Saree

Cotton saree, plain weave with man-made fibre blend

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5211 31 50 (Saree) 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) for all textile imports to certify the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or supported by a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

What this is

HSN code

5211 31 50

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (hazardous dye certification)

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
Import declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This document must accompany the bill of entry for all origins not on the exempt list.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Verify the country of origin against the azo-dye testing exemption list. Testing is waived only for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; all other origins must submit the PSIC or accredited 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 that a general textile test report covering fibre composition or weight satisfies the azo-dye prohibition requirement — it does not. The PSIC or test report must specifically address the prohibited hazardous dyes listed under General Note 10; a report that is silent on azo-dye absence will be treated as non-compliant at the bill of entry, exposing the consignment to detention pending re-testing or re-export.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 5211 31 50 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton sarees are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) import policy, requiring a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes.

Is the PSIC still required if the saree is sourced from a country on the azo-dye exemption list?

The azo-dye testing requirement is waived for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only; however, any other PSIC parameters under General Note 10 continue to apply regardless of origin.

Can a test report from a domestic Indian laboratory substitute for the PSIC at the bill of entry?

No. The requirement specifies a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI; a domestic post-arrival test report does not satisfy the pre-shipment certification condition under DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

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