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Home›HSN›Chapter 41›HSN 4101 20 10

Of cow, including cow calf

Raw whole cow hides and skins, unsplit

AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 4101 20 10 (raw whole hides and skins of cow, including cow calf) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) sanitary clearance, with a mandatory veterinary health certificate and compulsory laboratory testing under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying's OM dated 20-02-2025. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy applies as an overlay, and import of seal skin in any form is prohibited under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020.

What this is
HSN code
4101 20 10
Chapter
41 · Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather
Primary regulator
AQCS · Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (sanitary clearance regime)
Customs documentation
  • Health Certificate from AQCS
  • Veterinary Health Certificate from exporting country
  • Import NOC from AQCS
Applicable Partner Government Agencies
AQCSAQCS·Animal Quarantine and Certification Services

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

Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Upload the health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country (document code 6360AQ) in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The AQCS NOC cannot be granted until this document is verified by the proper officer at the designated port.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · document code 6360AQ
  2. 2
    Upload the veterinary health certificate issued by the exporting country under document code 853AQ1 in e-Sanchit, as mandated for the CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 1) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus. Both document codes 6360AQ and 853AQ1 must be present before out-of-charge is granted.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · document code 853AQ1
  3. 3
    Ensure the consignment is routed through a designated laboratory for compulsory testing as prescribed in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying OM dated 20-02-2025 (File No. L-110110/17/2017-Trade). The applicable laboratory is determined by the source animal; deviation from the designated laboratory assignment attracts detention pending re-testing.
    Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying OM dated 20-02-2025 · File No. L-110110/17/2017-Trade (E-2957)
A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is uploading only the health certificate (6360AQ) and overlooking the separate veterinary health certificate requirement (853AQ1), which is a distinct AQCS documentary obligation under CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus. A consignment with one certificate absent will be detained at the port of entry pending document rectification, accruing demurrage and ground rent. Additionally, confirm the product description excludes seal skin entirely — any admixture triggers the absolute prohibition under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 4101 20 10 require BIS certification?
No, raw hides and skins fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services sanitary clearance with mandatory veterinary health certificates, and by the DGFT ITC (HS) policy overlay.
What are the two mandatory document codes for AQCS clearance at the bill of entry?
Document code 6360AQ (health certificate from the exporting country) and document code 853AQ1 (veterinary health certificate from the exporting country) must both be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge, per CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.
Is there any absolute import prohibition applicable to this tariff line?
Yes. Import of seal skin in any form is prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy per DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020 dated 28-03-2018; this prohibition applies regardless of the processing state of the skin.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: AQCS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
Related
ChapterChapter 41 · Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leatherHSNRAW HIDES AND SKINS OF BOVINE (INCLUDING BUFFALO) OR EQUINE ANIMALS (FRESH OR SALTED, DRIED, LIMED, PICKLED OR OTHERWISE PRESERVED, BUT NOT TANNED, PARCHMENT-DRESSED OR FURTHERPREPARED), WHETHER OR NOT DEHAIRED OR SPLITHSNWhole hides and skins, unsplit of a weight per skin not exceeding 8 kg. when simply dried, 10 kg. when dry-salted, or 16 kg. when fresh, wet-salted or otherwise preserved: