Casement

Woven cotton casement fabric, plain weave

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 12 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 covering the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The azo-dye testing obligation applies to all origins except a named list of countries per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

What this is

HSN code

5208 12 40

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, 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, or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI, 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 or test report in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Customs out-of-charge will not be granted until the mandatory textile-safety documentation is verified by the proper officer.
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 assuming that exemption from azo-dye testing for named countries also exempts the importer from providing any documentation at all. The exemption applies only to azo-dye testing; other General Note 10 textile-safety requirements and the standard bill-of-entry documentation remain applicable for all origins, including exempt countries. Failure to upload supporting documentation in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge results in consignment detention and demurrage accrual at the port.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 12 40 require BIS certification?

No, woven 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, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from azo-dye testing for this tariff line?

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023 and General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, exemption applies to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only.

Is a test report from a domestic laboratory acceptable in place of a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate?

Yes, a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI is accepted as an alternative to a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

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