Some Indian dyes conform to the ZDHC MRSL and some do not. Conformance is granted to individual chemical products, so a supplier can have one conformant dye and another that has never been assessed.
In Gujarat, as elsewhere, some dye makers have registered products on the ZDHC Gateway and many smaller plants have not. The right question is not whether Indian dyes comply. It is whether the exact product you plan to buy is listed, at which level, and whether that listing is current.
What the ZDHC MRSL is
ZDHC, the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals programme, is an industry group of brands, chemical suppliers and textile makers. Its Manufacturing Restricted Substances List, or MRSL, lists substances that should not be used intentionally in chemical products for textile, leather and footwear production, with limits for impurities.
As of October 2026, ZDHC lists version 3.1 as the current MRSL. ZDHC's Gateway has accepted only products assessed against version 3.1 since November 2023. Check the ZDHC website for the latest version before you write it into a contract.
How conformance works
- A chemical supplier registers products on the ZDHC Gateway, ZDHC's online database of chemical products.
- Level 1 is based on the supplier's own review and declaration with test data.
- Level 2 adds a review by a ZDHC-approved certification body.
- Level 3 adds an on-site assessment of the supplier's production and chemical management.
- Mills use the Gateway to check their chemical inventory and produce reports that brands ask for.
- Each listing has a validity period, so a product that conformed last year may need renewal now.
- When ZDHC revises the MRSL, products must be reassessed against the new version within a transition period.
How to check a supplier
Ask the supplier for the Gateway listing of each product, with its exact trade name and conformance level. Search the Gateway yourself to confirm it. Trade names matter, because a supplier may list one grade and sell you a similar one that is not listed.
If your customer is a brand, ask which level it requires. Many brands ask mills to use Level 3 chemicals where available. If a product is not listed, ask whether the supplier plans to register it, and for a test report against the MRSL in the meantime. A test report is weaker evidence than a listing, but it is better than a declaration alone.
The MRSL covers manufacturing inputs. It does not replace checks on the finished article, such as banned amine testing or heavy metal limits. If your customer also asks for Bluesign, read what Bluesign is.
Next step
We shortlist Gujarat dye makers whose products hold the conformance level you need and check that what ships matches the listing. To start, book a free sourcing review.