Tracing cloth of cotton

Tracing cloth of cotton, stiffened textile fabrics

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 5901 90 10 (Tracing cloth 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 under General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) policy. The PSIC must originate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory may substitute.

What this is

HSN code

5901 90 10

Chapter

59 · Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles for industrial use

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) import policy, General Note 10, Chapter 59

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 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 shipped.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
2
Note that azo-dye testing is exempted only for imports originating from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom; consignments from all other origins must carry a valid PSIC or test report or face detention at the bill of entry stage.
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 to all origins simply because the exporting country is a major textile producer. The exemption is a closed list — EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom only — and a consignment from any unlisted country arriving without a PSIC will be detained pending documentary compliance, with demurrage and ground rent accruing from the date of arrival.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5901 90 10 require BIS certification?

No, tracing cloth of cotton is 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 mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate requirement under General Note 10 to certify the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes.

Can a Textile Committee test report substitute for a PSIC from the exporting country's laboratory?

Yes. A valid test report from a Textile Committee or CSRTI laboratory is an accepted alternative to a PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, per DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023.

What happens if a consignment from a non-exempt country arrives without a PSIC?

The consignment is liable to detention at the port of import pending production of a compliant PSIC or TC/CSRTI test report; clearance will not be granted, and demurrage and ground rent accrue until the documentary deficiency is resolved.

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