Containing methane, ethane or propane hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs)

Fire extinguisher preparations and charges containing HBFCs

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · MEFCC OVERLAY

HSN 3813 00 20 (preparations and charges for fire-extinguishers containing methane, ethane or propane hydrobromofluorocarbons) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 15683:2018 (portable fire extinguishers) and IS 16018:2012 (wheeled fire extinguishers) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 01 May 2025, by virtue of the Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023. Ozone Depleting Substances licensing administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (legacy code) controls apply as separate customs-clearance overlays.

What this is

HSN code

3813 00 20

Chapter

38 · Miscellaneous chemical products

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 15683:2018 · effective 01-05-2025

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

MEFCCMEFCC·Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 15683:2018 (portable fire extinguishers) or IS 16018:2012 (wheeled fire extinguishers), as applicable. Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 3585(E) dated 09-08-2023
2
Ensure each product bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number under Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product itself, not packaging alone.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023
3
Obtain an ODS import licence from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 before shipment. If the product does not contain ODS, affix a label to that effect on each unit before import, as required under General Note 8(a) of the Import Policy.
Rule 10 of the ODS (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 · General Note 8(a) of the Import Policy · Policy conditions 3, 5 and 6 of Chapter 38
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and, where applicable, the DGFT ODS import licence number on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L against the BIS register in real time; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched CM/L triggers consignment detention.
Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962 · DGFT Notification 44/25-26 dated 15-10-2025
5
Confirm the applicable enforcement date tier for the supplier's enterprise size: general enforcement from 01 May 2025, small enterprises from 12 May 2024, and micro enterprises from 12 August 2024 under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006. Ensure the CM/L was in force at the time of manufacture.
Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 3585(E) dated 09-08-2023 · Finance Bill 2025 effective 01-05-2025

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating ODS licensing as the headline obligation while overlooking the BIS QCO. The statutory hook that triggers detention at port is import of fire extinguisher preparations bearing no ISI mark from a manufacturer without a current CM/L licence against IS 15683:2018 or IS 16018:2012 — the ODS licence is a separate overlay and its validity does not substitute for BIS certification. Importers must also confirm which IS applies to their specific product type (portable versus wheeled) and that the CM/L scope precisely covers the HBFC-based formulation being imported.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3813 00 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Fire extinguisher preparations and charges under this tariff line require conformity to IS 15683:2018 (portable) or IS 16018:2012 (wheeled) under the ISI Mark Scheme from 01 May 2025, by virtue of the Fire Extinguishers (Quality Control) Order, 2023 notified under S.O. 3585(E).

Is an ODS import licence required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. An ODS import licence from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade is required under Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. Products not containing ODS must carry a label to that effect before import and are exempt from the licence requirement.

Do different enforcement dates apply depending on the size of the supplying enterprise?

Yes. The BIS QCO became effective from 12 May 2024 for small enterprises and 12 August 2024 for micro enterprises, as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006; the general enforcement date is 01 May 2025.

Does a single CM/L licence cover both portable and wheeled fire extinguisher preparations?

No. IS 15683:2018 governs portable fire extinguishers and IS 16018:2012 governs wheeled fire extinguishers; a CM/L licence is product-type specific and does not extend across both standards unless each is separately covered by the licence.

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