COTTON, CARDED OR COMBED

Carded or combed cotton (cotton bales for spinning)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 12171

HSN 5203 00 00 (cotton, 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, by virtue of the Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023. Directorate General of Foreign Trade textile import policy controls, including Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirements, apply as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

5203 00 00

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 manufacturer or ginning facility holding a current licence against IS 12171:2019 for cotton bales. Verify the CM/L number, licensed facility address, and product scope 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 licence in accordance with Scheme-II of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the bale itself and be traceable to the licensed facility and lot.
Scheme-II of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023
3
Accompany the consignment with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory certifying absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. Imports originating from the European Union, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo dye testing but the PSIC remains required.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number on the bill of entry alongside the PSIC. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention and potential re-export or confiscation proceedings.
Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962
5
Note that the enforcement date of 27 August 2026 reflects deferral from the original notification; confirm no further deferral order is in force at the time of shipment by checking S.O. 3557(E), S.O. 3830(E), and S.O. 2996(E) against the latest gazette. The CM/L obligation is live from that date regardless of origin.
S.O. 3557(E) dated 07-08-2023 · S.O. 3830(E) dated 28-08-2023 · S.O. 2996(E) dated 03-07-2025

A word of counsel

The single most consequential error on this tariff line is assuming the deferred enforcement date confers a continuing grace period. The IS 12171:2019 obligation under S.O. 948(E) has been deferred three times — S.O. 3557(E), S.O. 3830(E), and S.O. 2996(E) — and each extension has been gazette-notified close to the prior deadline; importers who ship against long purchase-order cycles without re-confirming the current effective date risk arrival after the live date with unmarked bales and no licensed supplier, triggering detention and demurrage on a commodity consignment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5203 00 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. Conformity to IS 12171:2019 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 27 August 2026 under the Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2023; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the relevant facility and bale specification.

Is a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate required in addition to BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. A PSIC from an accredited laboratory certifying absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes is required under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy; imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo dye testing but not from the PSIC itself.

Why has the enforcement date been deferred multiple times, and is the 27 August 2026 date final?

The enforcement date under S.O. 948(E) was deferred by S.O. 3557(E) and S.O. 3830(E), and again by S.O. 2996(E) to 27 August 2026. Importers should verify the gazette immediately before shipment to confirm no further deferral has been notified.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all cotton bale grades and facilities?

No. The CM/L licence is facility-specific and scope-specific; bales from an unlicensed ginning plant or outside the licensed staple-length and grade range are not covered, and customs detains the consignment on a scope mismatch.

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