Sandal Wood (Santalum Alvurn)

Sandalwood in the rough (Santalum album)

WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 4403 99 22 (Sandalwood in the rough) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) clearance under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, with CITES Convention compliance mandatory for each consignment. Import is Restricted under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and subject to policy condition 2 of Chapter 44.

What this is

HSN code

4403 99 22

Chapter

44 · Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal

Primary regulator

WCCB · Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (CITES-listed species)

Customs documentation

CITES certificate from WCCB
Phytosanitary Certificate from exporting country
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
Obtain a valid CITES certificate covering the specific shipment of Santalum album before the bill of entry is filed. Upload the CITES certificate in e-Sanchit under document code 626000; customs out-of-charge will not be granted until this document is verified by the proper officer.
ITC (HS) Restricted import policy condition 2 of Chapter 44 · CITES document code 626000
2
Ensure a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the competent plant-protection authority of the exporting country is uploaded in e-Sanchit under document code 851000. This certificate must accompany the consignment and is independently verified at the bill-of-entry stage.
E-Sanchit document code 851000 · ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 44

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is securing the CITES certificate for the species without verifying that it covers the exact quantity, description, and exporting country named on the bill of lading. A CITES certificate issued for a different consignment lot or a quantity mismatch results in detention and referral to WCCB, which does not permit post-arrival rectification; the consignment becomes liable to seizure under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 4403 99 22 require BIS certification?

No, sandalwood in the rough is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, requiring a CITES certificate, with the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by DGFT applying as the trade-policy overlay.

Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge?

Document code 626000 (CITES certificate) and document code 851000 (Phytosanitary Certificate) must both be uploaded in e-Sanchit; the proper officer verifies these before granting out-of-charge on PGA-facilitated bills.

What is the effect of ITC (HS) policy condition 2 of Chapter 44 on this import?

Policy condition 2 of Chapter 44 classifies this tariff line as Restricted, meaning import is not freely permitted and requires fulfilment of the CITES and phytosanitary documentation requirements before the consignment can be released from customs.

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