Other

Copper winding wire, PVC and elastomer insulated (non-enamelled variants)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 694

HSN 8544 11 90 (other copper winding wire, residuary to the enamelled variant) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 694 for PVC insulated cables or IS 9968 for elastomer insulated cables is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 17 February 2003 under S.O. 189(E). Directorate General of Foreign Trade policy controls, including tariff-rate quota allocation for copper products, apply as separate customs-clearance overlays.

What this is

HSN code

8544 11 90

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 694 · effective 17-02-2003

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 694 (PVC insulated cables) or IS 9968 (elastomer insulated cables) as applicable to the insulation type being imported. Verify the supplier's CM/L number, licensed product scope, voltage rating (up to 1100 V), and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
S.O. 189(E) · IS 694 · IS 9968 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Ensure every cable reel or drum bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number per Scheme-I marking requirements. The ISI mark must appear on the product or on labels securely affixed to the product, not solely on outer packaging.
BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Scheme-I marking format
3
Confirm the applicable standard against the insulation material before shipment: IS 694 governs PVC insulated cables up to 1100 V; IS 9968 governs elastomer insulated cables up to 1100 V. A CM/L licence issued only against one standard does not cover product falling under the other.
IS 694 · IS 9968 · S.O. 189(E)
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number on the bill of entry. If the consignment originates in Sri Lanka, ensure routing through a permitted port — Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Tuticorin, Cochin, ICD TKD, ICD Mulund, ICD Ludhiana, or ICD Pitampur — as required under the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement conditions for articles of copper.
Policy condition Note 2 of Chapter 85 ITC(HS) · FTP condition 2 to Chapter 85
5
Check applicability of the tariff-rate quota for copper products under the revised India-Nepal Treaty and the DGFT allocation procedure before importation. The DGFT is the designated authority for TRQ allocation and monitoring of 10,000 MT of copper products (Chapter 74 and CTH 8544) for eligible consignments.
DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 dated 22-06-2023, para (i to xv) · Para 2.92 of the Handbook of Procedures 2023

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating the two applicable Indian Standards as interchangeable: a CM/L licence against IS 694 (PVC insulation) does not cover elastomer-insulated cable falling under IS 9968, and vice versa. Customs verification matches the declared insulation type against the licensed standard scope; a mismatch — even where the supplier holds a valid CM/L for the other standard — triggers consignment detention and a fresh conformity-assessment cycle. Confirm the insulation technology with the supplier at the purchase-order stage, not at port.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8544 11 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Non-enamelled copper winding wire requires BIS certification under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 17 February 2003 per S.O. 189(E); PVC insulated variants must conform to IS 694 and elastomer insulated variants to IS 9968, each up to 1100 V.

Does one CM/L licence cover both PVC and elastomer insulated cables?

No. IS 694 and IS 9968 are separate standards; a CM/L licence is standard-specific, and the licensed scope must match the insulation type of the imported product. Customs will detain a consignment where the declared insulation type falls outside the licensed standard.

Does the DGFT tariff-rate quota for copper products apply to this HSN?

It may. DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 designates DGFT as the authority for TRQ allocation covering CTH 8544 copper products, including 10,000 MT under the revised India-Nepal Treaty for FY 2023-24; importers should verify current TRQ availability and procedure under para 2.92 of the Handbook of Procedures 2023.

Are Sri Lanka-origin consignments subject to port restrictions?

Yes. Articles of copper from Sri Lanka under the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement are permitted only through Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Tuticorin, Cochin, ICD TKD, ICD Mulund, ICD Ludhiana, and ICD Pitampur; entry at any other port triggers clearance denial.

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