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HomeHSNChapter 52HSN 5208 21 90

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Plain weave cotton fabric, unbleached, weighing not more than 100 g/m2

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 21 90 (plain weave cotton fabric weighing not more than 100 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 certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes applicable to imports from most origins. The azo-dye testing requirement is governed by General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy.

What this is
HSN code
5208 21 90
Chapter
52 · Cotton
Primary regulator
DGFT · ITC (HS) Import Policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye certification), Chapter 52
Customs documentation
  • Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
  • Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
Compliance steps
  1. 1
    Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before shipment. 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
    At the bill of entry, confirm the origin of the consignment to determine whether the azo-dye testing exemption applies. Consignments from non-exempt countries without a valid PSIC certifying azo-dye absence are liable to detention and refusal of out-of-charge.
    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 extends beyond the nine listed origins. Imports from any country not explicitly named — including Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, and other major textile exporters — require a PSIC from an accredited laboratory; absence of this certificate at the bill of entry results in consignment detention and potential refusal of clearance, not a rectifiable deficiency.

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Frequently asked
Does HSN 5208 21 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 for azo-dye absence required under General Note 10 for most origins.
Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this tariff line?
Per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023, the exemption applies only to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
Does the azo-dye exemption for listed countries remove all pre-shipment inspection requirements?
The exemption under DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 covers azo-dye testing specifically; other applicable ITC (HS) policy conditions and customs requirements at the bill of entry remain unaffected by the country-of-origin exemption.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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