Shirting fabrics

Plain weave cotton shirting fabrics, lightweight woven

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 41 30 (Shirting fabrics) 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) for all textile and textile article imports to certify the absence of prohibited hazardous azo 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 required under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy.

What this is

HSN code

5208 41 30

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Import Policy, General Note 10 — hazardous dye PSIC requirement

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
ITC (HS) policy compliance 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 accompany every consignment of shirting fabrics 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
Verify the origin of the consignment 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 countries require 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 the azo-dye exemption applies broadly to all developed or major trading-partner origins. The exemption is a closed list of nine specified countries; an importer relying on, say, a Bangladeshi or Turkish mill certificate in lieu of a PSIC will face consignment detention and demurrage while the shortfall is remedied — and a rectification at port is not guaranteed. Secure the PSIC from the exporting-country laboratory before vessel departure.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 41 30 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton shirting fabrics are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, principally the PSIC requirement for hazardous azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye PSIC requirement for this tariff line?

Only the 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 origins must furnish a PSIC from an accredited laboratory.

Does a valid test report from the Textile Committee substitute for the accredited-laboratory PSIC?

Yes. A valid test report from the Textile Committee (TC) or CSRTI is an accepted alternative to the PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, provided it certifies the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes as required under General Note 10.

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