Other

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

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 31 29 (plain weave cotton woven 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), requiring a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. No additional sectoral PGA clearance applies, but failure to present a valid PSIC at the bill of entry exposes the consignment to detention at the port of import.

What this is

HSN code

5208 31 29

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee (TC) or Central Silk and Rayon Textile Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before shipment. This requirement applies to all origins except the specifically exempt countries.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm whether the country of export qualifies for the azo-dye testing exemption: imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing only. All other origins must present a PSIC or valid TC/CSRTI test report at the bill of entry.
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 an origin-country exemption from azo-dye testing removes the PSIC requirement entirely. The exemption covers the azo-dye test only; composition testing and other parameters under General Note 10 remain applicable regardless of origin. A consignment from an exempt country that arrives without any supporting textile-quality documentation is treated as non-compliant, and the customs officer may detain it pending a valid test report.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 31 29 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton 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, with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for hazardous-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this HSN?

Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing only, per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other countries must present a PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report.

Is a TC or CSRTI test report an acceptable substitute for a PSIC from an accredited laboratory?

Yes. A valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory is accepted as an equivalent alternative to a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

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