Shirting fabrics

Plain weave cotton shirting fabrics, over 100 g/m2

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 22 30 (Shirting fabrics) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. This azo-dye testing requirement applies to imports from all countries except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

What this is

HSN code

5208 22 30

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye testing)

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Azo-dye test report from exporter
ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

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 origin countries 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
Upload the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or valid test report in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage. Consignments arriving without the azo-dye clearance documentation from non-exempt origins are liable to detention pending production of the certificate.
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 universally because the exporting country is a major textile supplier. The exemption covers exactly nine named jurisdictions — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom — and no others; a consignment from any origin outside this list arriving without a valid Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate will be detained at the port of import.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 22 30 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton shirting fabrics fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) 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?

Per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023, testing for prohibited azo dyes is exempted only for imports originating 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 documentation requirements?

The exemption applies only to azo-dye testing; other applicable ITC (HS) policy conditions and customs documentation requirements remain in force regardless of the country of origin.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.