Seersucker
Plain weave seersucker cotton fabric (heavy weight)
HSN 5209 21 40 (Seersucker) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which mandates pre-shipment inspection for azo-dye compliance under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Importers sourcing from countries outside the exempted list must provide a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes.
- Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
- Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
- 1Determine whether the country of export is on the azo-dye testing exemption list. If the consignment originates from outside EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes.General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
- 2Upload the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or applicable exemption documentation in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage. Non-compliance with the azo-dye certification requirement constitutes a General Note 10 violation and exposes the consignment to detention pending re-testing or re-export.General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
The single most common error on this tariff line is assuming the azo-dye exemption applies to all origins. The exemption is narrowly limited to nine specified countries; a consignment from any other origin — including commonly used textile-exporting countries in South and Southeast Asia — requires a full Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate. Presenting only a commercial test report issued by an in-house mill laboratory, rather than an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, does not satisfy the General Note 10 requirement and will result in consignment detention.