Shirting fabrics

Plain weave shirting fabrics, cotton-synthetic blend

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5210 51 10 (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) policy. The PSIC must originate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or carry a valid test report from the Textile Committee or CSRTI.

What this is

HSN code

5210 51 10

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 — hazardous dye testing, Chapter 52

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
Import declaration 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 the Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI), certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before the bill of entry is filed.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Note the country-of-origin exemption: azo-dye testing is waived only for imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Consignments from all other origins must present a compliant PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report at the bill of entry 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 that the country-of-origin exemption from azo-dye testing extends to transit or transshipment origins — it does not. The exemption attaches to the country of manufacture, not the port of export; a consignment produced outside the nine exempt countries but shipped via an EU hub remains subject to the full PSIC requirement. A missing or non-accredited certificate at the bill of entry results in consignment detention pending re-testing or re-export.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5210 51 10 require BIS certification?

No, plain weave cotton shirting 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 mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for azo-dye absence under General Note 10.

Which laboratories are accepted for the PSIC on azo-dye testing?

An accredited laboratory of the exporting country is accepted, as is a valid test report from the Textile Committee (TC) or the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI), per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

Does the azo-dye testing exemption apply if the fabric is produced in a non-exempt country but processed in an exempt country?

No; the exemption under General Note 10 attaches to the country of manufacture. Fabric produced in a non-exempt origin does not acquire exempt status through processing or transshipment in one of the nine listed exempt countries.

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