Canvas, including duck – carded or combed yarn

Cotton canvas and duck fabric, twill weave

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5209 12 50 (Canvas, including duck — carded or combed yarn) is subject to ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement covering azo-dye absence under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. Testing for prohibited azo dyes is waived only for imports originating from a defined list of countries per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

What this is

HSN code

5209 12 50

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, Chapter 52

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
Azo-dye test report from accredited lab
Import declaration to 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 or CSRTI laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited azo dyes. This requirement applies to all origins except the exempted countries listed under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.
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 filing the bill of entry: azo-dye testing is waived only for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Consignments from all other origins must be accompanied by a laboratory test report confirming absence of prohibited hazardous dyes.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023

A word of counsel

The most frequent error on this tariff line is assuming the azo-dye exemption applies broadly because the fabric originates from a major textile-exporting country. The exemption is a closed, named list of nine origins; cotton canvas from countries such as China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, or Turkey is not exempt and requires a valid pre-shipment test report. Presenting a bill of entry without the required certificate for a non-exempt origin will result in consignment detention pending laboratory verification at the importer's cost.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5209 12 50 require BIS certification?

No, cotton canvas and duck fabrics are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

Which countries are exempt from the azo-dye testing requirement for this HSN?

Only the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; imports from all other origins must carry a compliant laboratory test report.

Does the azo-dye exemption for specified origins waive all pre-shipment documentation?

No — the exemption covers only the azo-dye testing component; other applicable composition and quality parameters under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy continue to apply regardless of the country of origin.

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