Worked ivory and articles of ivory

WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 9601 10 00 (Worked ivory and articles of ivory) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) oversight under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the import of this tariff line is Prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Where a CITES-compliant exception applies, a CITES Certificate (document code 626000) must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before customs out-of-charge.

What this is

HSN code

9601 10 00

Chapter

96 · Miscellaneous manufactured articles

Primary regulator

WCCB · Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (CITES-controlled ivory regime)

Customs documentation

CITES Certificate from WCCB
ITC (HS) prohibition 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
Note that import of worked ivory and articles of ivory is Prohibited under the ITC (HS) policy for this CTI. No general commercial import is permitted; attempted import without a valid CITES-based authorisation will result in seizure and confiscation at the port.
ITC (HS) Import Policy — Prohibited, CTI 9601 10 00
2
Where a CITES-compliant import is sought, ensure the CITES Certificate (document code 626000) is obtained from the relevant competent authority and uploaded in e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is filed. The proper officer will verify the mandatory document before granting out-of-charge.
CITES Certificate · document code 626000 · e-Sanchit mandatory upload requirement

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is conflating antique-ivory exemption claims under CITES with a general licence to import. Even where a CITES Certificate exists, the ITC (HS) Prohibited-import status means DGFT enforcement and customs seizure remain live risks if the certificate does not cover the precise quantity, origin, and article type declared on the bill of entry. Any discrepancy between the CITES Certificate particulars and the consignment description is treated as a Prohibited-goods violation, attracting confiscation and criminal liability under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 9601 10 00 require BIS certification?

No, worked ivory is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and the tariff line is Prohibited under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by DGFT.

Is a CITES Certificate sufficient to override the Prohibited-import status for this CTI?

A CITES Certificate (document code 626000) is mandatory where any CITES-based exception is claimed, but it does not independently override the ITC (HS) Prohibited classification; DGFT policy controls remain operative and must be reconciled at the bill-of-entry stage.

What happens if worked ivory is imported without the required CITES Certificate?

Consignments arriving without the CITES Certificate uploaded in e-Sanchit will not receive customs out-of-charge and are liable to seizure and confiscation, with criminal liability under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

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