Lungi

Woven cotton lungi fabric, plain weave lightweight

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 31 10 (Lungi) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. The PSIC requirement applies under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy to all textile and textile article imports, with a country-specific exemption for selected origins.

What this is

HSN code

5208 31 10

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Import Policy, General Note 10 — hazardous dye compliance, Chapter 52

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
ITC (HS) policy compliance declaration to DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or a valid test report from the Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI), confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before shipment. This is a mandatory pre-clearance requirement at the bill of entry.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm whether the country of origin qualifies for the azo-dye testing exemption. Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing only; all other origins must produce the PSIC or accredited test report without exception.
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 country-of-origin exemption from azo-dye testing removes the PSIC requirement entirely. The exemption applies only to the azo-dye component of testing; composition and other prohibited-substance parameters are not covered by the exemption, and the absence of a valid PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report at the bill of entry will result in consignment detention and ground rent accumulation pending documentary compliance.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 31 10 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton lungi fabric is not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import compliance is governed by the ITC (HS) Import Policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10.

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

The EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing only, per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; imports from all other origins must produce a PSIC or accredited test report.

Can a test report from CSRTI substitute for a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory?

Yes. A valid test report from the Textile Committee or the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute is accepted as an alternative to the PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy.

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