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HomeHSNChapter 52HSN 5205 31 10

Grey

Grey cotton yarn, coarse single yarn (unbleached, undyed)

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5205 31 10 (Grey cotton yarn) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement covering azo-dye absence under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Testing for prohibited azo dyes is exempted only for imports originating from a defined list of countries per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

What this is
HSN code
5205 31 10
Chapter
52 · Cotton
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye compliance), Chapter 52
Customs documentation
  • Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
  • Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
  • ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    For imports from countries outside the exempt list, obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from an approved laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before the bill of entry is filed.
    General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
  2. 2
    If importing from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, document the country of origin clearly on the bill of entry to avail the azo-dye testing exemption. No exemption applies to any other country of origin, and missing or incorrect origin documentation will require a full azo-dye PSIC.
    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 universally — it covers nine specified countries only, and a consignment from any other origin without a valid Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate will be detained at the port of entry pending testing. Ensure the country of origin declared on the bill of entry matches the physical origin of the yarn; transhipment through an exempt-list country does not confer the exemption.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 5205 31 10 require BIS certification?
No, grey cotton yarn in this coarse-count range 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 the principal operative requirement being azo-dye compliance under General Note 10.
Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this tariff line?
Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023, 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 require a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory.
Does the azo-dye exemption for specified countries waive the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate entirely?
The exemption covers only the azo-dye test component; any other mandatory inspection or declaration requirement under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy must still be satisfied for the bill of entry to obtain out-of-charge.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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