Bleached

Bleached woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5515 19 20 (Bleached woven fabrics of other synthetic staple fibres) is subject to ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate covering the absence of prohibited azo dyes for imports from non-exempt origins. The azo-dye testing exemption applies only to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

What this is

HSN code

5515 19 20

Chapter

55 · Man-made staple fibres

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye compliance), Chapter 55

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited laboratory
Azo-dye test report from exporter

Compliance steps

1
Determine whether the country of origin is among the nine exempt origins listed under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. If the origin is not on that list, obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes before shipment.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Present the azo-dye compliance documentation at the bill of entry stage. Absence of the required certificate for non-exempt origins will result in consignment detention pending PGA clearance.
DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023

A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is assuming that origin-country exemption from azo-dye testing eliminates all pre-shipment documentation. The exemption covers azo-dye testing only; all other General Note 10 compliance requirements for textile imports remain in force regardless of origin. An importer who conflates the azo-dye carve-out with a blanket PSIC waiver risks consignment detention and demurrage at the designated port of entry.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5515 19 20 require BIS certification?

No, woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres fall outside 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 requirements under General Note 10 as the operative obligation.

Which countries are exempt from azo-dye testing 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.

What happens if the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate is missing for a non-exempt origin?

The consignment is liable to detention at the port of import until the required azo-dye compliance certificate is produced; prolonged non-production can result in re-export or confiscation under the Customs Act, 1962.

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