Skip to main content
Access IndiaPLATFORM
HomeHSNChapter 56HSN 5603 12 00

Weighing more than 25 g/m2 but not more than 70 g/m2

Nonwoven fabrics 25 to 70 gsm, impregnated or plain

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5603 12 00 (nonwovens weighing more than 25 g/m² but not more than 70 g/m²) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), requiring a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for hazardous-dye compliance under General Note 10. The policy condition applies to all textile and textile-article imports and is operative at the bill-of-entry stage.

What this is
HSN code
5603 12 00
Chapter
56 · Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 — hazardous-dye compliance
Customs documentation
  • Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
  • Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
  • Azo-dye exemption declaration from DGFT
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee (TC) or CSRTI laboratory, confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes. Upload this document in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry.
    General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
  2. 2
    If the origin is EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, azo-dye testing is exempted; document the exempted origin on the bill of entry. For all other origins, testing for prohibited azo dyes is mandatory and the PSIC must explicitly cover azo-dye absence.
    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 that an origin-country exemption from azo-dye testing eliminates the PSIC requirement entirely. The exemption covers only the azo-dye test parameter; a PSIC or valid test report from a TC or CSRTI laboratory confirming absence of other prohibited hazardous dyes remains mandatory regardless of origin. Presenting a general laboratory certificate that does not specifically address the prohibited-dye schedule will result in consignment detention pending a compliant PSIC.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?
Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.
Speak to an Expert
Frequently asked
Does HSN 5603 12 00 require BIS certification?
No, nonwoven fabrics in this weight band 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 hazardous-dye compliance condition under General Note 10.
Which laboratories are accepted for the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate?
The PSIC must come from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report must be issued by a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.
Does the azo-dye exemption for EU and listed countries also waive the full PSIC requirement?
No. The exemption applies only to testing for azo dyes; a PSIC or valid TC/CSRTI test report covering other prohibited hazardous dyes under General Note 10 remains mandatory for all origins.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
Related