Saree

Plain weave cotton saree, mixed with man-made fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5210 21 30 (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 for azo-dye absence under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Imports of textile articles require testing for prohibited hazardous azo dyes, with a country-specific exemption applying to nine named origins per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

What this is

HSN code

5210 21 30

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited laboratory
Azo-dye test report from exporter
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 a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes. This requirement applies to all origins except the nine exempt countries listed under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the origin is one of the nine exempt countries — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom — document the origin clearly on the bill of entry to claim the azo-dye testing exemption. Non-exempt origins without a valid PSIC are liable to consignment detention at the port of import.
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 because a supplier from an exempt country has previously cleared consignments without a PSIC. The exemption is origin-specific and document-evidence-dependent: customs will require proof of origin, and a mismatch between the declared country of manufacture and the claimed exempt origin triggers detention and mandatory laboratory testing at the importer's cost.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5210 21 30 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton sarees are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for prohibited azo-dye absence under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

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

EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins require a PSIC from an accredited laboratory.

What happens if a consignment arrives without a valid azo-dye test certificate from a non-exempt origin?

The consignment is liable to detention at the port of import pending mandatory azo-dye laboratory testing; clearance is withheld until a compliant test report is produced, and prolonged detention attracts demurrage and ground rent charges.

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