Indian cotton of staple length 28.5 mm (14/32”) and above but below 34.5 mm
Raw cotton bales of Indian long-staple variety
HSN 5201 00 15 (Indian long-staple cotton, 28.5 mm to below 34.5 mm, not carded or combed) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 12171:2019 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 27 August 2026, pursuant to the Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023. Directorate General of Foreign Trade textile-import policy controls apply as a separate customs-clearance overlay.
Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
- 1Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer or ginner holding a current licence against IS 12171:2019 for cotton bales. Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, and licensed facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023 · S.O. 948(E) dated 28-02-2023 · S.O. 2996(E) dated 03-07-2025
- 2Ensure every cotton bale bears the ISI standard mark and the supplier's CM/L number in accordance with Scheme-II of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the bale identification tag and not on outer packaging alone.Scheme-II of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 3557(E) dated 07-08-2023 · S.O. 3830(E) dated 28-08-2023
- 3Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or a valid test report from TC or CSRTI, confirming absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo dye testing.General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
- 4Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the PSIC reference on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention.Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962
- 5If the consignment originates in Bangladesh, verify whether the goods fall within the port restrictions under paragraph 19 of the general notes to the import policy per DGFT Notification 7/25-26. Document the applicable carve-out under paragraphs 2 and 3 if the consignment is exempt.DGFT Notification 7/25-26 dated 17-05-2025 · General Note applicable under ITC (HS) 2022
The most common error on this tariff line is treating 27 August 2026 as a distant horizon and deferring CM/L verification until the enforcement date is imminent. The BIS register confirms licence validity at the time of import, not at the time of order placement; purchase orders placed today against a supplier who has not yet obtained a CM/L licence will result in detention at port once the enforcement date passes, with no grace period for consignments already in transit. Audit the supplier's CM/L status against IS 12171:2019 now and build a re-verification checkpoint into purchase-order terms.