India: Restrictions on Export of Human Hair

On January 25, 2022, the Government imposed restriction on export of human hair. This ban was imposed with the aim of curbing alleged smuggling of products from India.

Key Facts

• With this decision, exporters would now require permission or licence from Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to send shipments of hair outside India.
• Export policy of human hair has put the ‘unworked, whether washed or not or scoured, waste of human hair or other form of raw human hair’ under restricted category.

Views of hair exporters

Hair exporters welcomed this decision. It was a long pending demand. This labour-intensive industry was facing a challenge of smuggling of raw human hair to countries like China and Myanmar, which in turn is hurting local industries and exports. With the implementation of new norms, only genuine exporters will be able to export the product.

Raw hair industry

West Bengal is the major hub of raw hair industry in India. Apart from West Bengal, industries are there in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Major competitors of India include Cambodia, China, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Collection of Raw Human Hair

In India, raw human hair is mainly collected from households and temples across the mentioned states. collection of hair primarily caters to the beauty market globally. In India, two types of hair are collected:

1. Remy Hair– Remy hair is the best grade. It is collected from temples since pilgrims donate their hair as part of a religious vow. This quality of hair is mainly used to make wigs and hairpieces.
2. Non-Remy hair– non-Remy hair is a household waste. It is collected by small groups of people in cities and villages and cities. The hair is then segregate and are sold to dealers.