Nylon rope

Nylon rope of synthetic fibres (braided mountaineering rope)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 6590

HSN 5607 50 40 (nylon rope of synthetic fibres) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 6590:1972 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme for braided nylon ropes for mountaineering with effect from 01 December 2024, under the Steel Wires or Strands, Nylon or Wire Ropes and Wire Mesh (Quality Control) Order, 2024. A Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate for hazardous dye absence administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

5607 50 40

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 6590 · effective 01-12-2024

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
Source braided nylon rope for mountaineering only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 6590:1972. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Steel Wires or Strands, Nylon or Wire Ropes and Wire Mesh (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 2581(E) dated 03-07-2024
2
Confirm which IS standard governs the specific rope subtype being imported: IS 4572 for polyamide strand ropes, IS 8674 for polyethylene strand ropes, IS 5175 for polypropylene ropes, IS 11066 for polyester strand ropes, IS 14929 for mixed polyolefin ropes, or IS 17609 for polyester/polyolefin dual-fibre ropes. Each subtype requires a separate CM/L licence against its governing IS.
Geotextiles and the Ropes and Cordages QCO 2024 · S.O. 4332(E) and S.O. 4327(E) both dated 03-10-2024
3
Ensure every rope product 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 mark must appear on the product or its label, not on outer packaging alone.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Steel Wires or Strands, Nylon or Wire Ropes and Wire Mesh (Quality Control) Order, 2024
4
Obtain a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory in the exporting country, or a valid test report from TC or CSRTI, confirming 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, alongside the PSIC. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention.
Steel Wires or Strands, Nylon or Wire Ropes and Wire Mesh (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating IS 6590:1972 as the universal standard for all nylon and synthetic rope imports under HSN 5607 50 40. IS 6590:1972 applies exclusively to braided nylon rope for mountaineering under S.O. 2581(E); other rope subtypes within this same 8-digit tariff line are governed by distinct IS standards under the Geotextiles and the Ropes and Cordages QCO 2024 (S.O. 4332(E) and S.O. 4327(E)). Presenting a CM/L licensed against the wrong IS — even a valid, in-scope licence — constitutes a scope mismatch that triggers detention at port.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 5607 50 40 require BIS certification?

Yes. Braided nylon rope for mountaineering requires conformity to IS 6590:1972 under the ISI Mark Scheme from 01 December 2024; other synthetic rope subtypes under this tariff line require CM/L licences against the applicable IS standard under the Geotextiles and the Ropes and Cordages QCO 2024.

Are there phased enforcement dates for small and micro enterprises?

Yes. For braided nylon rope under S.O. 2581(E), small enterprises must comply from 01 March 2025 and micro enterprises from 01 June 2025. For rope types under S.O. 4332(E) and S.O. 4327(E), small and micro enterprises (domestic production only) have an extended date of 01 July 2025.

Which IS standard applies to a nylon rope that is not a mountaineering rope?

Depending on construction, IS 4572 (polyamide strand ropes), IS 8674 (polyethylene strand ropes), IS 14929 (mixed polyolefin ropes), or IS 17880 (geosynthetic polymer rope gabions) may apply under the Geotextiles and the Ropes and Cordages QCO 2024. The applicable IS must be matched to the rope's fibre composition and construction class.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all rope types and manufacturing facilities?

No. Each CM/L licence is specific to an IS standard, rope construction class, and licensed manufacturing facility; rope variants outside the licensed scope or from an unlicensed plant are not covered and will be detained at customs.

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