Other

Liquid flow and level meters (water meters, bulk and domestic types)

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 2373 · CDSCO OVERLAY · MOHFW OVERLAY

HSN 9026 10 90 (other instruments for measuring the flow or level of liquids) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 2373 and IS 779 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme with effect from 05 March 2024, by virtue of the Water Meters and Accessories Quality Control Order, 2023 notified at S.O. 1142(E). Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation registration under G.S.R. 102(E) applies as a separate customs-clearance overlay where the instrument is a notified medical device.

What this is

HSN code

9026 10 90

Chapter

90 · Optical, photographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 2373 · effective 05-03-2024

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

CDSCOCDSCO·Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation

MOHFWMOHFW·Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Compliance steps

1
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 2373 (bulk-type water meters) or IS 779 (domestic-type water meters), as applicable to the product variant. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and licensed facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Water Meters and Accessories Quality Control Order, 2023 · S.O. 1142(E) dated 05-03-2024 · Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018
2
Confirm which Indian Standard governs the specific product: IS 2373:1981 for bulk-type water meters and accessories, IS 779:1994 for domestic-type inferential cold-water meters. The bill of entry must reference the correct IS number matching the imported variant.
Water Meters and Accessories Quality Control Order, 2023 · S.O. 1142(E) dated 05-03-2024
3
Ensure each meter bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number under Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. The ISI mark must appear on the product itself; marking only on the outer packaging does not satisfy the statutory requirement.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Water Meters and Accessories Quality Control Order, 2023
4
If the instrument is a volumetric container-type liquid measuring device, verify Legal Metrology registration and product-approval certificates under Sections 19, 20, and 22 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and Rules 11 to 15 of the Eighth Schedule of the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011. Quote the approval certificate number on the bill of entry.
Sections 19, 20 and 22 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 · Rules 11 to 15 of the Eighth Schedule, Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011
5
If the flow or level instrument is listed under G.S.R. 102(E), obtain Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation registration before importation and quote the CDSCO registration number on the bill of entry alongside the BIS CM/L number. The BIS QCO obligation is not waived by CDSCO registration.
G.S.R. 102(E) dated 11-02-2020 issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is treating all liquid-flow measuring instruments as a single product scope and sourcing under one IS without confirming whether the consignment is bulk-type (IS 2373:1981) or domestic-type (IS 779:1994). A CM/L licence is IS-specific and scope-specific; a supplier licensed against IS 2373 cannot supply IS 779 domestic meters under the same licence, and customs verifies the IS reference against the BIS register at the point of clearance. Scope mismatch between the CM/L licence and the bill-of-entry product description triggers detention regardless of the validity of the licence itself.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 9026 10 90 require BIS certification?

Yes. Water meters and accessories falling under this tariff line must conform to IS 2373 (bulk type) or IS 779 (domestic type) under the ISI Mark Scheme, with effect from 05 March 2024, under the Water Meters and Accessories Quality Control Order, 2023 notified at S.O. 1142(E).

Do phased enforcement dates apply for smaller enterprises?

Yes. For small enterprises as defined under the MSMED Act, 2006, the domestic-type IS 779:1994 obligation came into force from 07 December 2024; for micro enterprises, it came into force from 07 March 2025. The bulk-type IS 2373 obligation applies from 07 September 2024 for domestic-type water meters.

Does CDSCO registration substitute for BIS QCO compliance?

No. CDSCO registration under G.S.R. 102(E) is a separate medical-device regulatory requirement administered by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation; it does not waive or substitute for the BIS CM/L licence and ISI marking obligation under the Water Meters and Accessories Quality Control Order, 2023.

Does a single CM/L licence cover both bulk-type and domestic-type water meters?

No. IS 2373 and IS 779 are distinct standards; a CM/L licence specifies the Indian Standard, product scope, and licensed manufacturing facility. A supplier must hold separate CM/L licences for each standard, and importing meters outside the licensed scope triggers detention at customs.

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