with CITES documentation but no standing exemption from the Restricted/Prohibited ITC (HS) policy are liable to confiscation and prosecution under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, regardless of the legality of the export-country authorisation.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0506 90 91 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers bones and horn-cores of wild animals. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, with an ITC (HS) prohibition administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Which document codes are mandatory in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?

Four documents must be uploaded before out-of-charge: CITES certificate (626000), health certificate (6360AQ), veterinary health certificate from the exporting country (853AQ1), and laboratory report or Certificate of Analysis (001AQ1), per CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.

Can this HSN be imported at all given the ITC (HS) prohibition?

Commercial import is prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy; only consignments qualifying under a specific legal exemption — such as a government-authorised research or educational purpose with WCCB clearance — may proceed, and each such consignment still requires the full AQCS and CITES documentation overlay.

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