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Of buffalo, including buffalo calf

Raw whole buffalo hides and skins, weight exceeding 16 kg

AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 4101 50 20 (raw whole buffalo hides and skins exceeding 16 kg) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) sanitary clearance, including mandatory veterinary health certification and compulsory laboratory testing, under the livestock import regime. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers the ITC (HS) policy overlay, under which the import of seal skin in any form is prohibited; buffalo hides are importable subject to AQCS clearance.

What this is
HSN code
4101 50 20
Chapter
41 · Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather
Primary regulator
AQCS · Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (livestock import sanitary regime)
Customs documentation
  • Health Certificate from AQCS
  • Veterinary Health Certificate from exporting country
  • Compulsory test report from designated laboratory
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 before shipment. Upload the certificate in e-Sanchit under document code 853AQ1, as required for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 1) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022, and also upload the AQCS health certificate under document code 6360AQ.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · document codes 853AQ1 and 6360AQ
  2. 2
    Ensure the consignment undergoes compulsory testing at a designated laboratory as specified by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The applicable laboratory is determined by the source animal, and the testing requirement must be strictly followed before out-of-charge at customs.
    OM dated 20-02-2025 issued by Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, File No. L-110110/17/2017-Trade (E-2957)
  3. 3
    Confirm the consignment does not contain seal skin in any form, which is absolutely prohibited under the ITC (HS) import policy. Buffalo hides are importable subject to AQCS clearance; a mixed consignment containing any seal-skin material is liable to confiscation.
    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 (document code 853AQ1) without separately uploading the AQCS health certificate (document code 6360AQ) — these are two distinct documents with separate e-Sanchit upload requirements. For PGA-facilitated bills not routed through the PGA for NOC, the customs proper officer will independently verify both uploads before granting out-of-charge; a missing upload causes consignment detention and accumulating demurrage at the designated port.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 4101 50 20 require BIS certification?
No, raw buffalo hides and skins are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services sanitary clearance requirements, with DGFT administering the ITC (HS) policy overlay that prohibits seal skin imports under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020.
Are both document codes 6360AQ and 853AQ1 required at the bill of entry for this HSN?
Yes. The AQCS health certificate (document code 6360AQ) and the exporting-country veterinary health certificate (document code 853AQ1) are separately mandated and must each be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge, per CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.
What triggers the compulsory laboratory testing requirement for buffalo hides?
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying OM dated 20-02-2025 mandates compulsory testing at designated laboratories for raw animal hides; the specific laboratory is determined by the source animal and the requirement applies to all such imports without exemption.
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, of a weight exceeding 16 kg.