Aluminous cement

Aluminous cement, high alumina and refractory grades

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 12330

HSN 2523 30 00 (Aluminous cement) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 15895:2018 (High Alumina Refractory Cement) and IS 6452 (High Alumina Cement for structural use) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 17 February 2003, by virtue of the Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003. No separate customs-clearance overlay applies beyond the BIS obligation.

What this is

HSN code

2523 30 00

Chapter

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

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 15895:2018 · effective 17-02-2003

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Identify the precise alumina-cement grade being imported: IS 15895:2018 governs High Alumina Refractory Cement; IS 6452 governs High Alumina Cement for structural use. Verify the supplier's BIS CM/L licence number on the BIS online register against the correct IS and confirm the licensed product scope and manufacturing facility before placing the purchase order.
Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003 · S.O. 191(E) dated 17-02-2003 · IS 15895:2018 · IS 6452
2
Ensure every bag or bulk consignment bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number as specified under Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product packaging — not on an accompanying document alone.
Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003 · S.O. 191(E) dated 17-02-2003
3
Obtain and retain the test reports and conformity documentation from the licensed manufacturer, demonstrating compliance with the applicable IS. The CM/L file must evidence that the physical and chemical properties tested match the licensed IS specification.
IS 15895:2018 · IS 6452 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or IS-scope-mismatched CM/L triggers consignment detention, demurrage, and ground rent pending resolution or re-export.
Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003 · S.O. 191(E) dated 17-02-2003 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is conflating the two distinct aluminous cement grades — High Alumina Refractory Cement (IS 15895:2018, for kiln linings and castable refractories) and High Alumina Cement for structural use (IS 6452) — and quoting a CM/L licence held against the wrong IS on the bill of entry. Customs clearance requires the CM/L to match the declared IS exactly; a refractory-grade CM/L will not clear a structural-grade consignment, and the resulting scope mismatch triggers detention regardless of whether a valid CM/L exists elsewhere in the supplier's portfolio.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 2523 30 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. Aluminous cement is covered by the Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003 under S.O. 191(E); import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence against IS 15895:2018 (High Alumina Refractory Cement) or IS 6452 (High Alumina Cement for structural use), as applicable to the product grade.

Are there other cement IS standards associated with this tariff heading?

Yes. The Cement Quality (Control) Order, 2003 maps multiple IS standards to the broader heading, including IS 12330, IS 12600, IS 1489 (Part 1 and Part 2), IS 3466, IS 8041, and IS 8043 for other cement types. For aluminous cement specifically, IS 15895:2018 and IS 6452 are the operative standards.

What distinguishes IS 15895:2018 from IS 6452 for customs-clearance purposes?

IS 15895:2018 applies to High Alumina Refractory Cement used in high-temperature applications; IS 6452 applies to High Alumina Cement intended for structural use. The CM/L licence is IS-specific, and customs requires the declared IS to match the consignment's end-use grade.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all grades and manufacturing facilities of aluminous cement?

No. A CM/L licence is product-scope-specific by IS number, grade, and licensed manufacturing facility; cement outside the licensed IS or from an unlicensed plant is not covered and will be detained at the port of import.

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