Other

Cotton twill woven fabrics, 3-thread or 4-thread, lightweight

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 33 90 (cotton 3- or 4-thread twill woven fabrics, not more than 200 g/m²) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) certifying absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10. Imports from most origins must provide a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI.

What this is

HSN code

5208 33 90

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
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
ITC (HS) policy compliance 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 CSRTI, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This document must be available at the bill-of-entry stage for customs verification.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm whether the country of origin qualifies for the azo-dye testing exemption. Imports from EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing only; the PSIC for composition and other hazardous-substance parameters remains required.
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 origin-based exemption from azo-dye testing eliminates the PSIC requirement entirely. The exemption applies only to the azo-dye testing component; a PSIC or valid TC/CSRTI test report covering other prohibited hazardous dyes remains mandatory for all origins, including the nine exempt countries. Consignments arriving without any PSIC are liable to detention and ground-rent accumulation pending documentary compliance.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 33 90 require BIS certification?

No, lightweight cotton twill woven fabrics fall outside the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for hazardous-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from azo-dye testing for this tariff line?

EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other exporting countries must provide a PSIC from an accredited laboratory covering azo-dye absence.

Can a Textile Committee test report substitute for a PSIC from the exporting country's laboratory?

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

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