Cambrics (including madapollam and jaconet)

Plain weave cotton cambrics (madapollam, jaconet)

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 21 50 (Cambrics including madapollam and jaconet) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate confirming the absence of prohibited azo dyes for imports from non-exempt origins. General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 govern the azo-dye testing requirement.

What this is

HSN code

5208 21 50

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
Test report from accredited laboratory
Azo-dye exemption declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
For imports from all origins other than the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes before filing the bill of entry.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
For imports from the nine exempt origins (EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom), confirm the country of origin at the bill of entry; azo-dye testing is waived for these origins only, and no PSIC for azo-dye absence is required.
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 extends to re-exports or transshipments routed through an exempt country when the actual country of origin is non-exempt. The exemption is origin-specific, not port-of-shipment-specific; a consignment originating in a non-exempt country but shipped via an EU port remains subject to the full PSIC requirement, and absence of the certificate at the bill-of-entry stage results in consignment detention.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 21 50 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton cambrics are 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 the principal operative obligation being the azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10 and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

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

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023, testing for azo dyes is exempted for imports originating in the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only; all other origins require a PSIC from an accredited laboratory.

Does the azo-dye PSIC requirement apply to all textile imports or only to certain categories?

General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy applies broadly to textile and textile articles, including woven cotton fabrics under Chapter 52; the exemption for the nine listed origins is category-wide but the testing obligation for non-exempt origins applies to every consignment regardless of quantity.

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