Bleeding Madras

Bleeding Madras plain weave cotton fabric

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 42 10 (Bleeding Madras) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires 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. This requirement flows from General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023.

What this is

HSN code

5208 42 10

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (hazardous dyes)

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee
Azo-dye exemption declaration from 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), confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes before the bill of entry is filed.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the consignment originates from any country outside the exempt list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom — the azo-dye test is mandatory without exception. For shipments from listed countries, retain documentary proof of origin to claim the testing exemption at the bill of entry.
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 azo-dye exemption also covers other hazardous-dye parameters tested under General Note 10. The exemption applies exclusively to the azo-dye test; the PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report covering other prohibited hazardous dyes remains mandatory for all origins, including the nine exempt countries. Submitting a certificate that covers only azo dyes for a non-exempt origin will result in consignment detention at the port pending a compliant test report.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 42 10 require BIS certification?

No, Bleeding Madras plain weave cotton fabric is not within any BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for hazardous dye absence under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from azo-dye testing under DGFT Public Notice 14/2023?

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 furnish a PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report confirming azo-dye absence.

Is a Textile Committee test report an acceptable substitute for the PSIC from the exporting country?

Yes. A valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI is explicitly accepted as an alternative to the PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

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