Of an output exceeding 10,000 kW

DC generators and motors of output exceeding 10,000 kilowatts

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

HSN 8501 34 50 (electric motors and generators of output exceeding 10,000 kW) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Solar photovoltaic modules with blocking diodes falling within this tariff line 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 50

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 before placing the purchase order. Confirm the R-number is model-specific, current, and covers IS 14286 for crystalline-silicon PV modules or IS 16077 for thin-film (A-Si, CIGS, CdTe) modules.
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 in writing with the supplier before the bill of entry is filed. Modules with blocking diodes, or with both blocking and bypass diodes, are classified under HSN 8501; modules with bypass diodes only fall under HSN 8541. The bill of entry must match the consignment's actual 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 of solar panels, cells, or modules. 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. The BEE labelling reference must accompany consignment-level documentation for equipment within the labelling scope.
BEE Notification 5506/BEE/S&L/AL/2025-26 dated 26-12-2025
5
Quote the supplier's 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 most acute risk on HSN 8501 34 50 is the output-threshold mismatch: importers familiar with lower-output PV module registrations occasionally present an R-number validated against a sub-10,000 kW product scope for a utility-scale consignment falling within this residual high-output tariff line. The BIS R-number is model-specific and must explicitly cover the module type and rated output in the consignment; a registration obtained for a smaller-output variant does not extend by analogy and will trigger detention at port.

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 8501 34 50 require BIS certification?

Yes. Solar photovoltaic modules with blocking diodes classified under this tariff line 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 Compulsory Registration Scheme 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 obligation. Micro enterprises as defined under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 are exempt.

Why are some solar PV modules classified under HSN 8501 rather than HSN 8541?

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

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

No. The R-number is model-specific; module variants or output ratings outside the registered model code are not covered, and customs detains the consignment on a model-code or scope mismatch with the BIS register.

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