Voils (excluding leno fabrics)

Plain weave cotton voile fabrics, unbleached or bleached

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 31 80 (Voile fabrics, plain weave) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy. Imports from most origins must furnish a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI.

What this is

HSN code

5208 31 80

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Import Policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye prohibition), 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 of the exporting country, or a valid test report from the Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI), certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before shipment.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm the country of origin before filing the bill of entry: the azo-dye testing exemption applies only to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Consignments from all other origins must carry a compliant PSIC or test report, failing which the consignment is liable to detention at port.
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 origin-based azo-dye exemption extends to all certified or treaty-partner countries. The exemption list is closed — only the nine named countries qualify — and a PSIC from a non-accredited domestic laboratory of the exporting country does not satisfy the requirement. Shipments arriving without a compliant PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report face detention and potential re-export at the importer's cost.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 31 80 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton voile fabrics are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Import Policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a mandatory 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?

Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only are exempt from azo-dye testing; all other origins must furnish a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid TC/CSRTI test report per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

Does the azo-dye exemption for named countries eliminate the PSIC requirement entirely?

The exemption applies specifically to azo-dye testing; DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 and General Note 10 should be read to confirm whether other hazardous-dye parameters under the PSIC regime remain applicable, and compliance documentation should reflect the full scope of the accredited-lab certificate.

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