Of polymers of ethylene

Polyethylene sacks and bags for packing of goods

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 14887 · CPCB OVERLAY

HSN 3923 21 00 (polyethylene sacks and bags for packing of goods) is covered by multiple Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Orders, each tying a specific IS standard to a defined end-use application. Conformity to the applicable Indian Standard is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme, with the earliest enforcement date of 23 April 2020 under S.O. 1403(E) and further QCOs phased through to 6 October 2026. Extended Producer Responsibility registration on the Central Pollution Control Board portal and compliance with the Plastic Waste Management Rules apply as separate customs-clearance overlays.

What this is

HSN code

3923 21 00

Chapter

39 · Plastics and articles thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 14887 · effective 30-09-2021

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

CPCBCPCB·Central Pollution Control Board

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Identify the precise end-use application of the sack being imported and match it to the governing Indian Standard: IS 14887:2014 (50 kg foodgrain), IS 16208:2015 (10–30 kg foodgrain), IS 14968:2015 (25/50 kg sugar), IS 14252:2015 (sand filling), IS 9755:2021 (fertiliser), IS 11652:2017 (50 kg cement, wef 6-10-2026), IS 16703:2017 (25 kg polymer materials), IS 16709:2017 (PP laminated block-bottom valve sacks for 50 kg cement, wef 6-10-2026), or IS 17399:2020 (laminated woven sacks for mail sorting and distribution, wef 6-10-2026).
S.O. 1403(E) dated 23-04-2020; S.O. 2180(E) dated 04-06-2024; S.O. 51(E) dated 05-01-2026; S.O. 5180(E) dated 06-12-2023; S.O. 53(E) dated 05-01-2026; S.O. 52(E) dated 05-01-2026
2
Verify the foreign manufacturer holds a current BIS CM/L licence against the specific Indian Standard that governs the consignment's end-use application. Confirm the licensed product scope, fill-weight category, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018; BIS Act, 2016
3
Ensure every sack bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number per Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. The standard mark must appear on the product; marking on packaging alone does not satisfy the QCO requirement.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018; respective Quality Control Orders under S.O. 1403(E) and successor notifications
4
Register on the centralised CPCB portal as an importer of plastic packaging under Rule 6 of the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 and comply with Extended Producer Responsibility obligations under Rule 7.3. Quote the EPR registration on the bill of entry.
Rule 6 and Rule 7.3 of the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022; G.S.R. 133(E) dated 16-02-2022; G.S.R. 807(E) dated 30-10-2023
5
Declare the IUPAC name and CAS number of constituent chemicals on the bill of entry for all imports under Chapter 39, mandatory for all bills of entry filed on or after 1 October 2023. If the consignment originates in Bangladesh, verify applicability of port restrictions under DGFT Notification 7/25-26.
CBIC Circular 15/2023-CUS dated 07-06-2023; CBIC Circular 18/2023-CUS dated 30-06-2023; DGFT Notification 7/25-26 dated 17-05-2025

A word of counsel

The single most common failure on this tariff line is importing against a CM/L licence whose scope does not match the fill-weight category or end-use application of the actual consignment — for example, clearing sacks licensed under IS 14887:2014 (50 kg foodgrain) when the consignment is intended for fertiliser (IS 9755:2021) or cement (IS 11652:2017). Each QCO maps to a distinct fill-weight and commodity type; a CM/L covering one application provides no cover for another, and customs will detain the consignment on a scope mismatch even where the manufacturer otherwise holds a valid BIS licence.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 3923 21 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. HDPE and polypropylene woven sacks under this tariff line must conform to the applicable Indian Standard and bear the ISI mark under a CM/L licence granted under the ISI Mark Scheme. The governing QCO and IS number depend on the end-use application and fill-weight of the specific product.

Does one CM/L licence cover all sack types and fill-weight categories?

No. Each Quality Control Order ties a specific IS standard to a defined commodity and fill-weight; IS 14887:2014 covers 50 kg foodgrain sacks, IS 14968:2015 covers 25/50 kg sugar sacks, IS 9755:2021 covers fertiliser sacks, and so on. A CM/L licence is scope-specific and does not extend across applications.

Is EPR registration with the Central Pollution Control Board required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. EPR registration on the centralised CPCB portal is mandatory for importers of plastic packaging under Rule 6 of the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, and is independent of the BIS CM/L obligation. Rule 7.3 separately prescribes EPR obligations for importers.

When do the cement-sack and mail-bag QCOs take effect?

IS 11652:2017 (50 kg cement, standard woven), IS 16709:2017 (PP laminated block-bottom valve sacks for 50 kg cement), and IS 17399:2020 (laminated woven sacks for mail sorting, storage, transport and distribution) all take effect from 6 October 2026 per S.O. 51(E), S.O. 52(E), and S.O. 53(E) respectively.

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