Vanity-bags

Vanity-bags with outer surface of leather or composition leather

WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 4202 21 20 (Vanity-bags) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) clearance under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), requiring a CITES certificate uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) additionally prohibits import of seal skin in any form under the ITC (HS) import policy.

What this is

HSN code

4202 21 20

Chapter

42 · Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers

Primary regulator

WCCB · CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)

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
Verify that the vanity-bags are not made from or contain any material derived from CITES-listed species. If the outer surface or any component involves a CITES-scheduled species, obtain the requisite CITES certificate and upload it in e-Sanchit under document code 626000 before the bill of entry is filed.
CITES certificate · document code 626000 · e-Sanchit upload requirement per CCR
2
Confirm that the consignment contains no seal skin in any form, including as the outer surface, lining, trim, or accessory element. Import of seal skin is prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy and any consignment found to contain seal skin is liable to confiscation.
ITC (HS) import policy — Prohibited import · DGFT

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is importing vanity-bags with exotic or wild-animal-derived outer surfaces and assuming that a leather certificate from the exporter is sufficient — it is not. WCCB clearance via a CITES certificate (document code 626000) is independently required where any CITES-listed species material is present, and failure to upload the certificate before out-of-charge results in consignment detention. The seal-skin prohibition is absolute: no licence or exemption applies.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4202 21 20 require BIS certification?

No, vanity-bags with a leather outer surface are not subject to any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under CITES, with the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade imposing a blanket prohibition on seal skin in any form.

Is the CITES certificate required for all vanity-bags under this HSN, or only for specific materials?

The CITES certificate (document code 626000) is required only where the outer surface or any component of the bag is derived from a CITES-listed species; bags made entirely from non-listed leather or composition leather do not trigger the CITES upload obligation.

What happens if a consignment contains seal skin and is cleared before detection?

Import of seal skin in any form is Prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy; a consignment found to contain seal skin is liable to outright confiscation and DGFT-policy enforcement, regardless of the stage at which the violation is detected.

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