Paper insulated

Paper insulated electric conductors for voltage exceeding 1000 V

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 694

HSN 8544 60 10 (paper insulated electric conductors for voltage exceeding 1000 V) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 17293:2020 (solar DC cable) and IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 (fire survival cable) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 26 February 2024, by virtue of the Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023. Directorate General of Foreign Trade policy controls, including Trade Review Quota allocation for copper products under the India-Nepal Treaty, apply as separate customs-clearance overlays.

What this is

HSN code

8544 60 10

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 17293:2020 · effective 26-02-2024

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
Verify the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order. Confirm the licence covers the specific cable type: IS 17293:2020 for solar DC cable or IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 for fire survival cable, and that the licensed facility matches the shipping facility.
Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 3807(E) dated 24-08-2023
2
Ensure every cable length or drum 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 itself; packaging-only marking does not satisfy the statutory requirement.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023
3
If importing PVC-insulated cables or elastomer-insulated cables rated up to 1100 V also covered by this tariff line, verify BIS registration separately against IS 694 (PVC insulated) and IS 9968 (elastomer insulated). The applicable IS standard is determined by insulation type, not by a single blanket licence.
BIS Note 2 of ITC (HS) Import Policy · IS 694 · IS 9968
4
Where the consignment falls within the 10,000 MT copper products Trade Review Quota for Chapter 74 and CTH 8544 under the revised India-Nepal Treaty, obtain the DGFT allocation and monitoring reference before filing the bill of entry. Quote the TRQ reference and the supplier's CM/L number on the bill of entry.
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, the applicable IS standard (IS 17293:2020 or IS 17505 (Part 1):2021), and any applicable DGFT TRQ reference on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time; an absent, expired, or scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention.
Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The most frequent compliance failure on this tariff line is applying a single IS-standard CM/L across multiple cable types with different insulation technologies. HSN 8544 60 10 captures paper-insulated conductors above 1000 V, but the Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023 maps IS 17293:2020 to solar DC cable and IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 to fire survival cable as distinct product-specific standards — a CM/L issued under one does not cover the other. An importer whose CM/L references the wrong IS standard for the actual cable being shipped will face detention even if the licence itself is current and the ISI mark is present on the product.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8544 60 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Solar DC cable must conform to IS 17293:2020 and fire survival cable to IS 17505 (Part 1):2021, both mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme from 26 February 2024 under the Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023. Importers must source only from CM/L-licensed manufacturers.

Do IS 694 and IS 9968 also apply to goods under this tariff line?

IS 694 (PVC insulated cables) and IS 9968 (elastomer insulated cables) apply to cables rated up to 1100 V that may also be classified here. The controlling IS standard is determined by insulation type and voltage rating; a single CM/L does not automatically cover all variants.

What is the DGFT TRQ obligation for CTH 8544 under the India-Nepal Treaty?

DGFT is the designated authority for allocating and monitoring the 10,000 MT copper products TRQ for Chapter 74 and CTH 8544 for FY 2023-24 under the revised India-Nepal Treaty. Importers within the TRQ must obtain a DGFT allocation reference per DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 dated 22-06-2023.

Does one CM/L licence cover both solar DC cable and fire survival cable?

No. IS 17293:2020 and IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 are separate product standards; a CM/L is standard-specific and facility-specific. A supplier must hold distinct licences for each cable type, and customs will verify the licence scope against the declared product on the bill of entry.

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