Other

Signal generators, other electrical apparatus (non-e-cigarette)

CDSCO CLEARANCE · MOHFW CLEARANCE

HSN 8543 20 90 (Other signal generators) is subject to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) packaging and labelling requirements under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2022, operative from 1 December 2022, where tobacco products are involved. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has prohibited import of e-cigarettes and all electronic nicotine delivery systems under HS 8543 via DGFT Notification 20/2015-20 dated 26-09-2019, and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Instruction 02/2023 governs customs verification of tobacco-labelling compliance at the bill of entry.

What this is

HSN code

8543 20 90

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

Primary regulator

MOHFW · Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2022

Customs documentation

Labelling compliance declaration from MOHFW
Import prohibition clearance from DGFT
CBIC bill-of-entry verification from CBIC

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

CDSCOCDSCO·Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation

MOHFWMOHFW·Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

Compliance steps

1
Verify that any tobacco product classified under this CTI bears the new set of health warnings prescribed under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2022, notified by MOHFW with effect from 1 December 2022. Non-compliant labelling at the bill of entry attracts detention pending rectification or re-export.
GSR 592(E) dated 21-07-2022 · CBIC Instruction 02/2023 dated 07-01-2023 · MOHFW Letter D.O.P.16011/02/2017-TC (Part-1) dated 09-12-2022
2
Confirm that the goods do not constitute e-cigarettes, refill pods, atomisers, cartridges, electronic nicotine delivery systems, heat-not-burn products, e-hookah, or any like device; import of all such products under HS 8543 is prohibited outright. Only products licensed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 are carved out from this prohibition.
DGFT Notification 20/2015-20 dated 26-09-2019 · General Note 13 of ITC (HS) Schedule

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is misclassifying an electronic nicotine delivery system or heat-not-burn device as a generic signal generator and filing under 8543 20 90 to circumvent the prohibition. DGFT Notification 20/2015-20 expressly extends the prohibition to every form and shape of such device by whatever name called; customs officers are instructed to verify goods description against the prohibited-device list, and a prohibited consignment is liable to seizure and confiscation with no rectification route available.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8543 20 90 require BIS certification?

No, this tariff line carries no BIS Quality Control Order. Import is instead governed by MOHFW packaging and labelling requirements under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2022, and by the outright prohibition on e-cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems under DGFT Notification 20/2015-20.

Which documents must be uploaded in e-Sanchit for a tobacco product under this CTI?

Customs officers are directed under CBIC Instruction 02/2023 dated 07-01-2023 to verify that the new MOHFW health-warning labelling prescribed by GSR 592(E) is present on the consignment; a labelling compliance declaration and evidence of MOHFW-conforming packaging should be uploaded before out-of-charge is granted.

Is there any carve-out from the e-cigarette prohibition under HS 8543?

Yes, but narrowly: products licensed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 are excluded from the prohibition under DGFT Notification 20/2015-20. Any other device, regardless of name, shape, size, or form, that functions as an electronic nicotine delivery system remains absolutely prohibited.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: CDSCO / MOHFW / DGFT / CBIC / Indian Customs CUSDATA.