Voils (excluding leno fabrics)

Cotton voil woven fabrics, plain weave, lightweight

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 51 80 (Voils, excluding leno fabrics) 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. The azo-dye testing requirement applies to all exporting countries except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

What this is

HSN code

5208 51 80

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Import Policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye PSIC requirement)

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
Azo-dye exemption declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before the consignment is shipped to India.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the origin is EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, the azo-dye testing requirement is waived; however, document the origin-based exemption at the bill of entry. For all other origins, the PSIC is mandatory and failure to produce it at the port will result in consignment detention.
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 PSIC exemption extends to any country not explicitly blacklisted, when in fact the exemption is a closed positive list — only the nine named jurisdictions qualify. A consignment from any origin outside that list arriving without a PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report will be detained at the port of import pending production of the certificate, accumulating demurrage and ground rent with no rectification shortcut available post-arrival.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 51 80 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton voil fabrics are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import compliance is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the ITC (HS) Import Policy, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which laboratory can issue the PSIC for azo-dye testing?

The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or alternatively a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory is accepted, per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

Does the azo-dye exemption for named countries waive all textile documentation requirements?

No. The exemption applies only to azo-dye testing; other applicable DGFT import-policy conditions and customs documentation obligations at the bill of entry remain unaffected for exempted-origin consignments.

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