Saree

Woven cotton sarees, plain weave over 100 g/m2

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 32 20 (Saree) 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 absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. This certification must originate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or carry a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory.

What this is

HSN code

5208 32 20

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, Chapter 52

Customs documentation

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee (TC) or Central Silk and Rayon Textile Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes before the consignment is dispatched to India.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Verify the country of origin before waiving azo-dye testing: the exemption from testing for the presence of azo dyes applies exclusively to imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Imports from all other origins require the PSIC regardless of supplier quality assurances.
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 to any trusted supplier or long-standing trade relationship. The exemption is strictly origin-based — nine named countries only — and an importer relying on a supplier's own declaration in place of an accredited-laboratory PSIC from a non-exempt origin will face consignment detention at the port of entry pending a compliant test report, with demurrage and ground rent accruing during the delay.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 32 20 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton sarees are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, principally through the azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy.

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

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

Can a test report from the importer's own laboratory substitute for an accredited-lab PSIC?

No. The requirement under General Note 10 and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 is a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory; an in-house or unaccredited report does not satisfy the condition.

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