Archive · 21 Aug 2025
India: Hyderabad Not the Hub for Human Hair Smuggling
The government said Hyderabad isn't the main place where hair is being illegally sent out of the country.
No suspicious cases have been found.
The government changed rules about sending hair out of the country, generally not allowed, unless it's worth a certain amount.
The government is watching closely and uses methods like checking shipping containers.
The Ministry of Finance clarified Hyderabad is not the epicenter of human hair smuggling.
No such cases have been detected by Customs or DRI since FY2023-24.
DGFT revised the export policy for human hair to 'Prohibited'.
Export is 'Free' if the FOB value is $65 or more per kilogram.
DRI and customs use vigilance measures like container scanning to deter smuggling.
- Who
- Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary.
- What
- The Ministry of Finance refuted claims that Hyderabad is the epicenter of human hair smuggling.
- When
- Since the financial year 2023-24.
- Where
- Hyderabad, India, and concerning export to Myanmar.
- Why
- To clarify the role of Hyderabad in human hair smuggling and address concerns raised in the Rajya Sabha.
Original Concerns
Ministry's Findings
Hyderabad's Role
Original Concerns
There were reports of Hyderabad being the center of human hair smuggling.
Ministry's Findings
The Ministry of Finance refuted this claim stating that Hyderabad is not the epicenter of human hair smuggling
- Minister Responding
- Pankaj Chaudhary
- Source
- Ministry of Finance
- Export Policy Revision
- DGFT Notification No. 59/2024-25
- Hair Category
- Unworked human hair and waste of human hair
- Original Export Status
- Restricted
- Current Export Status
- Prohibited
- Free Export Threshold
- $65 or above per kilogram
