Shirting fabrics

Plain weave cotton shirting fabrics, lightweight woven

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 31 30 (Shirting fabrics) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under which all textile imports require a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes. The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI, as mandated under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

What this is

HSN code

5208 31 30

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (hazardous dyes), Chapter 52

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
Import 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 absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This document must accompany the bill of entry for all origins except the exempted countries.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Verify the country of origin before shipment: azo-dye testing is exempted only for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Consignments from all other origins must present the PSIC or valid test report at the bill of entry stage; absence attracts detention pending compliance.
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 broadly on account of trade relationships, when in fact it is restricted to the nine named origins in DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only. An importer sourcing from any other origin without the PSIC faces consignment detention at the port of import; a test report from a non-accredited laboratory is not a substitute for the PSIC, and Customs will not grant out-of-charge until a compliant document is uploaded in e-Sanchit.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 31 30 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton shirting fabrics fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime; no BIS QCO covers this product family. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for hazardous azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

Is a test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI accepted in lieu of a PSIC from an overseas accredited lab?

Yes. A valid test report from the Textile Committee or the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) is accepted as an alternative to a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

What happens if the PSIC is unavailable at the time of filing the bill of entry?

Absence of the PSIC or a valid substitute test report renders the consignment non-compliant under General Note 10; Customs will withhold out-of-charge, and the consignment is liable to detention with consequential demurrage and ground rent until a compliant document is produced.

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