Bleached

Bleached cotton yarn, 80-94 metric number, bulk

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5205 46 20 (Bleached cotton yarn) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement covering the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Imports from countries outside the exempted list require azo-dye testing from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country.

What this is

HSN code

5205 46 20

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, 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
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This requirement applies to all origins except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, which are exempt from azo-dye testing under 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
Ensure the PSIC or valid test report is uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage. Consignments from non-exempt origins filed without the azo-dye test report are liable to detention pending documentary compliance.
DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023 · General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming the azo-dye exemption extends to all developed-market origins. The exemption is a closed list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only. Imports from any other country, including other major cotton-yarn exporters, require a valid PSIC from an accredited laboratory; absence of this document at the bill of entry results in consignment detention and accumulating demurrage.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5205 46 20 require BIS certification?

No, bleached cotton yarn under this tariff line 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 Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this HSN?

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023 and General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, the exemption applies to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only.

Does the azo-dye exemption for listed countries eliminate all pre-shipment documentation requirements?

No. The exemption covers azo-dye testing specifically; other applicable General Notes and ITC (HS) policy conditions for textile imports continue to apply regardless of the country of origin.

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