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HomeHSNChapter 52HSN 5208 12 50

Sheeting(takia, leopard fabrics, other than furnishing fabrics)

Plain weave cotton sheeting (takia, leopard fabrics)

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 12 50 (plain weave cotton sheeting) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), including a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under General Note 10 covering the absence of prohibited azo dyes. Imports from countries outside the named exempt list must provide hazardous-dye test certification before customs out-of-charge.

What this is
HSN code
5208 12 50
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 to CBIC
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI, certifying absence of prohibited hazardous 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. 2
    Upload the azo-dye test documentation in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage and confirm the origin country at the time of filing. Consignments from non-exempt origins presented without valid test certification are liable to detention pending compliance.
    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 the azo-dye exemption applies on the basis of brand or commercial relationship rather than country of origin. The exemption is strictly origin-based: if the fabric is manufactured in a non-exempt country and merely transshipped through an exempt one, the test certificate remains mandatory. Absence of a valid test report at the bill-of-entry stage leads to consignment detention and potential ground rent liability while documentation is obtained retrospectively.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 5208 12 50 require BIS certification?
No, woven cotton sheeting under this tariff line is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import 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 the azo-dye testing requirement for this HSN?
Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023, imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only are exempt from azo-dye testing; all other origins must provide a valid test certificate.
Does the azo-dye exemption for listed countries waive all Pre-Shipment Inspection requirements?
No. The exemption covers azo-dye testing specifically; other applicable General Note 10 requirements, including inspection for composition and labelling parameters, continue to apply regardless of origin.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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