Artemia cysts

Artemia cysts for aquaculture and hatchery use

AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 0511 91 40 (Artemia cysts) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) sanitary clearance, requiring a Sanitary Import Permit and Health Certificate before out-of-charge at the port of import. The tariff line was revised to Free under the ITC (HS) import policy by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) vide Notification 28/2015-20 dated 25-08-2022, removing the earlier restricted-import condition.

What this is

HSN code

0511 91 40

Chapter

05 · Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified

Primary regulator

AQCS · Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (sanitary import regime)

Customs documentation

Sanitary Import Permit from AQCS
Health Certificate from AQCS
ITC (HS) Free-policy declaration to DGFT

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 AQCS Sanitary Import Permit (document code 911DF1) before shipment dispatch. The permit is issued and uploaded by AQCS; the importer must quote the e-Sanchit IRN pertaining to document code 911DF1 on the bill of entry to obtain the AQCS NOC, as required for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 3) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022
2
Upload the Health Certificate (document code 6360AQ) and the Sanitary Import Permit (document code 911DF1) in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is presented. The proper officer will verify both documents are present before granting out-of-charge; PGA-facilitated bills not routed through AQCS for NOC are subject to this mandatory document check.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · e-Sanchit document codes 911DF1 and 6360AQ

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that the revision to Free import policy eliminates the AQCS sanitary clearance requirement. The DGFT Notification 28/2015-20 dated 25-08-2022 liberalised only the ITC (HS) policy condition; the AQCS Sanitary Import Permit and Health Certificate remain mandatory at every bill of entry regardless of the Free-import status, and a consignment arriving without the e-Sanchit IRN for document code 911DF1 will be detained pending AQCS NOC.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0511 91 40 require BIS certification?

No, Artemia cysts fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services under the sanitary import regime, with ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade — revised to Free status vide DGFT Notification 28/2015-20 dated 25-08-2022.

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

Two documents must be uploaded: the Sanitary Import Permit (document code 911DF1) issued by AQCS and the Health Certificate (document code 6360AQ). The importer must also quote the e-Sanchit IRN for document code 911DF1 to obtain the AQCS NOC per CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus.

Does the Free import policy status mean Artemia cysts can be imported without any PGA clearance?

No. Free import status under the ITC (HS) policy removes the DGFT licence or restriction condition but does not affect the mandatory AQCS sanitary clearance. The Sanitary Import Permit and Health Certificate are required at every consignment irrespective of the policy status.

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