Saree

Woven cotton sarees, plain weave, over 100 g/m2

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 42 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 (PSIC) confirming absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Schedule. The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or carry a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI.

What this is

HSN code

5208 42 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 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 CSRTI, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This is mandatory under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) import policy for all textile and textile article imports.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Verify whether the country of export qualifies for the azo-dye testing exemption. Imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom are exempted from azo-dye testing only; all other countries require a PSIC with azo-dye test results before the bill of entry is processed.
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 extends beyond the nine listed countries. An importer sourcing cotton sarees from Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, or any origin not explicitly named in DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 must present a PSIC with azo-dye test results; customs will detain the consignment and impose ground rent pending production of a valid test certificate if this document is missing at the bill of entry.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 42 20 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton sarees fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the ITC (HS) import policy, specifically General Note 10 which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for hazardous azo-dye absence.

Is the PSIC requirement waived for sarees imported from the European Union?

Testing for the presence of azo dyes is waived for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only, per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023; a PSIC covering other composition and hazardous-substance parameters may still apply under General Note 10.

What happens if the PSIC is not available at the time of filing the bill of entry?

Absence of a valid PSIC at the bill-of-entry stage results in consignment detention at the port of import, with demurrage and ground rent accruing until a compliant test report is produced or the goods are re-exported.

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