Of wild animals covered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

Furskin apparel and accessories from wild animals

WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 4303 10 10 (articles of apparel and clothing accessories of wild animals) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) oversight under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and import is Prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Import of seal skin in any form is separately prohibited under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020 dated 28-03-2018. Where a CITES-compliant exemption pathway applies, a CITES Certificate (document code 626000) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge.

What this is

HSN code

4303 10 10

Chapter

43 · Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof

Primary regulator

WCCB · Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

Customs documentation

CITES Certificate from WCCB
Import permit from DGFT
ITC (HS) policy compliance

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
Note that import under this tariff line is Prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy. Any import attempt without a valid legal basis — such as a CITES-compliant permit for a non-prohibited specimen — will result in confiscation and prosecution under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 43 · Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
2
If a CITES-based import pathway applies, ensure the CITES Certificate (document code 626000) is uploaded in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. The proper officer will verify this upload before granting out-of-charge; consignments without the uploaded certificate are detained.
CITES Certificate document code 626000 · ITC (HS) policy, Chapter 43
3
Seal skin in any form is subject to an absolute prohibition under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020 dated 28-03-2018 and cannot be imported under any CITES or other exemption pathway. Ensure the species origin is confirmed before shipment to avoid seizure and monetary penalty.
DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020 dated 28-03-2018

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that possession of a CITES permit converts a Prohibited-import entry into a free or restricted one. The ITC (HS) Prohibited status is independent of CITES documentation: even where a CITES permit exists, clearance requires prior confirmation that the specific specimen and species fall outside the absolute prohibition under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and the seal-skin prohibition under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4303 10 10 require BIS certification?

No, articles of furskin apparel from wild animals are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, with an ITC (HS) Prohibited-import status administered by DGFT.

Is the CITES Certificate upload in e-Sanchit mandatory at the bill of entry stage?

Yes. The CITES Certificate (document code 626000) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before the proper officer can grant out-of-charge; consignments routed without PGA NOC are verified against this requirement at the point of customs clearance.

Does the seal skin prohibition apply only to finished garments or to all forms?

The prohibition under DGFT Notification 59/2015-2020 dated 28-03-2018 applies to seal skin in any form, covering raw skins, semi-processed materials, and finished articles — no exemption pathway exists for seal skin under this tariff line.

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