Other

Gas-operated welding and brazing machinery (welding rods, covered electrodes)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 814 · CPCB OVERLAY

HSN 8468 20 90 (other gas-operated welding and brazing machinery and apparatus) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 814:2004 and IS 6419:1996 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 18 January 2024, by virtue of the Welding Rods and Electrodes (Quality Control) Order, 2023. Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation administered by the Central Pollution Control Board applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay for electrical or electronic welding tools.

What this is

HSN code

8468 20 90

Chapter

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

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 814 · effective 18-01-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

CPCBCPCB·Central Pollution Control Board

Compliance steps

1
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 814:2004 (covered electrodes for manual metal arc welding) or IS 6419:1996 (welding rods and bare electrodes for gas-shielded arc welding), as applicable to the product variant. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Welding Rods and Electrodes (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 3153(E) dated 14-07-2023 · S.O. 777(E) dated 12-02-2026
2
Confirm that the applicable IS standard for the specific product matches the consignment: IS 814:2004 governs covered electrodes for carbon and carbon-manganese steel arc welding; IS 6419:1996 governs welding rods and bare electrodes for gas-shielded arc welding of structural steel. A CM/L licence against the wrong standard does not cover the consignment.
IS 814:2004 · IS 6419:1996 · Welding Rods and Electrodes (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 3153(E) dated 14-07-2023
3
Ensure every 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. Marking must appear on the product itself and on the innermost packaging, not on the outer carton alone.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Welding Rods and Electrodes (Quality Control) Order, 2023
4
If the consignment constitutes electrical or electronic tools for welding or soldering (other than large-scale stationary industrial tools), obtain Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation from the Central Pollution Control Board before import. Enterprises registered under the Udyam Portal with investment in plant and machinery not exceeding ₹1 crore and turnover not exceeding ₹5 crore for the previous financial year, as certified by a Chartered Accountant, are exempt from EPR.
Schedule-I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 · G.S.R. 801(E) dated 02-11-2022
5
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number on the bill of entry and, where EPR applies, the CPCB EPR authorisation number. Note the phased enforcement dates: Small Enterprises became subject from 18 April 2024; Micro Enterprises from 18 July 2024. Micro Enterprises registered under the Udyam Portal meeting the investment and turnover thresholds are exempt from the QCO obligation.
Welding Rods and Electrodes (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 3153(E) dated 14-07-2023 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is importing welding rods or electrodes from a supplier whose CM/L licence is scoped to IS 814:2004 when the product shipped is a gas-shielded arc welding rod governed by IS 6419:1996, or vice versa — the two standards are not interchangeable and a CM/L against one does not satisfy customs verification for the other. Customs verifies the CM/L scope in real time against the BIS register; a standard mismatch, even with an otherwise valid and current licence, triggers consignment detention and potential re-export at the importer's cost.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8468 20 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Welding rods and electrodes falling under this tariff line require conformity to IS 814:2004 or IS 6419:1996 under the ISI Mark Scheme from 18 January 2024, by virtue of the Welding Rods and Electrodes (Quality Control) Order, 2023 vide S.O. 3153(E).

Are Micro Enterprises and Small Enterprises subject to the same enforcement date?

No. The primary enforcement date is 18 January 2024. Small Enterprises became subject from 18 April 2024 and Micro Enterprises from 18 July 2024. Micro Enterprises meeting the Udyam-registered investment and turnover thresholds certified by a Chartered Accountant are exempt from the QCO obligation entirely.

Does the EPR obligation apply to all consignments under this HSN?

No. EPR authorisation under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 applies only to electrical or electronic welding or soldering tools; large-scale stationary industrial tools are excluded. Micro Enterprises as defined under the MSMED Act, 2006 are also exempt from EPR.

Does a single CM/L licence cover both IS 814:2004 and IS 6419:1996 product types?

No. A CM/L licence is standard-specific; a licence against IS 814:2004 covers covered electrodes for manual metal arc welding and does not extend to welding rods under IS 6419:1996. Importers must confirm the correct standard mapping for each product variant before shipment.

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