Unbleached

Unbleached woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5516 31 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). Imports of textile articles require a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying absence of prohibited azo dyes, with an exemption for specified countries under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

What this is

HSN code

5516 31 10

Chapter

55 · Man-made staple fibres

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, Chapter 55

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Azo-dye test report from exporter
ITC (HS) policy 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 an approved testing body, 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
Where the origin is the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, the azo-dye testing requirement is waived; however, documentary evidence of origin must be presented at the bill of entry to claim the exemption.
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 country-of-origin exemption eliminates all pre-shipment testing obligations. The azo-dye exemption is origin-specific and narrow; imports from any country not on the nine-country list remain subject to the full PSIC requirement, and consignments arriving without a valid certificate from an accredited laboratory face detention and demurrage at the port of entry pending rectification.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5516 31 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) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10 of the policy.

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

Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only are exempt from azo-dye testing 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 PSIC from an accredited laboratory.

Does the azo-dye exemption for listed countries waive the PSIC requirement entirely?

The exemption covers azo-dye testing only; other composition or hazardous-substance parameters under the applicable import-policy conditions remain subject to the general textile testing and documentation requirements, and proof of origin must be presented to claim the exemption.

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