Gelatin capsules, empty

Empty gelatin capsules, unhardened gelatin articles

AQCS CLEARANCE

HSN 9602 00 30 (Gelatin capsules, empty) is subject to Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) clearance as a product of animal origin, with a Veterinary Health Certificate and Laboratory Certificate of Analysis required at the bill-of-entry stage under CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022. Drug-related documentation overlays — including a Registration Certificate for Drugs and an Import Licence for Drugs — are also mandated, with all documents to be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge.

What this is

HSN code

9602 00 30

Chapter

96 · Miscellaneous manufactured articles

Primary regulator

AQCS · Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (animal-origin product clearance)

Customs documentation

Veterinary Health Certificate from AQCS
Health Certificate from AQCS
Registration Certificate (Drugs) from drug authority

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

AQCSAQCS·Animal Quarantine and Certification Services

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country and upload it in e-Sanchit under document code 853AQ1. Also upload the Laboratory Reports/Certificate of Analysis under document code 001AQ1, as required for CTIs listed in Annexure A (SL. No. 1 and SL. No. 2) of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022, Annexure A SL. No. 1 and SL. No. 2
2
Upload all mandatory drug-related documents in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry: Certificate of Analysis – Drug (0010DC), Batch Release Certificate (0030DC), Label of Consignment (0110DC), Registration Certificate (Drugs) (101DC1), Health Certificate (6360AQ), and Import Licence for Drugs (9111DC). The proper officer will verify these uploads prior to granting out-of-charge.
CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022; e-Sanchit mandatory document requirement per CCR

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating empty gelatin capsules as a purely pharmaceutical packaging material and uploading only the drug-side documents (Registration Certificate and Import Licence for Drugs) while omitting the AQCS animal-origin overlay — the Veterinary Health Certificate (853AQ1) and the Laboratory COA (001AQ1). The AQCS NOC is independently required and its absence, even where all drug-side documents are current, will result in consignment detention pending AQCS clearance with attendant demurrage and ground rent liability.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 9602 00 30 require BIS certification?

No, empty gelatin capsules are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services clearance as an animal-origin product, with concurrent drug-documentation requirements mandated under CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus dated 28-11-2022.

Which e-Sanchit document codes are mandatory for this tariff line at the bill of entry?

Six codes are required: 853AQ1 (Veterinary Health Certificate), 001AQ1 (Laboratory COA), 0010DC (Certificate of Analysis – Drug), 0030DC (Batch Release Certificate), 0110DC (Label of Consignment), 101DC1 (Registration Certificate – Drugs), and 9111DC (Import Licence for Drugs); all must be uploaded before out-of-charge is granted.

Does the AQCS Veterinary Health Certificate requirement apply even when the capsules are imported empty with no drug fill?

Yes. The AQCS overlay applies because gelatin is derived from animal-origin material; the capsules' unfilled status does not remove the animal-origin clearance obligation, and both the Veterinary Health Certificate and the Laboratory COA remain mandatory under Annexure A of CBIC Circular 24/2022-Cus.

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