Other

Woven cotton fabrics, other dyed or printed (heavy weight)

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5209 39 90 (Other woven cotton 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 azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. This requirement applies to all exporting countries except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

What this is

HSN code

5209 39 90

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 (azo-dye prohibition), 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
Before dispatch, 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 is mandatory under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) import policy for all non-exempt origins.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Verify the country of origin before filing the bill of entry. Azo-dye testing is exempted only for imports originating from EU member states, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; consignments from all other countries require the PSIC regardless of fabric composition or 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 frequent error on this tariff line is assuming the country-of-origin exemption extends to transit or third-country re-export. A fabric woven in a non-exempt country but shipped through an exempt jurisdiction retains the non-exempt origin for PSIC purposes; the test certificate must reflect the actual manufacturing origin. Presenting a PSIC issued by a laboratory in an exempt country for goods manufactured in a non-exempt country will not satisfy General Note 10, and the consignment is liable to detention pending a compliant certificate.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5209 39 90 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton fabrics under this tariff line are not subject to any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the ITC (HS) import policy, with the operative obligation being a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which laboratories are authorised to issue the PSIC for azo-dye testing?

The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report must be obtained from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, as specified in General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

Is the azo-dye exemption applicable to all textile categories from the listed countries?

The exemption from azo-dye testing applies only to imports originating from EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; all other composition or labelling requirements under the ITC (HS) policy remain applicable regardless of origin.

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