Non-woven Geotextile and articles thereof, Conforming to IS 16391, IS 16392

Non-woven geotextile fabric weighing more than 150 g/m2

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 16391

HSN 5603 94 10 (non-woven geotextile fabric weighing more than 150 g/m²) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to the applicable Indian Standard — IS 16391, IS 16392, IS 16393, IS 16362, or IS 16653, depending on the functional product class — is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 10 April 2023 under S.O. 1706(E). Directorate General of Foreign Trade textile-import controls, including a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for azo-dye compliance, apply as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

5603 94 10

Chapter

56 · Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 16391 · effective 10-04-2023

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

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

Compliance steps

1
Identify the functional product class of the consignment before sourcing: sub-grade separation (IS 16391:2015), filtration (IS 16392:2015), protection (IS 16393:2015), subsurface drainage (IS 16362:2020), or needle-punched geobags/reinforcement (IS 16653:2017). The correct IS determines which CM/L licence the supplier must hold.
S.O. 1706(E) dated 10-04-2023 · CCR: IS 16391:2015, IS 16392:2015, IS 16393:2015, IS 16362:2020, IS 16653:2017 each applicable to the corresponding product class
2
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer whose licence explicitly covers the identified IS standard, the specific product variant, and the manufacturing facility. Verify the CM/L number, licensed IS scope, and facility address on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 1706(E) dated 10-04-2023
3
Ensure every roll or article bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number. The standard mark must appear on the product or its permanent label, not on outer packaging alone, and must correspond to the specific IS under which the CM/L is granted.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 1706(E) dated 10-04-2023
4
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country, or a valid test report from TC or CSRTI, certifying the absence of prohibited hazardous azo dyes. Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo dye testing.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
5
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the applicable IS standard on the bill of entry, accompanied by the PSIC or azo-dye exemption basis. Customs verifies the CM/L against the BIS register in real time; absent, expired, or IS-scope-mismatched documentation triggers consignment detention.
S.O. 1706(E) dated 10-04-2023 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is presenting one CM/L licence as covering the entire geotextile range when the supplier holds licences against only one or two of the five applicable Indian Standards. Each IS maps to a distinct functional application — separation, filtration, protection, drainage, reinforcement — and a CM/L granted under IS 16391 does not authorise supply of drainage geotextiles governed by IS 16362:2020 or geobags under IS 16653:2017. Customs detention results wherever the declared product class does not correspond to the IS cited on the CM/L.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5603 94 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Non-woven geotextiles and articles thereof weighing more than 150 g/m² must conform to the applicable Indian Standard and bear the ISI mark under a BIS CM/L licence, with effect from 10 April 2023 under S.O. 1706(E).

Which Indian Standard applies — IS 16391, IS 16392, IS 16393, IS 16362, or IS 16653?

The applicable standard is determined by function: IS 16391:2015 for sub-grade separation, IS 16392:2015 for erosion-control filtration, IS 16393:2015 for protection layers, IS 16362:2020 for subsurface drainage, and IS 16653:2017 for needle-punched geobags and reinforcement. A consignment may require more than one standard if it covers multiple product classes.

Is a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate required for geotextile imports?

Yes, as a textile-import-policy overlay. A PSIC from an accredited laboratory of the exporting country certifying absence of prohibited azo dyes is required, except for imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all five geotextile product classes?

No. Each CM/L is granted against a specific IS standard and covers only the product variant and manufacturing facility within its licensed scope; a supplier must hold separate CM/L licences for each Indian Standard applicable to the product classes being exported.

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