Paper insulated

Paper-insulated electric cables fitted with connectors

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 2593

HSN 8544 42 10 (paper-insulated electric cables fitted with connectors) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 2593:1984 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 21 January 2020, by virtue of the Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020; solar DC cables must additionally conform to IS 17293:2020 and fire survival cables to IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 under the Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023. Directorate General of Foreign Trade Tariff Rate Quota allocation controls under the India-Nepal Treaty apply as a separate customs-clearance overlay for consignments within that treaty scope.

What this is

HSN code

8544 42 10

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 2593 · effective 21-01-2020

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
Identify the precise cable type in the consignment — flexible cables for miners' cap lamps (IS 2593:1984), solar DC cables (IS 17293:2020), or fire survival cables (IS 17505 (Part 1):2021) — and verify the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence covers that specific standard, scope, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 294(E) dated 21-01-2020; Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 3807(E) dated 24-08-2023
2
Ensure every cable unit or drum bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. Marking must appear on the product itself; packaging-only marking does not satisfy the statutory requirement.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020
3
For fire survival cables, confirm the enforcement date of IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 is 26 February 2024 and that the CM/L covers Part 1 specifically. Verify the part-number and version against the licensed scope on the BIS register; a CM/L referencing only the parent IS number without Part 1 designation is insufficient.
S.O. 3807(E) dated 24-08-2023 · IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 effective 26-02-2024
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and applicable IS standard on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time; a CM/L that is absent, expired, or mismatched to the cable type or part triggers consignment detention, demurrage, and potential re-export.
BIS Act, 2016 · Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023
5
If the consignment moves under the revised India-Nepal Treaty Tariff Rate Quota, confirm DGFT allocation for the relevant copper-products TRQ covering CTH 8544 for the applicable financial year. TRQ allocation and monitoring are administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under paragraph 2.92 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023.
DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 dated 22-06-2023 · Handbook of Procedures 2023, paragraph 2.92

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating the ISI Mark obligation as applying uniformly to all paper-insulated cables at this HSN, when in fact three distinct BIS Quality Control Orders — and three separate IS standards — govern three separate cable sub-types within the same 8-digit code. A CM/L against IS 2593:1984 does not licence import of solar DC cables or fire survival cables; and a CM/L against IS 17293:2020 for solar DC cables does not extend to fire survival cables under IS 17505 (Part 1):2021. Presenting the wrong CM/L at customs — even a valid, current one — triggers detention just as effectively as presenting none.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8544 42 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Paper-insulated cables fitted with connectors under this tariff line require an ISI Mark CM/L licence: IS 2593:1984 for flexible cables for miners' cap lamps under the Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020; IS 17293:2020 for solar DC cables; and IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 for fire survival cables under the Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023.

Do the three IS standards under this HSN share a single CM/L licence?

No. Each BIS Quality Control Order is standard-specific; a manufacturer must hold a separate CM/L against IS 2593:1984, IS 17293:2020, and IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 respectively, and each CM/L is also facility-specific.

When did the fire survival cable obligation take effect, and does it differ from the miners cap lamp cable obligation?

Yes. The obligation under IS 2593:1984 for flexible miners' cap lamp cables took effect from 21 January 2020 under S.O. 294(E); the obligation under IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 for fire survival cables took effect from 26 February 2024 under S.O. 3807(E).

Does the DGFT Tariff Rate Quota for copper products under the India-Nepal Treaty affect all imports at this HSN?

No. The TRQ allocation and monitoring under DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 applies only to consignments moving under the revised India-Nepal Treaty; standard commercial imports at this HSN are not subject to TRQ allocation and remain governed solely by the BIS QCO obligation.

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