Air humidifiers or dehumidifiers (other than those falling under heading 8415 or 8424)

Standalone air humidifiers and dehumidifiers (non-HVAC)

MEFCC CLEARANCE

HSN 8479 89 20 (Air humidifiers or dehumidifiers) is subject to licensing controls under Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000, administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MEFCC), as dehumidifiers are listed in Schedule VII of those Rules. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issues the required import licence under General Note 8(a) of the ITC (HS) import policy. Products that do not contain ozone-depleting substances must carry a label to that effect prior to import.

What this is

HSN code

8479 89 20

Chapter

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

Primary regulator

MEFCC · Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000

Customs documentation

Import licence from DGFT
ODS-free label declaration from importer
General Note 8(a) compliance from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

MEFCCMEFCC·Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

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

Compliance steps

1
Obtain an import licence from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade covering dehumidifiers classified under Schedule VII of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000. The licence must be current and presented at the bill-of-entry stage; unlicensed import of Schedule VII equipment constitutes a violation of the ODS Rules.
Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000 · General Note 8(a) of the ITC (HS) Import Policy
2
Where the dehumidifier does not contain any ozone-depleting substance, affix a label to that effect on each unit before import. This labelling is a condition of the licence exemption pathway and must be in place prior to the consignment reaching the port of entry.
Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000 (proviso)

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that a dehumidifier marketed as 'ODS-free' is entirely outside the Schedule VII licensing regime. The ODS Rules, 2000 require the ODS-free label to be affixed before import as a precondition — its absence at the bill-of-entry stage means the consignment is treated as an unlicensed Schedule VII import, exposing the importer to detention and confiscation even if the product genuinely contains no ozone-depleting substance.

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 8479 89 20 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers standalone air humidifiers or dehumidifiers under this tariff line. Import is governed by Rule 10 of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Rules, 2000 administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, with the import licence issued by DGFT under General Note 8(a) of the ITC (HS) policy.

Is a DGFT import licence required even if the dehumidifier contains no ODS refrigerant?

The ODS Rules, 2000 provide a pathway for ODS-free equipment, but compliance requires the unit to carry a label declaring the absence of ODS before import; confirmation of that labelling at the bill of entry is how the licensing condition is satisfied.

What happens if the ODS-free label is missing when the consignment arrives at the port?

Absence of the mandatory ODS-free label converts the consignment into an unlicensed Schedule VII import under Rule 10 of the ODS Rules, 2000, making it liable to detention, seizure, and re-export or confiscation by customs until the licensing condition is regularised.

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