Water cooler

Water coolers, commercial refrigerating and cooling equipment

CPCB CLEARANCE · PESO CLEARANCE · +1 OTHER PGAS

HSN 8418 69 20 (Water cooler) is subject to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) authorisation under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, and to a Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) import licence under Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000, where the equipment contains scheduled ODS. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) approval is required for any pressure vessel or cylinder component, and DGFT policy controls under General Note 8(a) of the ITC (HS) import policy apply as an additional overlay.

What this is

HSN code

8418 69 20

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

CPCB · E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 (EPR authorisation); ODS Rules, 2000 (DGFT licence for ODS-containing equipment)

Customs documentation

EPR authorisation from CPCB
Import licence from DGFT
PESO approval from PESO

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

CPCBCPCB·Central Pollution Control Board

PESOPESO·Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation

MEFCCMEFCC·Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Obtain EPR authorisation from the Central Pollution Control Board before importing water coolers classified under Schedule I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. EPR authorisation is not required for micro-enterprises as defined under the MSMED Act, 2006; document the micro-enterprise status at the bill of entry if claiming exemption.
Schedule I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 · G.S.R. 801(E) dated 02-11-2022
2
Where the water cooler contains a scheduled ozone depleting substance (ODS), secure a DGFT import licence under Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000 before shipment. Products that do not contain ODS must carry a label to that effect on the equipment before import.
Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000 · General Note 8(a) of the ITC (HS) Import Policy
3
Where the consignment includes pressure vessels or cylinders, apply for PESO import approval through the PESO online system prior to arrival. Approval requires submission of the manufacturer's particulars, ISO certificate, cylinder specifications and drawings, batch numbers, hydro-test certificate, and a third-party inspection certificate.
Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 · CBIC Instruction 12/2021-Cus dated 25-05-2021 · PESO press release dated 15-05-2021 (Release ID 1718815)

A word of counsel

The most frequent oversight on this tariff line is treating the ODS licence and the EPR authorisation as mutually exclusive obligations — importers who confirm their refrigerant is ODS-free and obtain the label sometimes proceed without verifying EPR registration, which is a separate CPCB-administered obligation triggered by the product category (large cooling appliances), not by the refrigerant type. A consignment with a valid ODS-free label but no CPCB EPR authorisation will be detained at the port of entry pending EPR compliance, attracting demurrage and potential confiscation under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.

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 8418 69 20 require BIS certification?

No, water coolers under this tariff line are not covered by a BIS Quality Control Order. Import is governed by CPCB Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, a DGFT import licence under the ODS Rules, 2000 where ODS-containing refrigerants are used, and PESO approval where pressure vessels are involved.

Is the EPR authorisation from CPCB mandatory for all importers of water coolers?

EPR authorisation is mandatory for all importers except micro-enterprises as defined under the MSMED Act, 2006; such enterprises must document their exempt status at the bill of entry under G.S.R. 801(E) dated 02-11-2022.

What happens if the water cooler does not contain any ozone depleting substance?

ODS-free equipment is exempt from the DGFT import licence requirement under Rule 10 of the ODS Rules, 2000, but must carry a label to that effect before import as required by General Note 8(a) of the ITC (HS) policy; the CPCB EPR authorisation obligation remains unaffected.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: CPCB / PESO / MEFCC / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.