Other

Toys, puzzles and scale models not elsewhere specified

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 9873

HSN 9503 00 99 (other toys not elsewhere specified) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 9873 (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9) and IS 15644 is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme by virtue of the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020. Directorate General of Foreign Trade policy controls, including drone-import prohibitions under DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 and UAV/UAS/RPA conditions, apply as separate customs-clearance overlays.

What this is

HSN code

9503 00 99

Chapter

95 · Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 9873 · effective 25-02-2020

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against IS 9873 (all applicable parts) and IS 15644 for electric toys. Verify the CM/L number, licensed product scope, and manufacturing facility on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order.
Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 853(E) dated 25-02-2020 · S.O. 3146(E) dated 15-09-2020 · S.O. 4514(E) dated 11-12-2020
2
Ensure every toy in the consignment bears the ISI Standard Mark and the supplier's CM/L number. Marking must appear on the product itself; packaging-only marking does not satisfy the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 requirement.
Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 · S.O. 853(E) dated 25-02-2020 · BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 Scheme-I
3
Accompany the consignment with conformity certificates against IS 9873 (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9) and IS 15644:2006. Customs is authorised to draw a random sample from each consignment for testing at an NABL-accredited laboratory; clearance may be conditional, and the product cannot be sold until successful test results are received.
Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 95 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 02-12-2019 · Para 2(D) of General Notes to ITC (HS)
4
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number on the bill of entry and verify customs access to the BIS licence database per the CBIC flowchart. Absent, expired, or scope-mismatched CM/L triggers consignment detention; a failed NABL sample result triggers re-export or destruction at the importer's cost.
CBIC Instructions 06/2023-CUS dated 13-02-2023 · BIS Act, 2016 · Customs Act, 1962
5
If the consignment includes any drone, UAV, UAS, or RPA component, verify applicability of Policy Condition 3 of Chapter 95 and DGFT Notification 54/2015-20. CBU, SKD, and CKD drone imports are prohibited except for government entities, recognised educational and R&D bodies, and defence purposes with DGFT Import Authorisation; drone components remain freely importable.
DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 dated 09-02-2022 · DGFT Notification 30/2015-20 dated 08-11-2019 · Policy Condition 3 of Chapter 95

A word of counsel

The most frequent compliance failure on this tariff line is treating the NABL-accredited laboratory certificate as a substitute for an underlying BIS CM/L licence. The conformity certificate proves the product meets IS 9873 and IS 15644 standards, but it does not replace the manufacturer's CM/L — both are independently mandatory. An importer presenting certificates from an unlicensed manufacturer faces consignment detention under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020 regardless of the test results, with re-export or destruction at the importer's cost as the statutory outcome.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 9503 00 99 require BIS certification?

Yes. Toys under this tariff line must conform to IS 9873 (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9) and IS 15644 under the ISI Mark Scheme; import is permitted only from manufacturers holding a current BIS CM/L licence, with effect from 25 February 2020 under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020.

Is NABL-accredited laboratory testing at the port a separate requirement from the BIS CM/L licence?

Yes. Customs is authorised to draw random samples for NABL testing per Policy Condition 2 of Chapter 95; conditional clearance may be granted, but the goods cannot enter the market until testing passes. A failed result leads to re-export or destruction at the importer's cost, independent of CM/L status.

Does the BIS QCO apply to drones and UAVs classified under HSN 9503 00 99?

Drone and UAV imports are governed by an additional layer: CBU, SKD, and CKD form imports are prohibited under DGFT Notification 54/2015-20 except for government, defence, and recognised R&D entities with DGFT Import Authorisation. The BIS toy-safety QCO continues to apply to any toy-classification drone not falling under the prohibition carve-outs.

Does a single CM/L licence cover all toy variants and parts from the same manufacturer?

No. The CM/L is scope-specific by IS part, product category, and manufacturing facility. Variants outside the licensed scope, or from a different plant, are not covered, and customs detains consignments where the bill-of-entry product description does not match the licensed scope.

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