Weighing more than 150 g/m2

Nonwovens of man-made filaments weighing more than 150 g/m2

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5603 14 00 (nonwovens weighing more than 150 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 (PSIC) confirming absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. The PSIC must originate from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country or carry a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory.

What this is

HSN code

5603 14 00

Chapter

56 · Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, Chapter 56

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited exporter lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
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 a Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before the bill of entry is filed.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm whether the country of export falls within the azo-dye testing exemption list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only. For all other origins, the PSIC covering azo-dye absence is mandatory and its absence at the bill-of-entry stage will result in consignment detention.
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 broadly to any developed-country origin. The exemption is an exhaustive list: EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. A consignment from any country not on that list — including large textile-exporting economies — must carry the PSIC before shipment; a post-dispatch attempt to furnish the certificate does not prevent detention at the port of import.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5603 14 00 require BIS certification?

No, nonwovens under this tariff line fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, principally through the General Note 10 Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for hazardous azo-dye absence.

Is a PSIC required even when the exporting country is the European Union?

No. Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023, though all other General Note 10 documentation requirements continue to apply.

Which laboratories are authorised to issue the PSIC for this product?

The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or the importer may furnish a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory in India, as specified under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy.

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