Other

Other men's and boys' garments of coated or technical fabrics (protective clothing)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME

HSN 6210 40 90 (other men's and boys' garments of coated or technical fabrics) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to one or more Indian Standards for protective clothing is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 13 October 2023, by virtue of the Protective Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2022. Directorate General of Foreign Trade policy controls on textile imports apply as separate customs-clearance overlays.

What this is

HSN code

6210 40 90

Chapter

62 · Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 16890:2018 / IS 15748:2022 / IS 15742:2007 / IS 16655:2017 · effective 13-10-2023

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 which protective-clothing Indian Standard governs the specific garment type being imported: IS 16890:2018 for firefighter protective clothing, IS 15748:2022 for industrial workers exposed to heat, IS 15742:2007 for limited flame-spread materials, or IS 16655:2017 for welding and allied processes. Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against the applicable standard.
Protective Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2022 · S.O. 1707(E) dated 10-04-2023
2
Verify the supplier's CM/L licence number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility address on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order. Confirm the licence covers the exact garment specification and the specific production facility.
Protective Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2022 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
3
Ensure each garment bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. The standard mark must appear on the product itself; marking on packaging alone does not satisfy the requirement.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Protective Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2022
4
Accompany the consignment with a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate from an accredited laboratory certifying 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 but remain subject to other PSIC requirements.
General Note 10 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy · DGFT Public Notice 14/2023 dated 14-06-2023
5
If the consignment originates in Bangladesh, verify applicability of port restrictions introduced under paragraph 19 of the general notes to the ITC (HS) 2022 import policy. Consignments outside the documented carve-outs under paragraphs 2 and 3 are restricted to specified ports of entry.
DGFT Notification 7/25-26 dated 17-05-2025 · General Note 11 of the ITC (HS) Import Policy

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is failing to identify which of the five applicable Indian Standards governs the specific garment before contracting with a supplier. Each standard maps to a distinct protective function — firefighting, industrial heat exposure, flame-spread limitation, or welding — and a CM/L licence against one does not cover garments within the scope of another. Importing under a CM/L licence for the wrong standard category results in consignment detention at port even when the licence itself is current and the ISI mark is physically present on the goods.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 6210 40 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Protective garments under this tariff line must conform to the applicable Indian Standard and bear the ISI mark under a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L licence, with effect from 13 October 2023, under the Protective Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2022.

Which Indian Standard applies to this HSN?

The applicable standard depends on the garment's protective function: IS 16890:2018 for firefighter clothing, IS 15748:2022 for industrial heat exposure, IS 15742:2007 for flame-spread protection, IS 16655:2017 for welding processes. Each requires a separate CM/L licence.

Is a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate required in addition to BIS compliance?

Yes. A PSIC from an accredited laboratory is required under the textile import policy framework to certify absence of prohibited azo dyes. Imports from the EU, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom are exempt from azo dye testing.

Does a CM/L licence issued for one protective standard cover garments under a different standard?

No. Each CM/L licence is specific to the standard, product scope, and manufacturing facility for which it was granted; garments falling under a different IS number are not covered and will be detained at port.

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