Of an output exceeding 1,000 kW but not exceeding 2,000 kW

DC generators exceeding 1,000 kW up to 2,000 kW output

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · CRS SCHEME · IS 14286 · BEE OVERLAY · CPCB OVERLAY

HSN 8501 34 20 (DC generators of output exceeding 1,000 kW but not exceeding 2,000 kW) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Solar photovoltaic modules with blocking diodes falling within this output range require BIS registration under the Compulsory Registration Scheme against IS 14286 or IS 16077, with effect from 30 August 2017. Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation and Bureau of Energy Efficiency labelling apply as separate customs-clearance overlays.

What this is

HSN code

8501 34 20

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · Compulsory Registration Scheme · R-number required

Indian Standard

IS 14286 · effective 30-08-2017

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BEEBEE·Bureau of Energy Efficiency

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

CPCBCPCB·Central Pollution Control Board

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Verify the foreign supplier's BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme R-number on the BIS portal against IS 14286 for crystalline-silicon PV modules or IS 16077 for thin-film PV modules. The R-number must be model-specific and current on the shipping bill date.
Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017 · S.O. 2920(E) dated 30-08-2017 · S.O. 5259(E) dated 12-10-2018
2
Confirm the diode-topology classification with the supplier in writing before the purchase order: modules with blocking diodes (with or without bypass diodes) fall under HSN 8501; modules with only bypass diodes fall under HSN 8541. The bill of entry must match the documented diode configuration.
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Instruction 08/2018-Cus dated 06-04-2018
3
Obtain Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation from the Central Pollution Control Board 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
4
Ensure compliance with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Appliance Labelling and Compliance) Regulations, 2026 for equipment within the labelling scope. The BEE labelling reference must accompany the consignment-level documentation.
BEE Notification 5506/BEE/S&L/AL/2025-26 dated 26-12-2025
5
Quote the BIS R-number, the CPCB EPR authorisation number, and the BEE labelling reference on the bill of entry. Customs verifies each independently; any one absent, expired, or scope-mismatched triggers consignment detention.
Solar Photovoltaics, Systems, Devices and Components Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2017 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The distinctive compliance risk on this tariff line is output-band specificity: a BIS R-number registered for a lower output class (e.g., modules aggregated below 1,000 kW) does not cover equipment in the 1,000–2,000 kW band classified here. Customs port officers increasingly verify the rated output on the technical data sheet against the R-number's licensed specification; a band mismatch results in detention and a fresh conformity-assessment cycle before clearance, with demurrage and ground rent accruing throughout.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8501 34 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Solar photovoltaic modules with blocking diodes in this output range require Bureau of Indian Standards registration under the Compulsory Registration Scheme against IS 14286 (crystalline-silicon) or IS 16077 (thin-film) with effect from 30 August 2017.

Is Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation required separately from BIS QCO compliance?

Yes. EPR authorisation is administered by the Central Pollution Control Board under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 and is independent of the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme. Micro enterprises as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 are exempt.

Why are high-output solar PV modules classified under HSN 8501 rather than HSN 8541?

Per Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Instruction 08/2018-Cus, modules equipped with blocking diodes (or both blocking and bypass diodes) are classifiable under HSN 8501; modules with only bypass diodes fall under HSN 8541. Diode topology governs classification, not output rating.

Does a single Compulsory Registration Scheme R-number cover all output variants from the same manufacturer?

No. The R-number is model-specific and output-band-specific; modules outside the registered output range or model code are not covered, and a mismatch with the bill of entry triggers detention at port.

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