Of an output not exceeding 50 W

Solar photovoltaic modules of output not exceeding 50 watts

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

HSN 8501 71 00 (solar photovoltaic modules of output not exceeding 50 W with blocking diodes) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 14286 (crystalline-silicon modules) or IS 16077 (thin-film modules) is mandatory under the Compulsory Registration Scheme 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 71 00

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 (Si wafer-based) modules, or IS 16077 for thin-film modules (A-Si, CIGS, CdTe). The R-number must be model-specific and current on the date of the shipping bill.
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 in writing with the supplier the diode topology of every module in the consignment. Modules with blocking diodes (or both blocking and bypass diodes) are classifiable under HSN 8501; modules with bypass diodes only 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 from the EPR requirement. 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 goods within that labelling scope. The BEE labelling reference must accompany the consignment-level documentation at the time of customs examination.
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 against the issuing portal; any single reference 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 frequent error on this tariff line is misidentifying the controlling IS standard before ordering stock: importing crystalline-silicon modules registered only under IS 16077 (the thin-film standard), or vice versa, results in an R-number that is technically current but scope-mismatched, triggering detention at port even though BIS CRS compliance was otherwise pursued diligently. Obtain the supplier's module datasheets confirming cell technology (wafer-based versus thin-film) and cross-check the R-number's product-scope entry on the BIS portal before issuing the purchase order, not after the goods have shipped.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8501 71 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. Solar photovoltaic modules with blocking diodes of output not exceeding 50 W 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 Schedule-I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 and is independent of the BIS R-number. Micro enterprises as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 are exempt.

How does the diode topology determine whether HSN 8501 or HSN 8541 applies?

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 equipped with only bypass diodes are classifiable under HSN 8541. Diode topology is the operative classification criterion.

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

No. The R-number is model-specific; module variants outside the registered model code are not covered, and a consignment containing out-of-scope models is detained at the port pending fresh BIS verification.

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