Shirting fabrics
Plain weave cotton shirting fabrics, lightweight woven
HSN 5208 21 40 (Shirting fabrics) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate confirming the absence of prohibited azo dyes for consignments originating outside the exempted countries. This requirement flows from General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy, as clarified by DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.
- Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
- Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
- ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT
- 1Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes. 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
- 2Upload the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate and supporting test documentation in e-Sanchit before filing the bill of entry. Consignments arriving without valid azo-dye clearance documentation are liable to detention pending compliance verification.General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
The most common error on this tariff line is assuming the azo-dye exemption applies broadly — it is country-specific and extends only to EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Importers sourcing from any other origin, including other South and Southeast Asian textile-producing countries, must present a valid Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate; absence of this document at the bill-of-entry stage results in consignment detention and accruing demurrage.