The US requires a permanent country of origin label on imported textiles and apparel, and the UK and EU require the origin to be declared for customs purposes, with rules on whether and how it appears on the label varying by market. In all three, Made in India must reflect where the substantial transformation of the product occurred, not simply where it was packed or shipped from. That second point is where buyers most often get into trouble, usually without realising it.
What substantial transformation means
Each customs authority has its own rules for deciding where a textile product originates, and the test is generally about where the product was transformed into a new and different article, not where the raw material was grown or where the final touches were applied. For a garment, the origin is often where the pieces were cut and assembled. For fabric, it is usually where the weaving or knitting took place. Dyeing, printing and finishing alone may or may not confer origin depending on the market and the product.
This matters when an Indian supplier buys fabric or yarn from another country, or sends goods out for a process and brings them back. If the fabric was woven abroad and only cut and sewn in India, the garment may still be Indian origin for some purposes, but the fabric on its own would not be. Ask the supplier where every major stage happened and keep the answer on file.
Market by market
- United States: country of origin must appear on a permanent label, usually alongside fibre content and the manufacturer or importer identity. US Customs and Border Protection enforces origin marking at import, and the FTC enforces labelling in the market.
- European Union: origin is declared on the customs entry and there is no general requirement to print it on the garment label, though some products and some member states have their own rules. Any origin statement that is made must be accurate.
- United Kingdom: origin is declared for customs, and labelling follows a similar logic to the EU. Voluntary origin claims must not mislead.
Practical checks before shipping
Confirm in writing with the supplier which country they will declare as origin and why. Make sure the origin on the label, the packing list, the commercial invoice and the certificate of origin all agree. Where you are claiming a preferential tariff rate under a trade agreement, the origin rules can be stricter than the ordinary marking rules, so check both. Keep records of where fabric, trims and assembly came from, because a customs query can arrive long after the goods have sold through.
Origin rules are detailed, product-specific and subject to change. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker before you commit to artwork. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
How we help
We ask every shortlisted supplier where each stage of production happens and record it in the supplier profile, so you know what origin you can honestly declare. Origin records go into the document pack with the other shipping papers, and we check the origin label on the goods before loading at Mundra or Hazira. If you would like to walk through the origin question for a specific product, book a free 20-minute sourcing review.