Split air-conditioner two tonnes and above

Split air conditioners of two tonnes and above capacity

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 1391 · BEE OVERLAY · CPCB OVERLAY · MEFCC OVERLAY

HSN 8415 81 10 (split air conditioners of two tonnes and above) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 1391 (Part 2):2018 and IS 8148:2018 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 01 October 2023, pursuant to the Air Conditioner and Its Related Parts Hermetic Compressor and Temperature Sensing Controls (Quality Control) Amendment Order 2025 read with S.O. 4354(E). Bureau of Energy Efficiency labelling, Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation, and Ozone Depleting Substances import licensing apply as separate customs-clearance overlays.

What this is

HSN code

8415 81 10

Chapter

84 · Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 1391 · effective 01-10-2023

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BEEBEE·Bureau of Energy Efficiency

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

CPCBCPCB·Central Pollution Control Board

MEFCCMEFCC·Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

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

Compliance steps

1
Verify the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence number on the BIS online register against IS 1391 (Part 2):2018 for split-type room air conditioners or IS 8148:2018 for ducted and package air conditioners of two tonnes and above. The licensed product scope and manufacturing facility must match the consignment before the purchase order is placed.
IS 1391 (Part 2):2018; IS 8148:2018; Air Conditioner and Its Related Parts Hermetic Compressor and Temperature Sensing Controls (Quality Control) Amendment Order 2025; S.O. 4354(E) dated 05-12-2019
2
Ensure every unit bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number as required under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product itself and be traceable to the licensed manufacturing facility.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018; Air Conditioner and Its Related Parts Hermetic Compressor and Temperature Sensing Controls (Quality Control) Amendment Order 2025
3
Obtain an import licence from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000 if the equipment contains ODS. Units not containing ODS must carry a label to that effect before import as stipulated under General Note 8(A) of the Import Policy.
Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000; General Note 8(A) of the ITC (HS) Import Policy
4
Obtain Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation from the Central Pollution Control Board under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 before import. MSMED-registered micro enterprises are exempt. Quote the EPR authorisation number on the bill of entry.
Schedule-I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022; G.S.R. 801(E) dated 02-11-2022
5
Ensure compliance with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Appliance Labelling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026 for units within the labelling scope. Quote the BIS CM/L number, EPR authorisation reference, ODS licence status, and BEE labelling reference on the bill of entry; customs verifies each independently and detention follows if any is absent, expired, or scope-mismatched.
BEE Notification 5506/BEE/S&L/AL/2025-26 dated 26-12-2025; BIS Act, 2016; Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The most common oversight on this tariff line is applying IS 1391 (Part 1):2017 — which governs unitary window-type room air conditioners — to split-type units of two tonnes and above, when the governing standard is IS 1391 (Part 2):2018 (and IS 8148:2018 for ducted or package configurations). A CM/L licence held against Part 1 does not cover split-type units; customs real-time verification against the BIS register on the part-specific scope triggers detention even where the manufacturer holds a valid licence for a different sub-category of the same IS number.

Need a regulatory steer on this product?

Speak to a regulatory counsel about your specific HSN, IS, and supplier situation.

Speak to an Expert

Frequently asked

Does HSN 8415 81 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Split air conditioners of two tonnes and above must conform to IS 1391 (Part 2):2018 or IS 8148:2018 under the ISI Mark Scheme, with effect from 01 October 2023; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the relevant product scope and facility.

Is an ODS import licence required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes, if the equipment contains Ozone Depleting Substances. The licence is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Rule 10 of the ODS Rules, 2000; equipment free of ODS is exempt from licensing but must carry a label confirming the absence of ODS before import.

Which Indian Standard applies — IS 1391 (Part 2):2018 or IS 8148:2018?

IS 1391 (Part 2):2018 applies to split-type room air conditioners; IS 8148:2018 applies to ducted and package air conditioners. Both carry enforcement from 01 October 2023, and the applicable standard must match the product configuration in the bill of entry.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all cooling capacities and configurations from the same manufacturer?

No. The CM/L is scope-specific by standard (Part 1 versus Part 2 of IS 1391, or IS 8148), cooling capacity range, and manufacturing facility; units 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 / BEE / CPCB / MEFCC / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.