Shirting fabrics

Cotton-blend shirting fabrics, 3-thread or 4-thread twill weave

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5211 52 20 (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 (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

5211 52 20

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10 — hazardous dye compliance

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
Before shipment, 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 CSRTI, confirming the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. This document must be presented at the bill of entry stage.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
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. For all other origins, the PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report is mandatory 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 a commercial test certificate from any laboratory satisfies the PSIC requirement. The policy mandates a certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country or a test report specifically from the Textile Committee or CSRTI; a generic third-party lab report not meeting this specification will be rejected at customs examination, attracting consignment detention and demurrage while a compliant document is sourced.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5211 52 20 require BIS certification?

No, woven cotton-blend shirting fabrics are not within the BIS Quality Control Order regime. Import compliance is governed by the ITC (HS) import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, principally the hazardous-dye PSIC requirement under General Note 10.

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

Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only are exempt from azo-dye testing per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023; all other origins must furnish a PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report.

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

The exemption covers only testing for azo dyes; any other PSIC requirements for composition, hazardous substances, or quality parameters under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy continue to apply for all origins including the exempt countries.

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