Other

Copying and transfer paper, duplicator stencils and offset plates (plain copier paper)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 14490 · PIMS OVERLAY

HSN 4816 90 90 (copying and transfer paper, duplicator stencils and offset plates of paper) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 14490:2018 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 4 December 2020, by virtue of the Plain Copier Paper (Quality Control) Order, 2020. Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) registration administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

4816 90 90

Chapter

48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 14490:2018 · effective 04-12-2020

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

PIMSPIMS·Paper Import Monitoring System

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 14490:2018 for plain copier paper. Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, and licensed manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Plain Copier Paper (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 2149(E) dated 05-06-2020 · IS 14490:2018
2
Ensure every product unit bears the ISI Standard 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 or its immediate packaging as required by the licence conditions.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Plain Copier Paper (Quality Control) Order, 2020
3
Register the consignment on the Paper Import Monitoring System portal no earlier than 75 days and no later than 5 days before the expected arrival date. Fee ₹500, registration valid for 75 days; multiple bills of entry are permitted against the same registration within validity for the permitted quantity.
DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · Chapter 48 PIMS policy condition under ITC (HS) 2022
4
Quote both the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the PIMS registration number with its expiry date on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L against the BIS register and the PIMS number against the DGFT portal; either absent, expired, or scope-mismatched triggers consignment detention.
Plain Copier Paper (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 dated 25-05-2022 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962
5
If the consignment enters an SEZ, FTWZ, or EOU, PIMS registration is required at the point of import into that unit. For subsequent DTA clearance without processing (no 8-digit HS change), PIMS re-registration is not required; if processing has changed the 8-digit HSN, reassess PIMS applicability.
DGFT Policy Circular 41/2015-2020 dated 05-07-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 45/2015-20 dated 23-01-2023

A word of counsel

The most common compliance error on this tariff line is treating IS 14490:2018 as covering all carbonless or coated paper variants when its QCO scope is confined to plain copier paper. Importers sourcing carbonless CB/CFB/CF grades for multipart business forms frequently assume the same CM/L covers both product families; customs at port and BIS verification establish that the CM/L is scope-specific to the notified product. A licence issued for plain copier paper does not extend to carbonless copy paper grades — verify the precise licensed product description against the consignment specification before shipment.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 4816 90 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Plain copier paper under this tariff line requires conformity to IS 14490:2018 under the ISI Mark Scheme, with effect from 4 December 2020, by virtue of the Plain Copier Paper (Quality Control) Order, 2020; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence.

Is PIMS registration required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. Paper Import Monitoring System registration is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under DGFT Notification 11/2015-2020 and is independent of the BIS obligation. Fee ₹500, validity 75 days, apply no earlier than 75 days and no later than 5 days before arrival.

Does the Plain Copier Paper QCO cover all paper products classifiable under HSN 4816 90 90?

No. S.O. 2149(E) and IS 14490:2018 are specifically scoped to plain copier paper; other paper products that incidentally classify under this residual subheading are not within the QCO's notified product scope, though PIMS registration applies to all Chapter 48 tariff lines in the Annexure.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all paper grades and manufacturing facilities of the supplier?

No. The CM/L is scope-specific by product specification, grade, and licensed manufacturing facility; paper variants outside the licensed scope or from a different plant are not covered, and customs detains the consignment on a scope mismatch.

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