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HomeHSNChapter 52HSN 5204 20 20

Cotton thread, darning

Cotton darning thread put up for retail sale

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5204 20 20 (Cotton thread, darning) 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 20 20
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 from DGFT
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This document must be presented at the bill-of-entry stage in compliance with General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.
    General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
  2. 2
    Note that the azo-dye testing exemption applies only to imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Consignments from all other origins must accompany a valid PSIC or test report; absence of this document at the bill of entry exposes the consignment 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 because the exporting country is a developed market. The exemption is origin-specific and limited to nine named countries; a consignment from any other origin — including other EU-adjacent or free-trade-agreement countries — requires a PSIC or accredited-lab test report, and a missing document at the bill of entry results in consignment detention and accruing demurrage until compliance is demonstrated.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 5204 20 20 require BIS certification?
No, cotton darning thread put up for retail sale is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement covering prohibited azo-dye absence under General Note 10.
Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye PSIC requirement for this HSN?
Only imports from the 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 14-06-2023; all other origins must provide a valid PSIC or Textile Committee test report.
Does a valid test report from a domestic laboratory satisfy the PSIC requirement?
No. General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy requires either a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory; a domestic-only test report obtained after arrival does not substitute for the pre-shipment requirement.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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