Access IndiaPLATFORM
Home›HSN›Chapter 23›HSN 2301 20 19

Other

Fish, crustacean, mollusc and aquatic invertebrate meal and pellets

AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 2301 20 19 (flours, meals and pellets of fish or aquatic invertebrates, other) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) sanitary clearance under the Live-stock Importation Act, 1898. A Sanitary Import Permit and a veterinary Health Certificate are mandatory at the bill of entry, and clearance requires AQCS to issue an NOC before customs out-of-charge.

What this is
HSN code
2301 20 19
Chapter
23 · Residues and waste from food industries; prepared animal fodder
Primary regulator
AQCS · Live-stock Importation Act, 1898 (animal-origin product sanitary regime)
Customs documentation
  • Sanitary Import Permit from AQCS
  • Veterinary Health Certificate from AQCS
  • Certificate of Analysis from accredited laboratory
Applicable Partner Government Agencies
AQCSAQCS·Animal Quarantine and Certification Services
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Upload the veterinary Health Certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country (document code 853AQ1) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. This document is mandatory for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 1) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022, Annexure A, Sl. No. 1
  2. 2
    Upload the laboratory report or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1) in e-Sanchit. Quote the e-Sanchit IRN of the AQCS-issued Sanitary Import Permit (document code 911DF1) on the bill of entry to obtain the AQCS NOC for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. Nos. 2 and 3) of the same circular.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022, Annexure A, Sl. Nos. 2 and 3; Health Certificate document code 6360AQ
A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is uploading the Health Certificate under the general food-safety code (6360AQ) without also uploading the veterinary Health Certificate under the AQCS-specific code 853AQ1 and the Certificate of Analysis under 001AQ1. AQCS processes each document code against a separate Annexure A slot; a missing or misrouted upload prevents generation of the AQCS NOC and results in consignment detention at the port pending rectification — a delay that attracts demurrage and ground rent with no fast-track 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 2301 20 19 require BIS certification?
No. Flours, meals and pellets of aquatic invertebrates for animal feed fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services under the Live-stock Importation Act, 1898, with mandatory Sanitary Import Permit, veterinary Health Certificate, and Certificate of Analysis at the bill of entry.
Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?
Three codes are required: 853AQ1 (veterinary Health Certificate from the exporting country), 001AQ1 (laboratory report or Certificate of Analysis), and 911DF1 (AQCS-issued Sanitary Import Permit, the IRN of which must be quoted on the bill of entry to obtain the AQCS NOC).
What happens if the AQCS NOC is not obtained before customs out-of-charge?
Customs out-of-charge cannot be granted without the AQCS NOC; consignments for which the mandatory documents have not been uploaded in e-Sanchit are held under detention, attracting demurrage and ground rent until full AQCS clearance is confirmed.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: AQCS / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
Related
ChapterChapter 23 · Residues and waste from food industries; prepared animal fodderIndustryFood Products & Animal Feed industryHSNFLOURS, MEALS AND PELLETS, OF MEAT OR MEAT OFFAL, OF FISH OR OF CRUSTACEANS, MOLLUSCS OR OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES, UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMP-TION; GREAVES