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HomeHSNChapter 52HSN 5208 11 40

Casement

Plain weave cotton casement fabric, lightweight

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 11 40 (Casement) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. A country-of-origin exemption from azo-dye testing applies to imports from a defined list of countries per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

What this is
HSN code
5208 11 40
Chapter
52 · Cotton
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye testing), Chapter 52
Customs documentation
  • Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
  • Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
  • Import declaration from DGFT
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    For consignments originating outside the exempted countries, obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or valid test report from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes before the bill of entry is filed.
    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 against the exempted-country list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom — before placing the purchase order. Imports from all other origins without a compliant azo-dye test report are liable to detention at the port of entry.
    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 country-of-origin exemption is broader than it is: the azo-dye testing waiver applies to the nine listed jurisdictions only, and a certificate of origin from a non-listed country — even an FTA partner — does not attract the exemption. A consignment arriving without a compliant test report from an accredited laboratory faces detention and potential re-export, as the deficiency is not rectifiable after arrival.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 5208 11 40 require BIS certification?
No, plain weave cotton casement fabric 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, principally through the azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.
Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this tariff line?
EU member states, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom are exempt per General Note 10 and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins must supply a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory.
Can a deficient azo-dye test report be rectified after the consignment arrives at the Indian port?
No; the absence of a compliant pre-shipment test report is not a rectifiable labelling deficiency and exposes the consignment to detention and re-export at the importer's cost.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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