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Whole raw bovine or equine hides and skins, unsplit

AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 4101 20 90 (raw whole bovine and equine hides and skins) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) sanitary clearance and mandatory compulsory testing through designated laboratories under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying OM dated 20-02-2025. The tariff line also carries Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) policy controls, including a total prohibition on seal skin in any form under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020 dated 28-03-2018.

What this is
HSN code
4101 20 90
Chapter
41 · Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather
Primary regulator
AQCS · Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (sanitary clearance and compulsory testing)
Customs documentation
  • Health Certificate from AQCS
  • Veterinary Health Certificate from exporting country
  • ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
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
    Obtain a veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country and upload it in e-Sanchit under document code 853AQ1 before filing the bill of entry. This requirement applies to the 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 · document code 853AQ1
  2. 2
    Upload the AQCS health certificate (document code 6360AQ) in e-Sanchit prior to customs out-of-charge. Ensure mandatory compulsory testing through designated laboratories based on source animal as directed under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying OM dated 20-02-2025 (File No. L-110110/17/2017-Trade).
    OM dated 20-02-2025 · Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying · document code 6360AQ
  3. 3
    Confirm the consignment does not contain seal skin in any form. Seal skin imports are absolutely prohibited under the ITC (HS) import policy; consignments found to contain seal skin are liable to seizure and confiscation regardless of accompanying sanitary documentation.
    DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020 dated 28-03-2018
A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is presenting only the exporting-country veterinary health certificate and treating AQCS clearance as automatic. The compulsory testing requirement under the Ministry OM dated 20-02-2025 is an independent step: testing is assigned to a designated laboratory determined by source animal, and consignments may be detained for sampling even where both document codes 6360AQ and 853AQ1 are uploaded. Confirm the designated laboratory assignment before the consignment arrives at port to avoid detention and demurrage.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 4101 20 90 require BIS certification?
No, raw hides and skins fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services sanitary clearance and compulsory testing, with DGFT policy controls including a prohibition on seal skin under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020.
Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?
Document code 6360AQ (AQCS health certificate) and document code 853AQ1 (veterinary health certificate from the exporting country) must both be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge, per CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.
Does the seal skin prohibition apply only to finished products or also to raw hides?
The prohibition under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020 dated 28-03-2018 applies to seal skin in any form, covering raw hides and skins as well as processed or finished seal skin products; no import is permitted regardless of form or processing stage.
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: