Dhoti

Plain weave cotton dhoti fabric, woven

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 22 10 (Dhoti) 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 obligation applies to imports from all origins except the nine notified exempt countries.

What this is

HSN code

5208 22 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 exporter
Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes before shipment. 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
Upload the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or valid test report in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage and confirm the country of origin against the notified exempt-country list before claiming the azo-dye testing exemption.
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 testing exemption is origin-agnostic. The exemption is confined to nine specific countries — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom — and shipments from any other origin without a valid Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate are liable to detention at the port of import pending documentary compliance.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 22 10 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton dhoti fabric is 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 a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

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

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023, the exemption applies only to imports from EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom; all other origins must furnish a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory.

Does the azo-dye testing exemption for notified countries remove all PSIC requirements?

No. The exemption covers azo-dye testing only; other composition and quality parameters specified under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy continue to apply even for imports from exempt origins.

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