Unbleached

Unbleached woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5516 11 10 (Unbleached woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement covering the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Imports from origins outside the listed exempt countries must be accompanied by test certification from an accredited laboratory.

What this is

HSN code

5516 11 10

Chapter

55 · Man-made staple fibres

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from an approved laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes. This requirement applies to all origins except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Upload the azo-dye test report and Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage. Consignments from non-exempt origins presented without valid test certification are liable to detention pending compliance.
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. The exemption covers only the nine listed origins — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom — and a consignment from any unlisted country arriving without a valid test report is detained at the port of import, attracting demurrage and ground rent until documentary compliance is established.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5516 11 10 require BIS certification?

No, woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres 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, principally the azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement 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) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins must furnish a valid test report.

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

Customs will not grant out-of-charge; the consignment is detained at the designated port, accumulating demurrage and ground rent, until the required azo-dye test certification is uploaded in e-Sanchit and verified by the proper officer.

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