Lungi

Woven cotton lungi fabric, plain weave

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 52 10 (Lungi) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) covering the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes for all textile imports. Consignments must be accompanied by a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, except for origins specifically exempted from azo-dye testing under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy.

What this is

HSN code

5208 52 10

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Import Policy, General Note 10 (prohibited hazardous dyes)

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee
Import policy compliance 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 a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes before shipment. This requirement applies to all origins not listed as exempt from azo-dye testing.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the consignment originates from EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, the azo-dye testing requirement is waived, but the PSIC for other prohibited hazardous dyes remains mandatory. Confirm the origin country against the exempt-list before waiving the azo-dye test component.
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 treating the azo-dye exemption for listed countries as a blanket waiver of the PSIC requirement. The exemption covers azo-dye testing only; the obligation to produce a PSIC or valid test report certifying absence of all other prohibited hazardous dyes survives irrespective of origin country. Consignments arriving without any PSIC are liable to detention and demurrage pending testing at an approved laboratory.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 52 10 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton lungi fabric is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Import Policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under General Note 10 covering prohibited hazardous dyes.

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

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023, testing for azo dyes is exempted only for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; the PSIC for other prohibited hazardous dyes remains required even for these origins.

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

Absence of a valid PSIC or test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory renders the consignment non-compliant with General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy, exposing it to detention at the port of import and demurrage pending production of a conforming certificate.

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