Other

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

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 43 90 (cotton twill woven fabrics) is subject to import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the ITC (HS) policy for textile and textile articles. A Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate confirming absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes is mandatory under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy.

What this is

HSN code

5208 43 90

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Import Policy, General Note 10 (hazardous dyes)

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 (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This document must be uploaded in e-Sanchit and presented at the bill of entry.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm the country of export before filing the bill of entry. Azo-dye testing is exempted only for imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; consignments from all other origins must carry the PSIC regardless of the fabric's end use.
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 azo-dye exemption applies by default because the supplier is reputable or the dyes appear harmless. The exemption is strictly origin-based: only the nine listed country groups qualify, and a certificate from any non-listed origin — however credible — does not substitute for the PSIC. Presenting a bill of entry without the required PSIC for a non-exempt origin exposes the consignment to detention and ground rent while the documentation is remedied.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 43 90 require BIS certification?

No, cotton woven fabrics are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Import Policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10.

Is the PSIC required if the fabric is imported from Japan or the European Union?

Azo-dye testing is exempted for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only; however, the PSIC or test report for other composition parameters may still be required under General Note 10 for those origins.

Which laboratory is authorised to issue the test report for azo-dye compliance?

An accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or the Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) in India, are the recognised bodies per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

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