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Worked tortoise-shell and articles thereof

Worked tortoise-shell and articles thereof

AQCS CLEARANCE · WCCB CLEARANCE

HSN 9601 90 10 (Worked tortoise-shell and articles thereof) is subject to Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) CITES permit requirements under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, given that tortoise-shell derives from CITES-listed chelonian species. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) health and veterinary clearance applies concurrently, and the tariff line is Restricted under the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

What this is
HSN code
9601 90 10
Chapter
96 · Miscellaneous manufactured articles
Primary regulator
WCCB · Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (CITES permit regime)
Customs documentation
  • CITES Certificate from WCCB
  • Health Certificate from AQCS
  • Veterinary Health Certificate from AQCS
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 Certificate (document code 626000) from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau covering the specific quantity and species of worked tortoise-shell before shipment. Upload the certificate in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry; the consignment will not receive out-of-charge without this document.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Chapter 96
  2. 2
    Upload the Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country (document code 853AQ1) and the Laboratory Report or Certificate of Analysis (document code 001AQ1) in e-Sanchit. These documents are mandatory for CTIs listed in Annexure A (Sl. No. 1 and Sl. No. 2 respectively) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · document codes 853AQ1 and 001AQ1
  3. 3
    Confirm the Health Certificate (document code 6360AQ) has also been uploaded in e-Sanchit. The proper officer is required to verify all mandatory PGA documents — CITES Certificate, Health Certificate, Veterinary Health Certificate and Laboratory Report — before granting out-of-charge on PGA-facilitated bills.
    CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022 · document code 6360AQ
A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is presenting only the CITES Certificate and treating it as the sole clearance requirement. Tortoise-shell articles attract a parallel AQCS veterinary and analytical overlay — Veterinary Health Certificate (853AQ1), Laboratory Report/COA (001AQ1) and Health Certificate (6360AQ) — that is independent of CITES. A consignment arriving with a valid CITES Certificate but missing any of these AQCS documents will be detained at the port of entry, with demurrage and ground rent accruing until all four documents are verified in e-Sanchit.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 9601 90 10 require BIS certification?
No, worked tortoise-shell articles fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau under the CITES permit framework and by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services for veterinary clearance, with the tariff line carrying Restricted status under the DGFT ITC (HS) import policy.
Which document codes must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for this tariff line?
Four documents are mandatory: CITES Certificate (626000), Health Certificate (6360AQ), Veterinary Health Certificate (853AQ1) and Laboratory Report or Certificate of Analysis (001AQ1), all per CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.
Can worked tortoise-shell articles be imported if the exporting country is not a CITES signatory?
The CITES permit regime requires documentation from both the exporting-country CITES Management Authority and the Indian WCCB; consignments from non-signatory origins cannot satisfy this requirement and the import is liable to confiscation and criminal liability under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: AQCS / WCCB / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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