Shirting fabrics

Woven cotton shirting fabrics, plain weave above 100 g/m2

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 32 30 (Shirting fabrics) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), requiring a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This obligation arises under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, with country-specific exemptions for imports from the EU and specified nations.

What this is

HSN code

5208 32 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
Country-of-origin declaration from exporter

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 dyes. This document must accompany the bill of entry for all origins not covered by the azo-dye testing exemption.
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 exemption list before shipment. Azo-dye testing is waived only for imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom; all other origins must submit the PSIC without exception.
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 the PSIC requirement is aspirational or routinely waived at the port. Customs officers verify the PSIC as a mandatory document at the bill-of-entry stage; absence results in consignment detention and demurrage accrual until a conforming test report is produced. Importers sourcing from a single supplier across multiple shipments must obtain a fresh PSIC per consignment — a report issued for a prior shipment does not satisfy the per-consignment compliance obligation.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 32 30 require BIS certification?

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

Is a PSIC required if the shirting fabric is imported from the EU or Australia?

Testing for azo dyes specifically is exempted for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; however, a valid test report from TC or CSRTI covering other prohibited hazardous dyes may still be required under General Note 10.

Which laboratories are authorised to issue the PSIC for this tariff line?

The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or alternatively a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI in India satisfies the requirement per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy.

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