Other

Leather or composition leather articles (cases, bags, wallets)

WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 4202 31 90 (articles with outer surface of leather or composition leather) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) oversight requiring a CITES certificate under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species framework. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers an ITC (HS) prohibition on the import of seal skin in any form as an additional policy overlay.

What this is

HSN code

4202 31 90

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 declaration 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
Obtain a valid CITES certificate for the consignment and ensure it is uploaded in e-Sanchit under document code 626000 before the bill of entry is filed. The proper officer will verify this upload as a prerequisite to out-of-charge for all PGA-facilitated bills.
ITC (HS) Import Policy · CITES certificate document code 626000 · e-Sanchit OOC verification requirement
2
Confirm that the consignment contains no seal skin in any form — whether as the outer surface material, lining, trim, or decorative element. Import of seal skin is absolutely prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy; consignments containing seal skin are liable to confiscation.
ITC (HS) Import Policy — Prohibition on seal skin imports, Chapter 42

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that leather provenance documentation from the supplier satisfies the CITES requirement. A commercial invoice or certificate of origin confirming leather type does not substitute for a CITES certificate — where the outer surface material derives from a CITES-listed species, the 626000 document code upload in e-Sanchit is mandatory and its absence at the bill of entry stage results in consignment detention pending WCCB clearance.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4202 31 90 require BIS certification?

No, leather or composition leather articles of this kind are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau's CITES certificate requirement and the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, which includes an absolute prohibition on seal skin imports.

Is the CITES certificate required for all leather articles under this HSN, or only for specific species?

The CITES certificate (document code 626000) is mandated at the bill-of-entry stage for all consignments under this tariff line that involve CITES-listed species; importers must confirm the species origin of the leather or composition leather before shipment to determine whether a CITES permit is required.

What happens if a consignment under HSN 4202 31 90 is found to contain seal skin?

Import of seal skin in any form is prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy; a consignment found to contain seal skin is liable to confiscation and may attract enforcement action under wildlife-trade provisions administered by WCCB.

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