Bleached

Bleached woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5516 11 20 (Bleached woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres) is subject to 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 nine exempted countries must present a valid PSIC from an accredited laboratory.

What this is

HSN code

5516 11 20

Chapter

55 · Man-made staple fibres

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, 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 a Textile Committee or CSRTI 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 PSIC or azo-dye test report in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry, and ensure the document references the specific consignment. Absence of the certificate at the bill-of-entry stage will result in consignment detention pending PSIC production.
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 broadly because the exporting country has strong chemical-safety standards. The exemption is country-specific and limited to EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; a shipment from any other origin — including transit re-export through an exempt country — requires a PSIC, and its absence at the bill of entry triggers detention and demurrage.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5516 11 20 require BIS certification?

No, bleached 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 PSIC requirement for this tariff line?

EU member states, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only, per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins must furnish a PSIC from an accredited laboratory.

Does the azo-dye exemption apply if the fabric is re-exported through an exempt country?

No. The exemption attaches to the country of origin, not the country of export or transit; a fabric originating in a non-exempt country routed through an exempt country retains the PSIC requirement at the Indian bill of entry.

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