Of an output exceeding 37,500 kVA but not exceeding 75,000 kVA

AC generators of output exceeding 37,500 kVA up to 75,000 kVA

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

HSN 8501 64 50 (AC generators of output exceeding 37,500 kVA but not exceeding 75,000 kVA) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Solar photovoltaic modules with blocking diodes classified under 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 64 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 against IS 14286 for crystalline-silicon terrestrial PV modules or IS 16077 for thin-film terrestrial 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 with the supplier in writing before the purchase order: modules with blocking diodes (with or without bypass diodes) are classifiable under HSN 8501; modules with only bypass diodes are classifiable under HSN 8541. The bill of entry must reflect the actual 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 falling within the labelling scope. The BEE reference must accompany consignment-level documentation at the time of import.
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 single most consequential error on this tariff line is classifying a large-capacity solar PV array module under HSN 8501 64 50 without first confirming the diode topology in the supplier's technical data sheet. At this output band — exceeding 37,500 kVA — the modules are typically high-capacity industrial or utility-scale units; misclassification between 8501 and 8541 at port triggers reclassification, retrospective duty recovery, and a fresh BIS R-number verification cycle, with demurrage accumulating throughout. The diode-topology declaration must be locked to the specific model code on the BIS registration, not asserted generically for a product family.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8501 64 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 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 solar photovoltaic 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 with only bypass diodes fall under HSN 8541. Diode topology governs the classification, not the physical form of the module.

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

No. The R-number is model-specific; variants outside the registered model code are not covered, and a model-code mismatch with the BIS register triggers detention of the consignment.

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