Rubber insulated

Rubber-insulated electric cables fitted with connectors

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 14494

HSN 8544 42 30 (rubber-insulated electric cables fitted with connectors) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 14494:2019 (and allied standards IS 9968 and IS 2593 by cable type) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme, with the earliest enforcement dating from 17 February 2003 under the Electrical Wires, Cables, Appliances and Protection Devices and Accessories (Quality Control) Order, 2003. Directorate General of Foreign Trade tariff-rate quota controls on copper products under chapter 8544 apply as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

8544 42 30

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 14494 · 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
Determine which Indian Standard governs the specific cable type in the consignment: IS 14494:2019 for elastomer-insulated flexible cables for mines, IS 9968 (Part 1) for elastomer-insulated cables up to 1100 V, IS 9968 (Part 2):2002 for elastomer-insulated cables from 3.3 kV to 33 kV, IS 2593:1984 for flexible cables for miners' cap lamps, IS 17293:2020 for solar DC cables, or IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 for fire-survival cables. Misidentifying the applicable standard at source leads to a CM/L scope mismatch at port.
Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 294(E) dated 21-01-2020; Electrical Wires, Cables, Appliances and Protection Devices and Accessories (Quality Control) Order, 2003 · S.O. 189(E) dated 17-02-2003; Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 3807(E) dated 24-08-2023
2
Verify the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence number on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order. Confirm the CM/L covers the specific Indian Standard, voltage class, cable type, and licensed manufacturing facility matching the consignment.
ISI Mark Scheme · Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018; S.O. 189(E) dated 17-02-2003; S.O. 294(E) dated 21-01-2020
3
Ensure every cable length or reel in the consignment bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number. For fire-survival cables under IS 17505 (Part 1):2021, the standard mark obligation applies with effect from 26 February 2024 under S.O. 3807(E).
BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Scheme-I marking format; S.O. 3807(E) dated 24-08-2023
4
If the consignment falls within the copper-products tariff-rate quota for CTH 8544, verify allocation status under the revised India-Nepal Treaty procedure and DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 before shipment. Quote the TRQ allocation reference on the bill of entry if applicable.
DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 dated 22-06-2023 · Para 2.92 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023
5
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the applicable IS standard on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched CM/L triggers consignment detention, demurrage, and potential re-export or confiscation.
BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962; S.O. 189(E) dated 17-02-2003; S.O. 294(E) dated 21-01-2020

A word of counsel

The single most common failure on this tariff line is presenting a CM/L licence valid for one IS standard (say, IS 14494:2019 for mine-use flexible cables) when the consignment contains a different cable type governed by a separate standard—IS 9968 (Part 1) for low-voltage general elastomer cables or IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 for fire-survival cables. Each IS standard requires its own CM/L scope entry; a licence that covers the heading description but not the specific standard and voltage class is treated by customs as no licence at all, resulting in detention regardless of the ISI mark physically printed on the cable.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8544 42 30 require BIS certification?

Yes. Rubber-insulated cables fitted with connectors under this tariff line require an ISI Mark Scheme CM/L licence under one or more of IS 14494:2019, IS 9968 (Part 1), IS 9968 (Part 2):2002, IS 2593:1984, IS 17293:2020, or IS 17505 (Part 1):2021, depending on cable type, with enforcement from 17 February 2003 onwards.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all cable types within HSN 8544 42 30?

No. Each Indian Standard listed in the applicable QCO requires a separate CM/L scope entry; a manufacturer licensed under IS 14494:2019 is not automatically licensed for cables governed by IS 9968 or IS 17505.

When did the solar DC cable and fire-survival cable obligation take effect under this HSN?

Solar DC cables under IS 17293:2020 and fire-survival cables under IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 became subject to the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 26 February 2024, under the Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023, notified at S.O. 3807(E) dated 24-08-2023.

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

It may. DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 designates DGFT as the authority for TRQ allocation and monitoring for CTH 8544 copper products; importers should verify TRQ applicability and obtain an allocation reference before shipment if the consignment falls within the notified copper-product categories.

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