Ordinary portland cement, dry

Ordinary portland cement in dry form

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 12330

HSN 2523 29 10 (Ordinary portland cement, dry) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 269 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 17 February 2003, by virtue of the Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003. This tariff line also encompasses several related cement types, each governed by a distinct Indian Standard under the same QCO notification S.O. 191(E).

What this is

HSN code

2523 29 10

Chapter

25 · Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 269 · effective 17-02-2003

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Identify the exact cement type in the consignment and confirm the applicable Indian Standard: IS 269 for Ordinary Portland Cement, IS 16993:2018 for Microfine Ordinary Portland Cement, IS 12330 for Sulphate Resisting Portland Cement, IS 12600 for Low Heat Portland Cement, IS 8041 for Rapid Hardening Portland Cement, IS 8043 for Hydrophobic Portland Cement, IS 3466 for Masonry Cement, IS 1489 (Part 1) for Portland Pozzolana Cement (fly-ash based), or IS 1489 (Part 2) for Portland Pozzolana Cement (calcined clay based).
Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003 · S.O. 191(E) dated 17-02-2003
2
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against the specific IS standard applicable to the cement type being imported. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003 · S.O. 191(E) dated 17-02-2003 · ISI Mark Scheme under Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
3
Ensure every bag or bulk consignment bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number. Marking must appear on the product packaging itself and be traceable to the licensed manufacturing facility and the specific cement grade.
BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Scheme-I marking format
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number on the bill of entry, with the specific IS standard cited matching the declared cement type. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; a CM/L that is absent, expired, or covers a different cement grade or facility triggers consignment detention.
Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003 · S.O. 191(E) dated 17-02-2003 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The most frequent compliance failure on this tariff line is treating the BIS CM/L as a single cement-family licence — suppliers often hold a CM/L for Ordinary Portland Cement under IS 269 but present it for a shipment of Microfine Ordinary Portland Cement (IS 16993:2018) or Sulphate Resisting Portland Cement (IS 12330), which are distinct licensed scopes. Customs verification at port is standard-specific; a CM/L that does not enumerate the exact IS number for the grade being imported will fail real-time verification and trigger detention regardless of the supplier's overall BIS-licensed status.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2523 29 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. All cement types under this tariff line require Bureau of Indian Standards certification under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of the Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003, S.O. 191(E) dated 17 February 2003. The applicable Indian Standard depends on the specific cement grade imported.

Which Indian Standard applies to Ordinary Portland Cement versus Microfine Ordinary Portland Cement?

Ordinary Portland Cement is governed by IS 269; Microfine Ordinary Portland Cement is separately governed by IS 16993:2018. These are distinct CM/L licence scopes, and a licence for one does not cover the other.

Does the same CM/L licence cover all cement grades produced by a single manufacturer?

No. Each CM/L is specific to the Indian Standard, cement grade, and manufacturing facility. A manufacturer holding a CM/L for IS 269 must obtain separate licensing against IS 12330, IS 1489, or any other standard for those respective grades.

What are the consequences of importing cement without a valid, grade-specific BIS CM/L?

Import of cement without a current, grade-specific CM/L constitutes a violation of the Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003 and the BIS Act, 2016, exposing the importer to consignment detention, re-export, confiscation, monetary penalty, and potential criminal liability.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-18. Source: BIS / Indian Customs CUSDATA.