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HomeHSNChapter 52HSN 5205 21 10

Grey

Grey cotton yarn, coarse count, unbleached

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5205 21 10 (Grey cotton yarn) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a mandatory azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy for imports from non-exempt origins. A Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report, is required to certify the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes.

What this is
HSN code
5205 21 10
Chapter
52 · Cotton
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, Chapter 52
Customs documentation
  • Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
  • Azo-dye test report from exporter
  • Import declaration from DGFT
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or valid test report from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes. This requirement applies to all origins except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
    General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
  2. 2
    Upload the test report or Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage. Consignments arriving without the requisite azo-dye documentation from non-exempt countries are liable to detention at the port pending compliance.
    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: it covers only nine specified countries — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Yarn sourced from any other origin, including major cotton-exporting nations, requires the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate regardless of the importer's assessment of supplier quality; absence of the certificate at bill of entry results in consignment detention and accrual of demurrage.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 5205 21 10 require BIS certification?
No, grey cotton yarn of this count is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with an azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10 for non-exempt origins.
Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this tariff line?
Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023, imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing; all other origins must furnish a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or accredited test report.
Does the azo-dye exemption remove all pre-shipment documentation requirements for exempt-origin imports?
The exemption covers azo-dye testing only; other applicable customs documentation and General Note 10 compliance requirements for textile and textile articles remain in force even for exempt-origin consignments.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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