Bulbs, horticultural

Horticultural bulbs, corms and rhizomes in growth or flower

WCCB CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 0601 20 10 (Bulbs, horticultural) is subject to Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) import permit clearance under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) CITES certification applies as a concurrent overlay for species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers the ITC (HS) import policy condition governing this tariff line.

What this is

HSN code

0601 20 10

Chapter

06 · Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage

Primary regulator

PPQS · Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003

Customs documentation

Import permit from PPQS
Phytosanitary Certificate from PPQS
CITES certificate from WCCB

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

WCCBWCCB·Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

PPQSPPQS·Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary regime

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a valid import permit from Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003 before the consignment is shipped. Import of horticultural bulbs in growth or in flower is permitted only in accordance with the conditions specified in this permit.
Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003 · ITC (HS) import policy condition for Chapter 06
2
Upload the Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) and the CITES certificate (document code 626000) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer must verify both documents are uploaded prior to granting out-of-charge; consignments without either document are detained pending rectification.
Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003 · CITES · e-Sanchit document codes 851000 and 626000

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that the Phytosanitary Certificate alone satisfies clearance and overlooking the CITES certificate obligation. Even for horticultural bulb species not commonly associated with wildlife trade, WCCB requires the CITES certificate to be uploaded under document code 626000 at the bill-of-entry stage; absence results in consignment detention and denial of out-of-charge regardless of the validity of the PPQS import permit.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0601 20 10 require BIS certification?

No, horticultural bulbs in growth or in flower are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003, with a concurrent CITES certificate requirement administered by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.

Are both the CITES certificate and the Phytosanitary Certificate required for every shipment of horticultural bulbs?

Yes. Both the CITES certificate (document code 626000) and the Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is processed and out-of-charge is granted by the proper officer.

What happens if the import permit from PPQS is not obtained before shipment?

Import without a valid PPQS import permit contravenes the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003, and the consignment is liable to detention, refusal of clearance, or re-export at the importer's cost.

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