Saree

Cotton twill woven fabric, sarees (heavy weight)

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5209 12 10 (Saree) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement covering the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Azo-dye testing is exempted for imports originating from specified countries only, as notified by DGFT.

What this is

HSN code

5209 12 10

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye compliance), Chapter 52

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or valid azo-dye test report from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This requirement applies to all origins except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and United Kingdom.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Upload the azo-dye test report or Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate in e-Sanchit at the time of filing the bill of entry. Consignments from exempt origins must still carry documentation confirming country of origin to establish eligibility for the azo-dye testing exemption.
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 universally. The exemption covers nine named origins only — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and United Kingdom — and consignments from any other origin arriving without a valid azo-dye test report face detention and potential confiscation. A certificate of origin establishing the claimed exempt origin must accompany the bill of entry.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5209 12 10 require BIS certification?

No, cotton woven fabrics and 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, with azo-dye compliance under General Note 10 as the operative requirement.

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

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023 and General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, the exemption applies to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only; all other origins must furnish an azo-dye test report.

Does the azo-dye testing exemption for listed countries remove all pre-shipment documentation requirements?

No. The exemption covers azo-dye testing only; a valid certificate of origin establishing the exempt-country origin must still accompany the consignment, and standard customs documentation under the Customs Act, 1962 remains applicable.

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