Lead alloy sheathed cables for lighting purposes

Lead-alloy sheathed cables for lighting purposes

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 17048

HSN 8544 70 10 (lead-alloy sheathed cables for lighting purposes) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 17048 and IS 7098 (Parts 1, 2 and 3) is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 21 January 2020, by virtue of the Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 notified under S.O. 294(E). Directorate General of Foreign Trade Tariff Rate Quota controls applicable to copper-content cables under Chapter 8544 apply as a separate customs-clearance overlay.

What this is

HSN code

8544 70 10

Chapter

85 · Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 17048 · 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
Verify the foreign manufacturer's BIS CM/L licence number against the applicable IS standard — IS 17048 for HFFR cables up to 1100 V, IS 7098 (Part 1):1988 for XLPE/PVC cables up to 1100 V, IS 7098 (Part 2):2011 for 3.3 kV to 33 kV, or IS 7098 (Part 3):1993 for 66 kV to 220 kV — on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 294(E) dated 21-01-2020
2
Ensure the cable bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number on the product or drum reel label traceable to the licensed manufacturing facility. Marking on packaging alone, without product-level identification, does not satisfy the ISI Mark Scheme marking requirement.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020
3
Confirm that the voltage class and insulation type of the consignment fall within the licensed scope of the CM/L. IS 17048 covers HFFR cables up to 1100 V; IS 7098 Parts 1, 2 and 3 cover distinct voltage bands. A CM/L issued for one part does not extend to cables in another voltage band.
Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 294(E) dated 21-01-2020 · IS 7098 (Part 1):1988; IS 7098 (Part 2):2011; IS 7098 (Part 3):1993
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number on the bill of entry. Where the consignment falls within the copper-products Tariff Rate Quota for CTH 8544 under the India-Nepal TRQ framework, obtain the DGFT allocation reference and declare it in the import documentation.
DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 dated 22-06-2023 · Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · BIS Act, 2016

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is matching a single CM/L licence number against the entire import without verifying that the licence covers the specific IS part corresponding to the cable's voltage class. IS 17048 and the three parts of IS 7098 are distinct standards with distinct licensed scopes — a supplier licensed under IS 7098 (Part 1) for low-voltage cables is not licensed for medium- or high-voltage supply, and customs real-time verification against the BIS register will expose a scope mismatch on the bill of entry, triggering detention.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8544 70 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Lead-alloy sheathed cables under this tariff line require ISI Mark Scheme CM/L licensing against IS 17048 or the applicable part of IS 7098, with effect from 21 January 2020, under the Cables (Quality Control) Order, 2020.

Which IS standard applies — IS 17048 or IS 7098?

The applicable standard depends on insulation type and voltage class. IS 17048:2018 governs halogen-free flame-retardant cables up to 1100 V; IS 7098 (Part 1):1988 covers XLPE/PVC cables up to 1100 V; IS 7098 (Part 2):2011 covers 3.3 kV to 33 kV; IS 7098 (Part 3):1993 covers 66 kV to 220 kV.

Is there a Tariff Rate Quota requirement for copper-content cables under this HSN?

Yes, for consignments falling within the India-Nepal TRQ for copper products under CTH 8544. DGFT is the designated authority for allocation and monitoring; the relevant framework is set out in DGFT Public Notice 17/2023 dated 22-06-2023.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all cable types and voltage bands from the same manufacturer?

No. A CM/L licence is scope-specific by IS standard, voltage class, and manufacturing facility; cables from a different plant or outside the licensed voltage band are not covered, and customs will reject a mismatched CM/L number at the time of bill-of-entry verification.

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