Saree

Cotton sarees, plain weave, mixed with man-made fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5211 41 60 (Saree) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), requiring a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The PSIC must certify the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes, with an exemption applicable only to imports originating from specified countries.

What this is

HSN code

5211 41 60

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
Azo-dye exemption 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 (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes before shipment.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the origin country is EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, azo-dye testing is exempted; document the qualifying origin on the bill of entry. For all other origins, the PSIC covering azo-dye absence is mandatory and must be uploaded in e-Sanchit before out-of-charge.
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 exemption applies universally because the product originates in a major textile-exporting country. The exemption is limited to nine named countries — EU member states collectively, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom — and a missing PSIC for any other origin will result in consignment detention at the port of import pending production of the required test certificate.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5211 41 60 require BIS certification?

No, cotton sarees under this tariff line 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 a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under General Note 10 for hazardous dye compliance.

Is a PSIC required for sarees imported from Bangladesh or China?

Yes. Bangladesh and China are not among the nine exempt origins listed under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, so a PSIC from an accredited laboratory certifying absence of prohibited azo dyes is mandatory for consignments from those countries.

Does the azo-dye testing exemption cover all textile testing requirements or only azo dyes?

The exemption under DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 covers azo-dye testing only; the PSIC requirement for other prohibited hazardous dyes and the general composition test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory continues to apply regardless of origin.

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