Skip to main content
Access IndiaPLATFORM
HomeHSNChapter 52HSN 5208 21 60

Mulls (including limbric and willaya)

Plain weave cotton mulls, limbric and willaya fabrics

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 21 60 (Mulls including limbric and willaya) is subject to ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement covering the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Imports from countries outside the exempted list must comply with DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023.

What this is
HSN code
5208 21 60
Chapter
52 · Cotton
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (azo dyes)
Customs documentation
  • Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
  • Test report from Textile Committee
  • Import declaration from DGFT
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    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. This requirement applies to all origins except the nine exempted countries.
    General Note 10 of ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
  2. 2
    If the consignment originates from EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea or the United Kingdom, the azo-dye testing requirement is waived; however, documentary evidence of origin must be available at the bill of entry to claim the exemption.
    General Note 10 of 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 a Certificate of Origin alone is sufficient to claim the azo-dye testing exemption without retaining independent evidence of the manufacturing-country identity. If the stated origin is disputed at the port, customs may detain the consignment pending a fresh test report; there is no rectification mechanism analogous to the FSSAI labelling-correction regime, and demurrage accrues from the date of detention.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?
Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.
Speak to an Expert
Frequently asked
Does HSN 5208 21 60 require BIS certification?
No, plain weave cotton mull fabrics are outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, principally through the azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.
Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this tariff line?
EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins require a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate.
Does the azo-dye testing exemption for listed countries remove all PSIC obligations?
The exemption applies to azo-dye testing specifically; other composition or quality parameters required under the ITC (HS) General Notes may still necessitate a test report or inspection certificate depending on the specific import entry.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
Related