Denim

Denim woven fabric, cotton-rich mixed-fibre weave

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5211 42 00 (Denim) 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) certifying 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

5211 42 00

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, Chapter 52

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee
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
Verify the country of origin before filing the bill of entry: azo-dye testing is exempted only for imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. For all other origins, the PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report is mandatory and must be uploaded in e-Sanchit.
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 azo-dye testing exemption extends to all origins once a single compliant-origin supplier is approved. The exemption is origin-specific and consignment-specific; a mixed-origin shipment or a transshipment through a non-exempt country does not automatically carry the exemption. A PSIC issued by a laboratory that is not accredited by the exporting country's competent authority is treated as non-compliant, triggering detention at the port of entry.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 5211 42 00 require BIS certification?

No, denim woven fabric is not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement for azo-dye absence under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

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

Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo-dye testing only; all other origins must furnish a PSIC from an accredited laboratory or a valid TC/CSRTI test report per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023.

Can a test report from any laboratory substitute for the PSIC on this HSN?

No. The test report must originate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or from the Textile Committee or CSRTI specifically; a report from an unaccredited or domestic-only laboratory does not satisfy General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

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