Cactus

Live cactus plants, shrubs and bushes

WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 0602 20 20 (Cactus) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) clearance under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with a CITES certificate mandatory at the bill of entry. The tariff line is Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

What this is

HSN code

0602 20 20

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

CITES certificate from WCCB
Import permit from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy declaration to CBIC

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 valid CITES certificate for the cactus consignment before shipment. The certificate (document code 626000) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit prior to filing the bill of entry; customs out-of-charge will not be granted until the document is verified.
CITES provisions · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 06
2
Confirm the consignment satisfies the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy condition for Chapter 06 administered by DGFT. A consignment lacking the CITES certificate or arriving without DGFT-compliant import authorisation is liable to detention and re-export.
ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 06 · DGFT

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that all cactus species require only a phytosanitary clearance and overlooking the CITES obligation entirely. Many cactus genera — particularly Mammillaria, Turbinicarpus, and Ariocarpus — are listed under CITES Appendix I or II, and a consignment of even ornamental specimens without a valid CITES certificate will be seized at port, not merely held pending documentation. Verify the CITES appendix status of each species in the consignment before placing the purchase order.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 0602 20 20 require BIS certification?

No, live cactus plants are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau clearance under CITES, with the tariff line classified as Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Is the CITES certificate required for every cactus shipment, including common ornamental varieties?

Yes. The ITC (HS) policy mandates CITES compliance for all imports under this CTI, and document code 626000 must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge regardless of the species or claimed ornamental status.

What happens if a cactus consignment arrives without a CITES certificate?

The consignment is subject to detention at port and will not receive customs out-of-charge; depending on the species involved, seizure and confiscation under CITES provisions are the operative enforcement outcomes.

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