Coating (including suitings)

Cotton coating and suiting fabrics, plain weave, mixed with man-made fibres

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5211 31 30 (Coating including suitings) is subject to the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which requires a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This requirement is grounded in General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

What this is

HSN code

5211 31 30

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Import Policy, General Note 10 (hazardous dyes), Chapter 52

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
ITC (HS) policy 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 consignment is shipped.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Upload the PSIC or test report in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry stage. Note that the azo-dye testing exemption applies only to imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; all other origins must submit a conforming 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 applies universally because the fabric is sourced from a country with robust textile standards. The exemption is a closed list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom — and any origin outside this list requires a compliant PSIC regardless of the supplier's reputation or any bilateral trade arrangement. Failure to produce the certificate results in consignment detention and potential re-export at the importer's cost.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5211 31 30 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton coating and suiting 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 and DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

Is a PSIC required if the fabric is imported from the European Union?

No, imports from the EU are exempt from azo-dye testing under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy; however, the overall PSIC requirement for other compositional or safety parameters may still apply, and the origin must be documented at the bill of entry.

What happens if the PSIC is absent or issued by a non-accredited laboratory?

Customs will not grant out-of-charge; the consignment faces detention and demurrage until a conforming certificate is produced, and in cases of wilful non-compliance the goods may be ordered for re-export under DGFT enforcement provisions.

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