Other

Coniferous fuel wood, chips, sawdust and wood waste

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 4401 11 90 (Other coniferous fuel wood) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under which a Phytosanitary Certificate is mandatory at the bill of entry. All species of sandalwood are excluded from this CTH and are governed by separate CITES and DGFT controls.

What this is

HSN code

4401 11 90

Chapter

44 · Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 44

Customs documentation

Phytosanitary Certificate from exporting country authority
ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) issued by the competent plant-protection authority of the exporting country and upload it in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Customs out-of-charge will not be granted until this document is verified in e-Sanchit.
ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 44 · e-Sanchit document code 851000
2
Confirm at classification that the wood species being imported is not sandalwood. All sandalwood species are explicitly excluded from CTH 4401 under the ITC (HS) policy; misclassification of sandalwood under this CTH attracts seizure and monetary penalty.
ITC (HS) policy, Chapter 44 — sandalwood exclusion under CTH 4401

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is failing to upload the Phytosanitary Certificate in e-Sanchit prior to the bill of entry, treating it as a post-arrival document. Customs proper officers are directed to withhold out-of-charge for PGA-facilitated bills where document code 851000 is absent from e-Sanchit, and the resulting detention attracts port demurrage and ground rent that accumulates rapidly for bulk wood consignments.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4401 11 90 require BIS certification?

No, coniferous fuel wood, chips, and wood waste are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a mandatory Phytosanitary Certificate requirement at the bill of entry.

Is the Phytosanitary Certificate document code 851000 mandatory for all consignments under this CTH?

Yes. Document code 851000 must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge is granted; consignments where the certificate has not been uploaded will be held by the proper officer pending verification.

Can sandalwood be imported under HSN 4401 11 90?

No. All species of sandalwood are explicitly excluded from CTH 4401 under the ITC (HS) policy and must be classified and cleared under the applicable separate tariff line with the relevant CITES and DGFT controls.

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