Asbestos - cement sheets

Asbestos-cement sheets, flat sheets and building boards

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 459

HSN 6811 40 10 (asbestos-cement sheets) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 459:1992 and six associated Indian Standards is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme pursuant to the Asbestos or Fibre Cement Based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024, notified under S.O. 1152(E) dated 06-03-2024, with phased enforcement from 07-09-2024. No separate customs-clearance overlay applies beyond the BIS QCO obligation.

What this is

HSN code

6811 40 10

Chapter

68 · Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 459 · effective 07-09-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against the applicable Indian Standard for the specific product variant: IS 459:1992 for corrugated and semi-corrugated sheets, IS 2096:1992 for flat sheets, IS 2098:1997 for building boards, IS 13000:1990 for silica-asbestos-cement flat sheets, IS 13008:1990 for shallow corrugated sheets, IS 14862:2000 for fibre-cement flat sheets, or IS 14871:2000 for long corrugated or asymmetrical-section sheets and fittings. Verify the CM/L number, licensed IS, product scope, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Asbestos or Fibre Cement Based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 1152(E) dated 06-03-2024 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Confirm that the CM/L licence covers the exact product type being imported — corrugated, flat sheet, building board, or fibre-reinforced sheet — and the licensed facility address. A licence issued against IS 459:1992 for corrugated sheets does not cover flat sheets under IS 2096:1992 or boards under IS 2098:1997.
Asbestos or Fibre Cement Based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 1152(E) dated 06-03-2024
3
Ensure every article bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number, applied to the product or its durable labelling. Marking must be traceable to the licensed manufacturing facility and the specific IS under which that facility is licensed.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · BIS Act, 2016
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the applicable IS number on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or IS-scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention, demurrage, and potential re-export or confiscation.
Asbestos or Fibre Cement Based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962
5
Verify the phased enforcement dates if the consignment is from a small or micro enterprise: the general and large-enterprise obligation runs from 07-09-2024; small enterprises from 07-12-2024; micro enterprises (as defined under clause (m) of Section 2 of the MSMED Act, 2006) from 07-03-2025. Retain documentary evidence of the supplier's enterprise classification.
Asbestos or Fibre Cement Based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 · S.O. 1152(E) dated 06-03-2024 · MSMED Act, 2006 (27 of 2006)

A word of counsel

The most prevalent error on this tariff line is treating the QCO as a single-IS obligation and obtaining a CM/L licence only against IS 459:1992 for corrugated sheets, then importing flat sheets or building boards under the same licence. Each product variant — corrugated sheets, flat sheets, building boards, silica-asbestos flat sheets, shallow corrugated sheets, fibre-cement flat sheets, and long corrugated or asymmetrical-section sheets — is governed by a distinct Indian Standard, each requiring its own CM/L authorisation; cross-coverage does not exist, and a scope mismatch at the port-of-entry generates detention regardless of the face validity of the supplier's licence.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 6811 40 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Asbestos-cement sheets under this tariff line must conform to the applicable Indian Standard — IS 459:1992, IS 2096:1992, IS 2098:1997, IS 13000:1990, IS 13008:1990, IS 14862:2000, or IS 14871:2000 — and bear the ISI mark under a BIS CM/L licence, under the Asbestos or Fibre Cement Based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024.

When did the BIS QCO obligation become enforceable for this HSN?

The Asbestos or Fibre Cement Based Products (Quality Control) Order, 2024 was notified on 06-03-2024 under S.O. 1152(E). Enforcement for general and large enterprises began 07-09-2024; small enterprises 07-12-2024; micro enterprises 07-03-2025.

Does the phased enforcement for small and micro enterprises waive the BIS QCO for those suppliers?

No. It defers the enforcement start date only. Once the applicable phased date has passed, the CM/L licence obligation applies in full; imports from an unlicensed supplier after that date are subject to detention and confiscation regardless of enterprise size.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all asbestos-cement sheet variants?

No. Each Indian Standard governs a distinct product type; a CM/L issued against IS 459:1992 for corrugated sheets does not authorise manufacture or import of flat sheets under IS 2096:1992 or building boards under IS 2098:1997, and customs will reject a mismatched licence at the bill of entry.

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