Cotton thread, sewing, containing any synthetic staple fibre

Retail-pack cotton sewing thread with synthetic staple fibre

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5204 20 10 (Cotton thread, sewing, containing any synthetic staple fibre, put up for retail sale) is subject to ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) confirming absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

What this is

HSN code

5204 20 10

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee (TC) or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. Imports from EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing only.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Upload the PSIC or valid test report in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Failure to upload the mandatory PSIC for non-exempt origins prevents customs out-of-charge and exposes the consignment to detention and demurrage at the port of import.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023

A word of counsel

The azo-dye testing exemption is country-of-origin specific and applies only to the nine listed countries; thread sourced from any other origin — including indirect shipments transiting an exempt country — requires a PSIC regardless of the exporting intermediary's location. Importers who rely on a transit country's bill of lading rather than the manufacturing-origin certificate risk consignment detention on discovery of the actual country of manufacture at customs examination.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5204 20 10 require BIS certification?

No, cotton sewing thread put up for retail sale 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 for azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye PSIC requirement for this tariff line?

EU, 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 June 2023; all other origins must furnish a PSIC from an accredited laboratory or a valid TC or CSRTI test report.

Does the PSIC exemption for listed countries cover all testing parameters?

No. The exemption applies to azo-dye testing only; a PSIC or valid test report covering other composition and quality parameters required under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy remains mandatory for all origins including exempt countries.

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