Of polyesters

Synthetic filament tow of polyesters

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5501 20 00 (Of polyesters) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory.

What this is

HSN code

5501 20 00

Chapter

55 · Man-made staple fibres

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, Chapter 55

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 before the consignment is shipped to India.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm the country of origin: 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 origins must provide the PSIC or valid test report; filing a bill of entry without the certificate for a non-exempt origin attracts consignment detention.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023

A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is assuming the azo-dye testing exemption extends beyond the nine listed countries. Importers sourcing polyester filament tow from non-listed origins — including popular manufacturing hubs outside the exempted list — must present a valid PSIC or Textile Committee test report at the bill of entry; absence of this document results in detention pending re-inspection, with demurrage and ground rent accruing at the port.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5501 20 00 require BIS certification?

No, synthetic filament tow of polyesters 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, principally the azo-dye PSIC requirement under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye PSIC requirement for this tariff line?

Only imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins must furnish a PSIC from an accredited laboratory or a valid Textile Committee or CSRTI test report.

Can a test report from a domestic laboratory substitute for the PSIC at the bill of entry?

The regulatory record permits a valid test report from a Textile Committee (TC) or CSRTI laboratory as an alternative to the exporting-country accredited-lab PSIC; a report from a laboratory outside these designated bodies does not satisfy the General Note 10 requirement.

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