Printed

Printed woven fabrics of cotton

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5212 15 00 (Printed woven fabrics of cotton) 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) covering the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. Testing for azo-dye presence is exempted for imports originating from specified countries only, per General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy.

What this is

HSN code

5212 15 00

Chapter

52 · Cotton

Primary regulator

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

Customs documentation

Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from accredited lab
Test report from Textile Committee or CSRTI
ITC (HS) policy compliance 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 a Textile Committee (TC) or Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSRTI) laboratory, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes before the consignment is dispatched.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
If the origin country is not among the exempt list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom — ensure the PSIC or test report is uploaded in e-Sanchit at the bill of entry. Consignments from all other origins without this documentation are liable to detention and refusal of out-of-charge.
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 applies universally. The exemption is strictly country-of-origin specific — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only — and a PSIC from an accredited laboratory remains mandatory for all other origins. A consignment arriving without the required test report faces detention and potential re-export regardless of the fabric's commercial value or the buyer's urgency.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5212 15 00 require BIS certification?

No, printed woven cotton fabrics are not covered by any BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, specifically the General Note 10 requirement for a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate certifying absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes.

Which countries are exempt from azo-dye testing for imports under this HSN?

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

Can a test report from any laboratory satisfy the PSIC requirement?

No. The test report must be issued by an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or by a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory, as specified under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy; reports from non-accredited or unrecognised laboratories are not accepted at the bill of entry.

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