Other

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

WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 0601 20 90 (Other live bulbs, tubers, tuberous roots, corms, crowns and rhizomes in growth or in flower) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) oversight under the CITES framework, with a CITES certificate mandatory where the species is Appendix-listed. Import is otherwise Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), but is permitted for sowing or planting under an import permit granted by Plant Quarantine (PQ) without a separate licence.

What this is

HSN code

0601 20 90

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

WCCB · CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) framework

Customs documentation

CITES certificate from WCCB
Phytosanitary Certificate from Plant Quarantine
Import permit from Plant Quarantine

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

WCCBWCCB·Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a CITES certificate (document code 626000) from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau for any species listed under CITES Appendices. Upload the certificate in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry; customs out-of-charge will not be granted without it for covered species.
WCCB · CITES framework · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 06
2
Obtain an import permit from Plant Quarantine (PQ) and ensure a Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) issued by the competent authority of the exporting country accompanies the consignment. Both documents must be uploaded in e-Sanchit prior to out-of-charge.
ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 06 · Plant Quarantine import permit condition

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that the Plant Quarantine import permit for sowing or planting purposes dispenses with the CITES certificate obligation. These are parallel and independent requirements: the PQ permit governs phytosanitary clearance, while the CITES certificate is a species-origin control — a consignment arriving with a valid PQ permit but without a CITES certificate for a listed species will be detained at the port of entry pending WCCB resolution.

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 90 require BIS certification?

No, live bulbs and rhizomes in growth or in flower are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau oversight under the CITES framework and the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with Plant Quarantine import permit and Phytosanitary Certificate requirements.

Is a licence required for importing these plants for sowing or planting purposes?

No separate import licence is required for sowing or planting purposes; import is permitted under an import permit granted by Plant Quarantine. However, the CITES certificate remains mandatory for any Appendix-listed species regardless of the end-use purpose.

What happens if the CITES certificate is missing at the bill of entry stage?

Consignments of CITES-listed species without an uploaded CITES certificate (document code 626000) in e-Sanchit will be denied out-of-charge by the customs proper officer, resulting in detention, accumulating demurrage and ground rent, and potential seizure under applicable CITES enforcement provisions.

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