Shirting fabrics

Bleached cotton shirting fabrics mixed with man-made fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5211 20 10 (Shirting 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 confirming the absence of prohibited azo dyes under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The azo-dye testing 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

5211 20 10

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 — azo-dye PSIC requirement

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from exporter
Azo-dye test report from accredited laboratory
ITC (HS) policy declaration from DGFT

Compliance steps

1
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country confirming the absence of prohibited azo dyes before shipment. This requirement applies to all origins except EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Upload the PSIC or valid test report in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage. Consignments arriving without the required azo-dye certification from non-exempt origins are liable to detention pending submission of compliant documentation.
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 exemption applies broadly to all developed-country origins. The exemption is a closed list: only EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom qualify, and imports from any other country — including other OECD members — require a full PSIC from an accredited laboratory before the bill of entry is filed. A missing PSIC from a non-exempt origin triggers consignment detention, not a rectifiable deficiency.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5211 20 10 require BIS certification?

No, bleached cotton shirting fabrics mixed with man-made fibres are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import compliance is governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, which mandates a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate covering azo-dye absence for non-exempt origins.

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

Per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023 and General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy, only imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing.

Does the azo-dye exemption for listed countries remove the PSIC requirement entirely?

The exemption covers azo-dye testing specifically; any other composition or quality parameters required under the applicable import policy remain in force. Importers from exempt origins should retain documentation confirming the exemption basis at the bill of entry.

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