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HomeHSNChapter 52HSN 5208 12 90

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Plain weave cotton fabric, over 100 g/m2

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 12 90 (plain weave cotton fabric weighing more than 100 g/m2) is subject to ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes. The azo-dye testing requirement is operative under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, with a country-specific exemption for nine named origins.

What this is
HSN code
5208 12 90
Chapter
52 · Cotton
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, Chapter 52
Customs documentation
  • Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
  • Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
  • ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes, and upload it in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. This requirement applies to all origins except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
    General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
  2. 2
    If the consignment originates from one of the nine exempt countries, retain documentary evidence of origin at the bill-of-entry stage; the exemption from azo-dye testing is origin-specific and customs may verify the country of origin declaration against the certificate of origin.
    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 testing exemption applies broadly to all certificated exporters rather than to the nine named country origins specifically. A consignment from a non-exempt country arriving without a valid PSIC for azo-dye absence is liable to detention at the port of import until compliant documentation is furnished; there is no rectification window equivalent to the FSSAI labelling regime.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 5208 12 90 require BIS certification?
No, plain weave cotton fabrics 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, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10.
Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this tariff line?
EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom only, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins must furnish an accredited laboratory PSIC.
Does the azo-dye exemption for named countries remove the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement entirely?
It removes only the azo-dye component of testing; importers should confirm whether any other PSIC parameters under General Note 10 remain applicable to their specific consignment and origin.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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