Bleached

Bleached woven fabrics of artificial staple fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5516 31 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 mandatory azo-dye testing requirement under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Imports from countries outside a defined exemption list must be accompanied by a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory certifying absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes.

What this is

HSN code

5516 31 20

Chapter

55 · Man-made staple fibres

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report, certifying absence of prohibited hazardous 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
Verify the country of origin before shipment: if the exporting country falls within the nine exempt nations, the azo-dye PSIC is not required, but the origin exemption should be documented on the bill of entry for customs verification.
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 extends beyond the nine listed countries. Shipments from any non-listed origin arriving without a valid PSIC are liable to detention at the port of entry pending testing or re-export; the exemption is country-specific and not transferable on the basis of the fabric's raw-material origin or the exporter's nationality.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5516 31 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) 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 HSN?

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 PSIC.

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

No. The exemption attaches to the country of origin, not the country of export or transhipment; a consignment originating in a non-listed country does not acquire exempt status by routing through an exempt nation.

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