Plastic insulated

Plastic insulated electric conductors for voltages exceeding 1000 V

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 1554

HSN 8544 60 20 (plastic insulated electric conductors for voltages exceeding 1000 V) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 1554, IS 7098, IS 17048, IS 5950, IS 17293, and IS 17505 — as applicable to cable construction and voltage range — is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme, with the Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 effective from 21 January 2020. A Directorate General of Foreign Trade tariff-rate quota framework for copper products under Chapter 85 (CTH 8544) applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

8544 60 20

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 1554 · 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 applicable Indian Standard by cable construction and voltage: IS 1554 (Part 1):1988 for PVC insulated cables up to 1100 V; IS 1554 (Part 2):1988 for PVC insulated cables 3.3 kV to 11 kV; IS 7098 (Part 1):1988 for XLPE/PVC up to 1100 V; IS 7098 (Part 2):2011 for 3.3 kV to 33 kV; IS 7098 (Part 3):1993 for 66 kV to 220 kV; IS 17048:2018 for HFFR cables up to 1100 V; IS 5950:1984 for shot firing cables. Verify the supplier holds a current BIS CM/L licence against the specific part and voltage range covering the consignment.
Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 294(E) dated 21-01-2020
2
For solar DC cables, verify BIS CM/L licence against IS 17293:2020. For fire survival cables, verify CM/L licence against IS 17505 (Part 1):2021, effective 26-02-2024, under the Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023.
Solar DC Cable and Fire Survival Cable (Quality Control) Order, 2023 · S.O. 3807(E) dated 24-08-2023
3
Confirm the ISI mark, CM/L number, IS part number, and voltage designation appear on the cable and on the drum or reel label. Marking must correspond to the licensed scope; a CM/L licensed for Part 1 (up to 1100 V) does not cover Part 2 (3.3 kV to 11 kV) product in the same consignment.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 294(E) dated 21-01-2020
4
For PVC insulated cables up to 1100 V also falling within the Electrical Wires, Cables, Appliances and Protection Devices and Accessories (Quality Control) Order, 2003, confirm whether both QCO notifications are satisfied. IS 694 is applicable on PVC insulated cables for working voltages up to and including 1100 V under that earlier order.
Electrical Wires, Cables, Appliances and Protection Devices and Accessories (Quality Control) Order, 2003 · S.O. 189(E) dated 17-02-2003
5
If the consignment is copper-based and falls within the DGFT tariff-rate quota framework for CTH 8544, verify TRQ allocation status before import. Quote the BIS CM/L number and any applicable TRQ reference on the bill of entry; customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register.
DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 dated 22-06-2023 · para 2.92 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is sourcing from a supplier whose CM/L licence covers only one IS part — for example IS 1554 (Part 1) up to 1100 V — when the consignment includes cables rated at 3.3 kV or higher, which require Part 2 or IS 7098 (Part 2) coverage. Customs verifies the CM/L scope against the declared voltage rating of the cable; a voltage-range mismatch between the licence and the product triggers consignment detention regardless of whether the ISI mark is physically present on the drum.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8544 60 20 require BIS certification?

Yes. Plastic insulated electric conductors for voltages exceeding 1000 V require a BIS CM/L licence under the ISI Mark Scheme, with conformity to the applicable IS standard — IS 1554, IS 7098, IS 17048, IS 5950, IS 17293, or IS 17505 — determined by cable construction and voltage range, effective from 21 January 2020.

Which Indian Standard applies to a specific cable type under this HSN?

The applicable IS is determined by cable construction and voltage: IS 1554 (Part 1 or Part 2) for PVC insulated cables, IS 7098 (Parts 1, 2, or 3) for XLPE cables across voltage bands up to 220 kV, IS 17048:2018 for HFFR cables, IS 17293:2020 for solar DC cables, and IS 17505 (Part 1):2021 for fire survival cables.

Does the DGFT tariff-rate quota notification for CTH 8544 affect all importers?

Only importers of copper-based cable products that fall within the TRQ allocation framework under the revised India-Nepal treaty are affected. DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 sets out the eligibility and allocation procedure; importers outside the TRQ scope are unaffected by the TRQ condition but remain subject to the BIS QCO.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all voltage ratings and IS parts from the same manufacturer?

No. A CM/L licence is part-specific and voltage-range-specific; a licence against IS 1554 (Part 1) does not authorise import of cables rated above 1100 V, and a separate CM/L against IS 1554 (Part 2) or IS 7098 (Part 2) is required for higher-voltage product.

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