Other

Other woven cotton fabrics, plain or printed, lightweight

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5208 59 90 (other woven cotton fabrics) 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) confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or supported by a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory.

What this is

HSN code

5208 59 90

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
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 a Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before shipment dispatch.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm the country of origin: imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing, but the PSIC covering other composition and quality parameters remains mandatory for all origins.
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 treating the azo-dye testing exemption for preferred-origin countries as a blanket waiver of the PSIC requirement. The exemption is narrow — it applies to azo-dye testing only, not to the PSIC itself — and consignments from exempt origins arriving without any PSIC are detained at the port of import pending production of the certificate, attracting demurrage and ground rent.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5208 59 90 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton fabrics under this residual tariff line are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, specifically the General Note 10 requirement for a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate covering prohibited hazardous dyes.

Is the PSIC still required for imports from exempted countries such as the EU or Japan?

Yes. The exemption under General Note 10 and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023 applies only to azo-dye testing; a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a valid TC or CSRTI test report is required for all origins.

What happens if the PSIC is absent at the bill of entry stage?

Customs will withhold out-of-charge and the consignment faces detention at the port of import; the importer incurs demurrage and ground rent until a compliant PSIC is produced or the goods are re-exported.

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