Of artificial filaments

Sewing thread of artificial filaments, man-made textile

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5401 20 00 (Of artificial filaments) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), requiring a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) confirming absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The PSIC must originate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or carry a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory.

What this is

HSN code

5401 20 00

Chapter

54 · Man-made filaments; strip and the like of man-made textile materials

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, Chapter 54

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This document must accompany the bill of entry for all origins not listed as exempt.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the origin is EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, the azo-dye testing requirement is waived; however, all other PSIC requirements under General Note 10 remain applicable and must be satisfied before out-of-charge.
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 treating the country-of-origin azo-dye exemption as a blanket waiver of the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement. The exemption covers only the azo-dye testing component; PSIC compliance for other prohibited hazardous dyes remains mandatory regardless of origin. Consignments arriving without a qualifying PSIC or Textile Committee test report face detention at the port of import and demurrage pending documentary rectification.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5401 20 00 require BIS certification?

No, sewing thread of artificial filaments is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under General Note 10 to certify absence of prohibited hazardous dyes.

Which countries are exempt from azo-dye testing under 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 only; all other PSIC requirements under General Note 10 remain in force.

What happens if the PSIC is issued by a laboratory not accredited in the exporting country?

A PSIC from a non-accredited laboratory does not satisfy General Note 10, and the customs proper officer may detain the consignment pending submission of a valid test report from an accredited laboratory or from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory.

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