Dobby fabrics

Cotton dobby fabrics, twill-weave, lightweight

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 13 20 (Dobby fabrics) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes. The azo-dye testing requirement is operative under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, with a country-specific exemption for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

What this is

HSN code

5208 13 20

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye testing)

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
Test report from accredited laboratory
ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
For consignments originating outside the exempt countries, 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, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before shipment.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm the country of origin before filing the bill of entry: imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement. All other origins must present the PSIC or accredited test report at customs examination.
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 the azo-dye PSIC exemption extends to all origins once any exempt-country certificate is in hand. The exemption is strictly origin-specific: a test report issued by a laboratory in an exempt country does not discharge the PSIC obligation for a consignment manufactured in a non-exempt country. Verify the country of manufacture — not merely the country of export — against the exempt-origin list before waiving the testing requirement.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 13 20 require BIS certification?

No, cotton dobby fabrics are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with an azo-dye Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under General Note 10 for non-exempt origins.

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

The EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023; all other exporting countries must furnish a PSIC or accredited laboratory test report.

What happens if a consignment arrives without the required azo-dye test documentation?

A consignment from a non-exempt origin that arrives without a valid PSIC or accredited test report is liable to detention at the port of import pending documentary compliance, with demurrage and ground rent accruing until the deficiency is remedied or the consignment is re-exported.

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