Other

Other articles of leather or composition leather

WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 4205 00 90 (Other articles of leather or of composition leather) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) controls under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) ITC (HS) policy applies as an overlay, with import of seal skin in any form prohibited outright.

What this is

HSN code

4205 00 90

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

WCCB · Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and CITES

Customs documentation

CITES permit from WCCB
ITC (HS) compliance 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
Before filing the bill of entry, confirm that the leather or composition leather article is not derived from a CITES-listed species. If it is, obtain a valid CITES import permit issued by WCCB and ensure the corresponding export permit from the country of origin is attached to the consignment.
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended) · CITES · ITC (HS) policy, Chapter 42
2
Verify that the consignment does not contain seal skin in any form, including processed or composite articles. Import of seal skin is prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy for this tariff line; a prohibited-goods consignment is liable to confiscation and criminal liability under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 42 · Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that a finished leather article — belts, straps, industrial components — carries no CITES exposure simply because the species identity is obscured by processing. Customs examination can require species identification at the bill-of-entry stage, and an importer who cannot produce species documentation for a CITES Appendix-listed source material faces detention, confiscation, and prosecution under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4205 00 90 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers articles of leather or composition leather under this tariff line. Import is governed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and CITES, with ITC (HS) policy controls administered by DGFT.

Is seal skin prohibited in all forms, including finished articles?

Yes. The ITC (HS) policy prohibition on seal skin under this CTI applies to seal skin in any form, meaning finished or composite articles incorporating seal skin are equally prohibited.

What happens if the imported article is derived from a CITES-listed species without a permit?

The consignment is liable to seizure and confiscation under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and the importer is exposed to criminal prosecution; there is no post-arrival remedy for a missing CITES permit.

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