Shirting fabrics

Cotton shirting fabrics, 3-thread or 4-thread twill weave

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 23 30 (Shirting fabrics) is governed by 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. The azo-dye testing requirement applies to all origins except the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

What this is

HSN code

5208 23 30

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Azo-dye test report from exporter
Import 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 azo dyes before shipment. This certificate must accompany the bill of entry for all origins not listed as exempt under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Verify the country of origin against the exempt-origin list before ordering the PSIC. Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing; all other origins must produce a valid test report at the bill-of-entry stage.
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 that country-of-origin exemption from azo-dye testing removes the documentation obligation entirely. Even for exempt origins, the origin declaration must be clearly substantiated on the commercial documents; a consignment where origin cannot be established to the customs officer's satisfaction may be treated as a non-exempt origin and detained pending PSIC production, resulting in demurrage and ground rent accumulation at the port.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 23 30 require BIS certification?

No, cotton woven shirting fabrics are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, specifically the azo-dye Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye PSIC requirement for this tariff line?

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023, azo-dye testing is exempted only for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; all other origins must provide a PSIC from an accredited laboratory.

What happens if a consignment arrives without the required PSIC from a non-exempt origin?

Customs may detain the consignment at the port of import pending production of a valid PSIC, exposing the importer to demurrage and ground rent; clearance will not be granted until the azo-dye compliance certificate is furnished.

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