Dhoti

Plain-weave cotton dhoti fabric, heavyweight

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 12 10 (Dhoti) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Imports from origins outside the named exempt countries require laboratory testing; DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023 governs the azo-dye testing regime.

What this is

HSN code

5208 12 10

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
ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes. This requirement applies to all origins except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Upload the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate and supporting test report in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Confirm the exporting country against the exempt-origin list; consignments from non-exempt origins without a valid test report are liable to detention at the port of import.
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 that because dhotis are a traditional domestic textile, the azo-dye PSIC is a formality rather than a hard clearance condition. Customs officers verify the exporting-country origin against the exempt list before granting out-of-charge; a consignment from a non-exempt country shipped without a valid azo-dye test report faces detention, demurrage, and potential re-export rather than post-arrival remediation.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 12 10 require BIS certification?

No, plain-weave cotton dhoti fabric is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. 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.

Which exporting countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this HSN?

Testing for prohibited azo dyes is waived only for imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

Does the azo-dye exemption for listed countries remove all pre-shipment documentation requirements?

The exemption applies solely to the azo-dye laboratory test; standard ITC (HS) documentation and any applicable customs declaration requirements at the bill-of-entry stage remain unaffected for all origins.

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