Cotton sewing thread, not containing any synthetic staple fibre

Cotton sewing thread, 85% or more cotton, not retail

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5204 11 40 (Cotton sewing thread, not containing any synthetic staple fibre) is subject to ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), requiring a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI.

What this is

HSN code

5204 11 40

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (hazardous dye testing), Chapter 52

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee
ITC (HS) policy compliance declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Procure a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from the Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI), certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before the consignment is shipped.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Verify the country of origin: azo-dye testing is exempted only for imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Consignments from all other origins must carry a PSIC or valid TC/CSRTI test report; absence of this document at the bill-of-entry stage renders the consignment liable to detention.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming the azo-dye testing exemption applies broadly, when it is strictly confined to nine named origins. A consignment from any unlisted country — including close trading partners such as Bangladesh, China, or Vietnam — must carry a valid PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report; filing the bill of entry without it results in consignment detention and demurrage until the document is produced or the goods are re-exported.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5204 11 40 require BIS certification?

No, cotton sewing thread is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10.

Is a PSIC required even if the supplier has already provided a Certificate of Analysis?

Yes. The General Note 10 requirement is specifically for a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI; a generic Certificate of Analysis from the supplier does not satisfy this obligation per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

What happens if the exporting country's laboratory is not accredited?

If no accredited laboratory is available in the exporting country, a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI, obtained either pre-shipment or at the port of import, serves as the alternative compliance document under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

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