Other

Cotton sewing thread, not for retail sale

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5204 19 00 (Cotton sewing thread) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) covering the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

What this is

HSN code

5204 19 00

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
ITC (HS) policy compliance declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before the consignment is dispatched.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm whether the exporting country qualifies for the azo-dye testing exemption. The exemption applies only to imports originating from EU member states, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; PSIC for azo-dye absence is mandatory for all other origins.
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 that a general-purpose test report obtained post-shipment substitutes for a PSIC from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country. The PSIC must be issued pre-shipment; a post-arrival test report does not satisfy General Note 10, and consignments arriving without a compliant PSIC are liable to detention pending re-testing at the importer's cost.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5204 19 00 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, with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under General Note 10 to certify the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye PSIC requirement?

Only imports originating from EU member states, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins must furnish a compliant PSIC.

Does the PSIC requirement apply to cotton sewing thread that is not put up for retail sale?

Yes. General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy applies to textile and textile articles broadly; the PSIC obligation is not limited to retail-sale configurations and applies to bulk and industrial thread imports under this tariff line.

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