Serpentina roots (rowwalfia serpentina and other species of rowwalfias)

Serpentina roots (Rauwolfia serpentina, other Rauwolfia species)

WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 1211 90 44 (Serpentina roots) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) oversight under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and import is Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). A valid CITES certificate must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge is granted.

What this is

HSN code

1211 90 44

Chapter

12 · Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants

Primary regulator

WCCB · CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)

Customs documentation

CITES certificate from WCCB
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

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 covering the specific shipment of Rauwolfia serpentina or other Rauwolfia species roots before import. 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 without it.
ITC (HS) Import Policy — CITES provisions · document code 626000
2
Confirm the consignment is compliant with the Restricted-import policy condition under the ITC (HS) Schedule. Bills not routed through the PGA for NOC will be verified by the proper officer to ensure the CITES certificate upload in e-Sanchit is complete before out-of-charge.
ITC (HS) Import Policy — Restricted status, Chapter 12 · DGFT policy

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating the CITES certificate as a generic phytosanitary or health document obtainable after shipment. The CITES certificate is a species-specific, shipment-specific instrument issued by the exporting country's CITES Management Authority before dispatch; a certificate issued post-export or covering a different consignment quantity is not acceptable and will result in detention at the port of entry pending re-export or confiscation.

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 1211 90 44 require BIS certification?

No, serpentina roots are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under the CITES framework, with the tariff line classified as Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by DGFT.

What is document code 626000 and when must it be uploaded?

Document code 626000 is the CITES certificate issued by the exporting country's CITES Management Authority; it must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge, regardless of whether the bill has been routed through the PGA for NOC.

Does the CITES restriction apply to all Rauwolfia species or only to Rauwolfia serpentina?

The ITC (HS) policy restriction applies to Rauwolfia serpentina and other species of Rauwolfias covered under this tariff line; a CITES certificate is required for any consignment within this CTI regardless of the specific Rauwolfia species declared.

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