Other

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

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 31 90 (plain weave woven cotton fabric, ≤100 g/m²) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country to certify the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This requirement flows from General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Policy read with DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14 June 2023.

What this is

HSN code

5208 31 90

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 from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from the Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI), certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This document must be available at the bill-of-entry stage.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the country of export is EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, or the United Kingdom, the consignment is exempt from azo-dye testing. For all other origins, the PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report is mandatory and non-waivable; absence of the document at the bill of entry will result in consignment detention.
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 to all origins or conflating the country of manufacture with the country of export. The exemption is origin-specific and applies only to the nine listed countries; a consignment manufactured in an exempted country but shipped via a non-exempted transhipment hub does not automatically qualify. A missing or non-accredited PSIC results in consignment detention and ground rent at the port of entry pending rectification.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 31 90 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave woven cotton 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, which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for azo-dye absence under General Note 10 read with DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

Which laboratories are accepted for the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate?

The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country; alternatively, a valid test report from the Textile Committee (TC) or the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) is accepted per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy.

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

Customs will not grant out-of-charge for the consignment; the goods are detained at the port of entry, attracting demurrage and ground rent until a compliant PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report is produced and accepted by the proper officer.

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