Plants

Live bulbs, tubers, corms and rhizomes in growth or flower

WCCB CLEARANCE · PPQS CLEARANCE

HSN 0601 20 21 (Plants) is subject to Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) import permit requirements under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) CITES certification applies as a concurrent overlay for specimens covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers the ITC (HS) policy condition that confines import to consignments holding a valid PPQS import permit.

What this is

HSN code

0601 20 21

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
CITES certificate from WCCB
Phytosanitary Certificate from exporting country

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 before shipment, as required under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003. Import without a current permit renders the consignment liable to detention and refusal of out-of-charge at the port of entry.
Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Imports into India) Order, 2003 · ITC (HS) import policy condition, Chapter 06
2
Upload the CITES certificate (document code 626000) issued by WCCB and the Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) issued by the competent authority of the exporting country in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer must verify both documents are present before granting out-of-charge.
ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 06 · PPQS e-Sanchit document codes 626000 and 851000

A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is assuming that a Phytosanitary Certificate alone satisfies customs clearance. The CITES certificate (document code 626000) is a separate and independent requirement routed through WCCB, and its absence causes detention even when the PPQS import permit and Phytosanitary Certificate are in order. Confirm at the time of purchase whether the specific plant species is listed under CITES Appendices I, II, or III, as that determination must precede the export-country permitting process.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 0601 20 21 require BIS certification?

No, live plants, bulbs and rhizomes in growth or 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 WCCB CITES certification requirement for CITES-listed species.

Are both the CITES certificate and the Phytosanitary Certificate mandatory for every consignment under this HSN?

The Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) is mandatory for all consignments. The CITES certificate (document code 626000) is required where the plant species falls within a CITES Appendix; both must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge is granted.

What happens if the PPQS import permit has expired before the consignment arrives at the Indian port?

An expired import permit is treated as no permit for the purposes of 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.