Semul (Bombaxceiba)

Semul wood in the rough (Bombax ceiba)

PARTNER GOVERNMENT AGENCY CLEARANCE

HSN 4403 99 23 (Semul, Bombax ceiba) is subject to phytosanitary clearance administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the ITC (HS) import policy for wood in the rough. A Phytosanitary Certificate must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is

HSN code

4403 99 23

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 compliance from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) issued by the competent plant-protection authority of the exporting country before shipment. Upload the certificate in e-Sanchit prior to filing the bill of entry; customs out-of-charge will not be granted until the document is verified.
CCR mandatory document requirement · document code 851000 · e-Sanchit upload obligation
2
Confirm compliance with the ITC (HS) import policy for Chapter 44 at the bill-of-entry stage. Where the bill has not been routed through the PGA for NOC, the customs proper officer will independently verify the e-Sanchit upload of the Phytosanitary Certificate before allowing out-of-charge.
ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 44 · Indian Customs CUSDATA CCR

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is dispatching the consignment before the Phytosanitary Certificate is available from the exporting country's plant-protection authority, on the assumption that the document can be uploaded retrospectively. Customs out-of-charge is withheld until document code 851000 is live in e-Sanchit; detention at port accumulates demurrage and ground rent from the date of vessel arrival, and there is no provision for a provisional release pending late upload.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4403 99 23 require BIS certification?

No, wood in the rough including Semul (Bombax ceiba) is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. The operative requirement at the bill-of-entry stage is the Phytosanitary Certificate (document code 851000) uploaded in e-Sanchit, under the ITC (HS) import policy for Chapter 44.

Who issues the Phytosanitary Certificate and which document code applies in e-Sanchit?

The Phytosanitary Certificate is issued by the official plant-protection authority of the exporting country and must be uploaded in e-Sanchit under document code 851000 before customs out-of-charge.

What happens if the bill of entry is not routed through the PGA for NOC?

Where a bill is PGA-facilitated but not routed through the PGA for NOC, the customs proper officer is required to independently verify that document code 851000 has been uploaded in e-Sanchit before granting out-of-charge; absence of the certificate results in consignment detention.

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