Other

Nonwovens weighing more than 70 g/m2 up to 150 g/m2

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5603 93 90 (nonwovens, 70–150 g/m²) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The certificate must confirm the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes, with a limited country exemption applying to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

What this is

HSN code

5603 93 90

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Compliance steps

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 Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before shipment.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the consignment originates from a country not on the exempted list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom — ensure the azo-dye test report is current and covers the specific nonwoven product. Consignments from non-exempt origins without the PSIC are liable to detention at the port of import.
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 PSIC exemption extends to all trading partners because the supplying country is a well-regulated market. The exemption is a closed list: only the nine named origins qualify, and a consignment from any other country arriving without the PSIC — regardless of the exporter's internal quality standards — will be detained pending post-arrival testing, accruing demurrage and ground rent while the test is conducted.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5603 93 90 require BIS certification?

No, nonwovens in this weight band are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, principally the General Note 10 requirement for a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes.

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

Azo-dye testing is exempted for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only; all other origins must accompany the consignment with a PSIC from an accredited laboratory or a valid TC or CSRTI test report per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

Does the PSIC exemption for exempt-origin countries remove all pre-shipment documentation requirements?

No. The exemption covers azo-dye testing only; any other General Note 10 requirements and the standard ITC (HS) import-policy compliance obligations continue to apply regardless of the country of origin.

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