Long cloth (including calico)

Plain weave cotton long cloth and calico fabrics

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 22 60 (Long cloth including calico) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate covering the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10. Imports from origins outside the exempted-country list must be accompanied by a valid test report from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country.

What this is

HSN code

5208 22 60

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye testing), Chapter 52

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited laboratory
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain 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
2
Confirm at the bill-of-entry stage that the country of origin is among the nine exempted countries if no azo-dye test report is presented. Consignments from all other origins without a valid PSIC are liable to detention pending testing.
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 exemption applies broadly because the supplier is a well-known exporter. The exemption is origin-specific and limited to the nine listed countries; a consignment from any unlisted origin — including major textile-exporting nations not on the list — requires a PSIC even when the fabric itself is otherwise compliant. Presenting a general quality certificate in place of an azo-dye-specific PSIC does not satisfy General Note 10 and will result in detention at the customs station.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 22 60 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton long cloth and calico fabrics are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. 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?

EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023.

What happens if a PSIC is not presented for a non-exempt origin at the time of import?

The consignment is liable to detention at the customs station pending production of a valid azo-dye test report; out-of-charge will not be granted until the PSIC requirement under General Note 10 is satisfied.

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