Unbleached

Unbleached woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5516 21 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). Import of textile articles requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate confirming absence of prohibited azo dyes, with a country-specific exemption for specified origins under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

What this is

HSN code

5516 21 10

Chapter

55 · Man-made staple fibres

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 55

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This requirement applies to all origins except the exempted countries listed under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the origin is not among the exempt countries — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and United Kingdom — ensure the azo-dye test report from an accredited laboratory accompanies the consignment and is available for customs verification at the bill of entry stage.
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 to any country with generally recognised textile-safety standards. The exemption is an exhaustive list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and United Kingdom — and no other origin qualifies, regardless of the supplier's own conformity documentation. Consignments from non-listed origins arriving without a valid azo-dye test report are liable to detention pending inspection.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5516 21 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, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this tariff line?

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023, the exemption covers EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and United Kingdom only; imports from all other origins must be accompanied by an azo-dye test report from an accredited laboratory.

Does the azo-dye exemption for listed countries remove all pre-shipment inspection obligations?

The exemption applies specifically to azo-dye testing; other applicable ITC (HS) policy conditions and General Note requirements remain in force and must be satisfied regardless of origin.

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