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HomeHSNChapter 52HSN 5205 48 20

Bleached

Bleached fine cotton yarn, exceeding 120 metric number

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5205 48 20 (Bleached fine cotton yarn) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Imports of textile articles require a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes, with a country-specific exemption applying under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

What this is
HSN code
5205 48 20
Chapter
52 · Cotton
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 — azo-dye testing requirement
Customs documentation
  • Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited laboratory
  • Azo-dye test report from exporter
  • ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Procure 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.
    General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
  2. 2
    Confirm the country of origin at the bill-of-entry stage to determine whether the azo-dye testing exemption applies. Consignments from non-exempt origins arriving without a compliant test certificate are liable to detention pending re-testing or re-export.
    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 that the azo-dye exemption covers all major trading partners. The exemption is a closed list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only — and yarn sourced from Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, or any other origin not on that list requires a full Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate. Presenting an exemption claim for a non-listed origin will result in consignment detention.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 5205 48 20 require BIS certification?
No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers fine cotton yarn of this specification. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with the principal operative requirement being the azo-dye Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate under General Note 10.
Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this tariff line?
EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins must provide a PSIC from an accredited laboratory.
What happens if the azo-dye test certificate is missing at the time of filing the bill of entry?
Customs will detain the consignment pending production of the required Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate; prolonged non-production may result in re-export or confiscation under the applicable ITC (HS) policy enforcement provisions.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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