Lithium

Lithium primary cells and batteries

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 8144 · CPCB OVERLAY

HSN 8506 50 00 (lithium primary cells and batteries) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 8144:2018 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 25 May 1987. Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 administered by the Central Pollution Control Board applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

8506 50 00

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 8144:2018 · effective 25-05-1987

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

CPCBCPCB·Central Pollution Control Board

Compliance steps

1
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 8144:2018 for multipurpose dry batteries. Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility address on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
IS 8144:2018 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · F.No.BS/11/11/2018 dated 04-06-2018
2
Ensure each battery bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number under Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product or its immediate packaging and be traceable to the licensed manufacturing facility.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 516(E) dated 25-05-1987
3
Obtain Extended Producer Responsibility authorisation from the Central Pollution Control Board under the Battery Waste Management Rules before import. MSMED-registered micro enterprises are exempt. Quote the EPR certificate reference on the bill of entry.
S.O. 3984(E) dated 22-08-2022 · S.O. 4669(E) dated 25-10-2023 · Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2023
4
Verify whether the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 EPR authorisation applies to the consignment in addition to the Battery Waste Management Rules EPR. Both instruments may apply depending on end-product category; confirm the applicable schedule with the Central Pollution Control Board before filing.
G.S.R. 801(E) dated 02-11-2022 · G.S.R. 338(E) dated 23-03-2016 · Schedule-I of the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
5
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the CPCB EPR certificate reference on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L against the BIS register in real time; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched CM/L triggers consignment detention regardless of EPR compliance status.
BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962 · Battery Waste Management Rules

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is importing lithium primary cells under a CM/L licence scoped to a different battery chemistry or cell format within the IS 8144:2018 family — for example, a licence covering carbon-zinc dry cells does not extend to lithium primary cells. IS 8144:2018 governs multipurpose dry batteries broadly, but the CM/L grant is scope-specific by electrochemical system and cell size; a licence mismatch triggers detention and potential confiscation even where the supplier holds a valid BIS CM/L for an adjacent product.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8506 50 00 require BIS certification?

Yes. Lithium primary cells and batteries under this tariff line require conformity to IS 8144:2018 under the ISI Mark Scheme; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence covering the specific battery type and manufacturing facility.

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

Yes. EPR authorisation under the Battery Waste Management Rules is administered by the Central Pollution Control Board and is independent of the BIS ISI Mark obligation. Micro enterprises as defined in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 are exempt.

Do both the Battery Waste Management Rules and the E-Waste Management Rules apply to lithium primary battery imports?

Potentially both. S.O. 3984(E) and S.O. 4669(E) govern Battery Waste Management Rules EPR; G.S.R. 801(E) governs E-Waste Rules EPR for scheduled electronic equipment. Confirm applicability with the Central Pollution Control Board against the end-product category before filing.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all lithium primary cell formats and sizes?

No. The CM/L is scope-specific by electrochemical system, cell size, and manufacturing facility; lithium primary cells outside the licensed scope or produced at an unlicensed plant are not covered and will be detained at port.

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