Of artificial staple fibres

Sewing thread of artificial staple fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5508 20 00 (Sewing thread of artificial staple fibres) is subject to import-policy controls administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the ITC (HS) import policy for textile and textile articles. A Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes is mandatory under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, with a country-of-origin-based exemption for nine specified nations.

What this is

HSN code

5508 20 00

Chapter

55 · Man-made staple fibres

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 — prohibited hazardous dyes, Chapter 55

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
ITC (HS) policy declaration 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, confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes before shipment. This requirement applies to all origins except the nine exempted countries.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the consignment originates from EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, azo-dye testing is exempted; however, compliance with all other General Note 10 requirements and applicable ITC (HS) policy conditions for textile articles must still be confirmed at the bill-of-entry stage.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming the azo-dye exemption for specified countries covers all PSIC requirements under General Note 10. The exemption is confined to the azo-dye test alone; a PSIC from an accredited laboratory addressing other prohibited hazardous dyes remains required for all origins, including the nine exempted countries. Arriving without a compliant PSIC exposes the consignment to detention pending test results at the importer's cost.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5508 20 00 require BIS certification?

No, sewing thread of artificial staple fibres is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) import policy, which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for hazardous-dye compliance per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

Which laboratories are accepted for the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate under General Note 10?

The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or by a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory; test reports from non-accredited facilities are not accepted at the bill of entry.

Does the azo-dye exemption for the EU and other listed countries eliminate the PSIC requirement entirely?

No. The exemption under DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 applies only to testing for the presence of azo dyes; a PSIC certifying absence of other prohibited hazardous dyes remains mandatory for all exporting countries including those on the exempted list.

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