Shirting fabrics

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

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 52 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 certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy. Testing for azo dyes is exempted for imports originating from specific countries only, as notified under DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

What this is

HSN code

5208 52 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
Import policy declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous dyes. This requirement applies to all origins except those explicitly exempted from azo-dye testing.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm the country of origin 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 origins must carry a test report covering prohibited azo dyes, and absence of this certificate at the bill of entry attracts 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 that the azo-dye testing exemption extends to all origins or to testing for other prohibited hazardous dyes. The exemption covers azo dyes only for the nine listed countries; testing for other prohibited dye categories remains mandatory regardless of origin. A consignment from a non-listed country arriving without a valid PSIC or test report is detained at the port of entry pending documentary compliance.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 52 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) Import Policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate under General Note 10 covering prohibited hazardous dyes.

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

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023, the azo-dye testing exemption applies only to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; all other origins must provide a compliant test report.

Does the PSIC requirement apply even when the consignment originates from an exempted country?

The azo-dye testing exemption is specific to that category of prohibited dyes; a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate or valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory covering other prohibited hazardous dyes remains required for all origins under General Note 10.

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