Sarees, Handloom

Handloom sarees of cotton, woven fabrics

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 59 20 (Sarees, Handloom) 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. The PSIC must originate from 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 59 20

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (hazardous dyes, 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 Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI), certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. Upload this document in e-Sanchit prior to filing the bill of entry.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm whether the country of origin falls within the azo-dye testing exemption list. Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing; consignments from all other origins must carry a PSIC.
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 that the origin-based azo-dye testing exemption removes the PSIC requirement entirely. The exemption covers only the azo-dye parameter; compliance with other hazardous-dye prohibitions under General Note 10 and the broader PSIC requirement for textile composition may still apply. A consignment arriving without any PSIC from a non-exempt origin will be detained at the port pending documentary compliance, attracting demurrage and ground rent.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 59 20 require BIS certification?

No, handloom cotton sarees fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, principally through the General Note 10 hazardous-dye compliance requirement and the associated PSIC mandate.

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

Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only are exempt from azo-dye testing per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins must furnish a PSIC from an accredited laboratory.

Can the test report from a domestic Textile Committee laboratory substitute for the exporting-country PSIC?

Yes. A valid test report from the Textile Committee (TC) or CSRTI is an accepted alternative to the PSIC from the exporting country's accredited laboratory, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) import policy.

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