Voils (excluding leno fabrics)

Plain weave cotton voile fabrics, lightweight woven

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 21 80 (Voiles, excluding leno fabrics) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), requiring a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate confirming the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The azo-dye testing requirement applies to all exporting countries except the nine named exempt origins.

What this is

HSN code

5208 21 80

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 from DGFT

Compliance steps

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 exporting countries except the nine named exempt origins under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the consignment originates from EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, confirm that the origin is documented on the shipping papers; azo-dye testing is waived for these countries only. The PSIC for fabric composition and other parameters may still apply under the applicable policy conditions.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming the azo-dye testing exemption extends beyond the nine named countries listed in General Note 10. Importers sourcing from Bangladesh, China, or any other unlisted origin who arrive without a valid PSIC face consignment detention at the port of import pending a compliant test report; there is no post-arrival rectification path for a missing pre-shipment certificate.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 21 80 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton voile fabrics 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 an azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10 applicable to most exporting countries.

Which countries are exempt from azo-dye testing 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 must supply a compliant PSIC before out-of-charge.

Does the azo-dye exemption for named countries remove all pre-shipment documentation requirements?

No. The exemption covers azo-dye testing only; other applicable ITC (HS) policy conditions, including any composition or quality certification requirements, remain in force regardless of the country of origin.

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