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Other

Bird skins, feathers, down and articles thereof (other)

AQCS CLEARANCE · WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 6701 00 90 (Other bird skins, feathers, down and articles thereof) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) veterinary health clearance and 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) administers an ITC (HS) policy overlay requiring compliance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 as a condition of import.

What this is
HSN code
6701 00 90
Chapter
67 · Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers
Primary regulator
AQCS · Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and CITES
Customs documentation
  • CITES certificate from WCCB
  • Health certificate from AQCS
  • Veterinary health certificate from exporting country
Applicable Partner Government Agencies
AQCSAQCS·Animal Quarantine and Certification Services
WCCBWCCB·Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Obtain a valid CITES permit or certificate (document code 626000) before shipment where the species falls within CITES Appendix I, II, or III. Upload the CITES certificate in e-Sanchit prior to bill of entry; consignments without a valid CITES document are liable to seizure under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
    Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 · CITES · ITC (HS) policy, Chapter 67
  2. 2
    Upload the health certificate issued by the exporting country (document code 6360AQ) and the veterinary health certificate (document code 853AQ1) in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge. These documents are mandatory for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 1) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · document codes 6360AQ, 853AQ1
  3. 3
    Upload the laboratory report or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1) for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 2) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022. Failure to upload any mandatory AQCS document prevents out-of-charge and exposes the consignment to detention and ground rent.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · document code 001AQ1
A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is assuming that a health certificate satisfies the full clearance requirement and overlooking the CITES permit as a separate and independent obligation. Where the bird species — or any part, feather, or article derived from it — falls under a CITES Appendix listing, import without a valid CITES certificate constitutes a criminal offence under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, regardless of AQCS clearance status; the two regimes operate concurrently, not sequentially.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 6701 00 90 require BIS certification?
No, this tariff line is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and CITES, with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau controls applying concurrently.
Which e-Sanchit document codes are mandatory for this HSN at the bill of entry?
The mandatory document codes are 626000 (CITES certificate), 6360AQ (health certificate), 853AQ1 (veterinary health certificate from the exporting country), and 001AQ1 (laboratory report or Certificate of Analysis), as prescribed under CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.
Does CITES apply to all products under this HSN or only to specific species?
CITES applies to species listed in its Appendices I, II, or III; not all bird feather or down articles will involve a CITES-listed species. The importer must verify the species identity of the goods against the current CITES Appendix listings before shipment, as misidentification that results in import of a listed species without a permit constitutes a seizure-triggering offence under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: AQCS / WCCB / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
Related
ChapterChapter 67 · Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowersHSNSKINS AND OTHER PARTS OF BIRDS WITH THEIR FEATHERS OR DOWN, FEATHERS, PARTS OF FEATHERS, DOWN AND ARTICLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN GOODS OF HEADING 0505 AND WORKED QUILLS AND SCAPES)HSNSkins and other parts of birds with their feathers or down, feathers, parts of feathers, down and articles thereof (other than goods of heading 0505 and worked quills and scapes):