True hemp, raw or retted

True hemp, raw or retted (Cannabis sativa L)

NDPS CLEARANCE

HSN 5302 10 00 (True hemp, raw or retted) is governed by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which prohibits the import of cannabis under Section 8, subject to the regime set out in Appendix I of the ITC (HS) Schedule and Rules 67(a), (b) and (c) of the NDPS Rules. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers the Restricted-import policy overlay, and textile-specific azo-dye testing under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy applies as an additional clearance requirement.

What this is

HSN code

5302 10 00

Chapter

53 · Other vegetable textile fibres; paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn

Primary regulator

NDPS · Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 — Section 8; NDPS Rules, Rules 67(a)(b)(c)

Customs documentation

Import authorisation from NDPS
ITC (HS) Appendix I declaration to DGFT
Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

NDPSNDPS·Narcotics Control Bureau

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Confirm that the import falls within a permitted carve-out under Section 8 of the NDPS Act, 1985, read with Appendix I of the ITC (HS) Schedule. Cannabis (hemp) import is prohibited as a baseline; any permissible import requires authorisation under Rules 67(a), (b) and (c) of the NDPS Rules and must be documented before the bill of entry is filed.
Section 8 of the NDPS Act, 1985 · Appendix I of ITC (HS) Schedule · Rules 67(a), (b) and (c) of the NDDS Rules
2
Accompany the consignment with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes. Imports from EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing only; all other origins must comply.
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 industrial or textile use of raw hemp fibre (low-THC Cannabis sativa L) automatically exempts a consignment from the NDPS prohibition. Section 8 of the NDPS Act, 1985 prohibits import of cannabis without reference to end-use or THC content at the tariff classification level; the carve-out pathway runs through Appendix I of the ITC (HS) Schedule and Rules 67(a)–(c) of the NDPS Rules, and a consignment arriving without the requisite authorisation is liable to seizure and confiscation regardless of the importer's stated purpose.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5302 10 00 require BIS certification?

No, raw or retted true hemp is not within any BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 under Section 8 and the NDPS Rules, with the DGFT-administered Restricted-import policy overlay under Appendix I of the ITC (HS) Schedule.

Which NDPS Rules govern the import authorisation procedure for this tariff line?

Rules 67(a), (b) and (c) of the NDPS Rules set out the conditions and authorisation procedure for any permitted import of cannabis (hemp); compliance with all three limbs is required before a valid bill of entry can be filed.

Does the industrial-fibre or textile end-use of hemp exempt the consignment from the NDPS prohibition?

No. The prohibition under Section 8 of the NDPS Act, 1985 applies at the point of import irrespective of end-use; any permitted import must be authorised through the Appendix I and NDPS Rules 67 pathway, and unapproved consignments are subject to seizure and confiscation.

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