Shirting fabrics

Cotton shirting fabrics, twill weave, over 200 g/m2

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5209 43 20 (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 (PSIC) certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy. The PSIC must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or backed by a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI.

What this is

HSN code

5209 43 20

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Import Policy, General Note 10 — hazardous dye prohibition

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 shipment, obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or a valid test report from the Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI), certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This document must accompany the bill of entry.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Confirm whether the country of origin qualifies for the azo-dye testing exemption. 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 require a valid PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report without exception.
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 the azo-dye testing exemption extends to all developed-country origins. The exemption is exhaustive — only the nine listed jurisdictions qualify — and a PSIC absent from the bill of entry for any non-listed origin results in consignment detention pending documentary compliance, with demurrage accruing throughout. Fabric sourced through a third-country trading hub does not inherit the origin exemption of the manufacturing country.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5209 43 20 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton shirting 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, principally through the General Note 10 prohibition on hazardous azo dyes and the associated PSIC requirement.

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

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023, the exemption applies only to imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; a valid PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report is mandatory for all other origins.

Does the PSIC requirement apply to all cotton fabrics under this HSN, or only specific sub-categories?

General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy applies to textile and textile articles broadly, encompassing all woven cotton shirting fabrics under HSN 5209 43 20 without sub-category carve-outs; there are no weight, end-use, or value-based exemptions in the regulatory record.

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