Tea chest panels, shooks whether or not packed in sets

Tea chest panels and shooks of coniferous plywood

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 303

HSN 4412 39 20 (tea chest panels and shooks of coniferous plywood) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to the applicable Indian Standards under the ISI Mark Scheme is mandatory with effect from 28 February 2025 by virtue of the Plywood and Wooden Flush Door Shutters Quality Control Order, 2024. A Phytosanitary Certificate uploaded to e-Sanchit applies as a separate customs-clearance requirement.

What this is

HSN code

4412 39 20

Chapter

44 · Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 303 · effective 28-02-2025

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Verify the foreign manufacturer holds a current BIS CM/L licence against the applicable Indian Standard for the specific plywood grade being imported — IS 303:1989 for general-purpose plywood, IS 710:2010 for marine plywood, IS 5509:2021 for fire-retardant plywood, IS 1328:1996 for veneered decorative plywood, IS 4990:2011 for concrete-shuttering plywood, or IS 10701:2012 for structural plywood. Confirm the licensed grade and facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Plywood and Wooden Flush Door Shutters Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 1377(E) dated 15-03-2024
2
Ensure every panel or shook bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number traceable to the licensed manufacturing facility and licensed grade. The ISI mark must appear on the product itself; packaging-only marking does not satisfy the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Scheme-I marking requirements · S.O. 1377(E) dated 15-03-2024
3
Confirm the supplier's enterprise size classification. The enforcement date for small enterprises is 28 May 2025 and for micro enterprises is 28 August 2025; transitional dates do not apply to importers — only to domestic manufacturers supplying under those enterprise categories.
Plywood and Wooden Flush Door Shutters Quality Control Order, 2024 · S.O. 1377(E) dated 15-03-2024
4
Upload the Phytosanitary Certificate (e-Sanchit document code 851000) to e-Sanchit before the bill of entry is filed. The proper officer verifies the PSC upload before granting out-of-charge; absence of the PSC in e-Sanchit will delay clearance independently of BIS compliance.
ITC (HS) Import Policy PGA condition for Chapter 44 · e-Sanchit document code 851000
5
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the IS standard against which it is licensed on the bill of entry. Customs cross-checks the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or grade-mismatched licence triggers detention of the consignment.
Plywood and Wooden Flush Door Shutters Quality Control Order, 2024 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is submitting a CM/L licence for the wrong plywood grade — for instance, a CM/L against IS 303 (general-purpose) on a consignment of marine-grade panels (IS 710) or fire-retardant panels (IS 5509). Tea chest shooks routinely arrive mixed with higher-specification grades from the same facility, and a CM/L that covers IS 303 but not the co-packed grades fails the BIS register check at port, triggering detention and demurrage on the entire consignment even where the general-purpose panels are fully compliant.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4412 39 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Plywood under this tariff line must conform to the applicable Indian Standard and bear the ISI mark under a BIS CM/L licence, mandatory with effect from 28 February 2025 under the Plywood and Wooden Flush Door Shutters Quality Control Order, 2024.

Which Indian Standard applies to tea chest panels and shooks under this HSN?

IS 303:1989 is the primary standard for general-purpose plywood including packaging shooks. Marine, fire-retardant, decorative-veneered, concrete-shuttering, and structural grades require CM/L licences against IS 710:2010, IS 5509:2021, IS 1328:1996, IS 4990:2011, and IS 10701:2012 respectively.

Do the extended enforcement dates for small and micro enterprises apply to importers?

No. The transitional dates of 28 May 2025 (small enterprises) and 28 August 2025 (micro enterprises) apply to domestic manufacturers. Imported plywood must be sourced from CM/L-licensed manufacturers from 28 February 2025 regardless of the supplier's enterprise size.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all plywood grades from the same manufacturing facility?

No. Each CM/L licence is grade-specific and facility-specific; a licence against IS 303 does not authorise supply of marine, fire-retardant, or structural grades, and panels from an unlicensed plant are not covered even if the manufacturer holds other-grade licences.

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