Of staple length exceeding 20.0 mm but not exceeding 24.5 mm

Raw cotton bales of staple length 20.0 to 24.5 mm

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 12171

HSN 5201 00 22 (raw cotton bales of staple length exceeding 20.0 mm but not exceeding 24.5 mm) 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, by virtue of the Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023. Directorate General of Foreign Trade policy controls on cotton imports apply as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

5201 00 22

Chapter

52 · Cotton

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 12171:2019 · effective 27-08-2026

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed supplier holding a current licence against IS 12171:2019 for cotton bales. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, staple length range, 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
2
Ensure each cotton bale bears the ISI standard mark under a CM/L licence in accordance with Scheme-II of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the bale identification tag, not on outer packaging alone.
Scheme-II of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023
3
Confirm that the consignment parameters — bale density, moisture content, trash content, contamination, and staple length classification — fall within IS 12171:2019 limits for the 20.0–24.5 mm staple grade. Retain the supplier's test documentation for customs inspection.
IS 12171:2019 · S.O. 3557(E) dated 07-08-2023 · S.O. 3830(E) dated 28-08-2023
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number 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, demurrage, and potential re-export or confiscation.
Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962
5
If the consignment originates in Bangladesh, verify whether the goods fall within the port restrictions introduced under paragraph 19 of the general notes to the ITC (HS) 2022 import policy. Goods outside the documented carve-outs in paragraphs 2 and 3 are restricted to specified ports.
DGFT Notification 7/25-26 dated 17-05-2025 · General Notes to ITC (HS) 2022 import policy

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is treating IS 12171:2019 as a document-only requirement rather than a product-marking obligation at the bale level. The Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order requires the ISI standard mark to appear on the bale identification tag under a valid CM/L — unmarked bales sourced from an unlicensed gin or press, however well-tested by a third party, remain non-compliant and face detention at the port of import regardless of accompanying certificate quality.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5201 00 22 require BIS certification?

Yes. Conformity to IS 12171:2019 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 27 August 2026; import is permitted only from suppliers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the 20.0–24.5 mm staple length range.

Which scheme governs the BIS licence for cotton bales under IS 12171:2019?

Scheme-II of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 applies; the licence type is CM/L and requires the ISI standard mark on each bale.

Do all four QCO notifications — S.O. 948(E), S.O. 3557(E), S.O. 3830(E), and S.O. 2996(E) — apply simultaneously?

Yes. S.O. 948(E) is the base order; S.O. 3557(E) and S.O. 3830(E) are amendments to it, and S.O. 2996(E) dated 03-07-2025 is the most recent amendment — together they constitute the Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023 framework in its current form.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all staple length grades of cotton bales from the same supplier?

No. The CM/L is scope-specific by product specification and licensed facility; staple length grades or manufacturing locations outside the licensed scope are not covered, and customs detains consignments on any scope mismatch.

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