Dhoti

Plain-weave cotton dhoti fabric, lightweight woven

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 21 10 (Dhoti) is subject to ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement covering azo-dye absence under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Importers sourcing from origins outside the exempted list must furnish a valid test report from an accredited laboratory before customs out-of-charge.

What this is

HSN code

5208 21 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 accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee
ITC (HS) policy declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or valid test report from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the 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
File the bill of entry with the azo-dye test report or PSIC uploaded in e-Sanchit. Consignments from non-exempt origins arriving without a compliant test report are liable to detention pending documentary 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 frequent error on this tariff line is assuming the azo-dye exemption covers all developed-country suppliers. The exemption is confined to exactly nine named origins — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom — and a consignment from any other country, including other OECD members, requires a full PSIC or accredited-lab test report. Presenting an in-house quality certificate in lieu of an accredited-lab report is not accepted and will result in detention at the port of import.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 21 10 require BIS certification?

No, plain-weave cotton dhoti fabric is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import compliance for this tariff line is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, principally the azo-dye testing obligation under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10?

EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only, per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023; all other origins must supply a PSIC or accredited-lab test report.

Does the azo-dye exemption remove the need for any pre-shipment documentation from exempt origins?

The exemption covers azo-dye testing specifically; other applicable customs and policy documentation obligations at the bill-of-entry stage remain in force regardless of the origin's exempt status.

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