Dhoti and saree, zari bordered

Woven cotton dhoti and saree, zari bordered

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 29 10 (Dhoti and saree, zari bordered) is subject to the 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. Imports from most origins must be accompanied by a test report from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes.

What this is

HSN code

5208 29 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
Bill of entry declaration to CBIC

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or a valid test report from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country 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
Upload the azo-dye test report or PSIC in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage. Consignments from non-exempt origins presented without a compliant test report are liable to detention pending documentary rectification.
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 applies broadly. The exemption covers only nine named countries — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom — and does not extend to any other origin, including major textile-exporting countries. Presenting a consignment from an unexempt origin without a valid accredited-laboratory test report results in detention at the port of import until compliant documentation is produced.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 29 10 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton dhoti and saree 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, principally through the azo-dye testing requirement 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 and General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, the exemption applies only to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom; all other origins require a test report from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country.

Does the azo-dye exemption for listed countries remove the need for any Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate entirely?

The exemption covers only the azo-dye testing component; any other PSIC or composition documentation required at the bill-of-entry stage under the applicable import-policy conditions must still be presented.

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