Zari bordered sarees

Woven cotton sarees with zari border

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 59 10 (Zari bordered sarees) 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 azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Consignments from most origins must be accompanied by a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI.

What this is

HSN code

5208 59 10

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (hazardous dye testing), 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 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), certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before shipment. This document must be uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Verify whether the exporting country qualifies for the azo-dye testing exemption. Only imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing; all other origins must present the PSIC or test report without exception.
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. The exemption is origin-specific and covers only the nine listed countries; a consignment from any other origin — including major textile exporters such as China, Bangladesh, or Vietnam — that arrives without a PSIC is subject to detention and may not be released until conforming documentation is produced. The test report must be from an accredited laboratory, not a self-declaration by the manufacturer.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 59 10 require BIS certification?

No, zari bordered sarees are 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, principally through the General Note 10 requirement for a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this HSN?

Per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023, only imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing; a PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report is mandatory for all other origins.

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

No. General Note 10 requires a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI; a self-issued manufacturer's test report does not satisfy this requirement and will result in consignment detention at the bill of entry.

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