Sanitary towels (pads) or sanitary napkins

Sanitary towels, pads, napkins and reusable period articles

BIS QCO APPLICABLE · ISI MARK SCHEME · IS 5405

HSN 9619 00 10 (sanitary towels, pads and sanitary napkins) is covered by a Bureau of Indian Standards Quality Control Order. Conformity to IS 5405:2025 for disposable sanitary napkins and IS 17514:2021 for reusable sanitary pads and period panties is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme, with implementation for Large and Medium Enterprises from 01 January 2025 and for Small and Micro Enterprises from 01 April 2025, under the Medical Textiles QCO Second Amendment 2025. No separate customs-clearance overlay beyond BIS applies to this tariff line.

What this is

HSN code

9619 00 10

Chapter

96 · Miscellaneous manufactured articles

BIS QCO

Applicable · ISI Mark Scheme · CM/L required

Indian Standard

IS 5405 · effective 05-08-2025

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

BISBIS·Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance steps

1
Identify the product type before sourcing: disposable sanitary napkins fall under IS 5405:2025 (effective 05-08-2025); reusable sanitary pads, sanitary napkins, and period panties fall under IS 17514:2021 (effective 01-01-2025 for Large and Medium Enterprises, 01-04-2025 for Small and Micro Enterprises). Source only from a Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L-licensed manufacturer holding a current licence against the applicable standard.
S.O. 4634(E) dated 23-10-2024 · Medical Textiles QCO Second Amendment 2025 · IS 5405:2025 · IS 17514:2021
2
Verify the supplier's CM/L licence number on the BIS online register before placing the purchase order. Confirm the licensed product scope, manufacturing facility address, and licence validity cover the specific product variant being imported.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · S.O. 4634(E) dated 23-10-2024
3
Ensure every product unit bears the ISI mark and the supplier's CM/L number in accordance with Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. The standard mark must appear on the product or its primary packaging, not solely on outer cartons.
Scheme-I of Schedule-II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 · Medical Textiles QCO Second Amendment 2025
4
Check whether the consignment qualifies for any exemption under Schedule A of the controlling Quality Control Order as amended. If an exemption is claimed, retain documentary evidence of the exemption basis and reference Para 2 of the QCO exemption schedule on the bill of entry.
S.O. 4634(E) dated 23-10-2024 · Para 2 of the Medical Textiles QCO Second Amendment 2025 exemption schedule
5
Quote the supplier's BIS CM/L number and the applicable IS reference (IS 5405:2025 or IS 17514:2021) on the bill of entry. Customs verifies the CM/L in real time against the BIS register; an absent, expired, or product-scope-mismatched licence triggers consignment detention.
BIS Act, 2016 · S.O. 4634(E) dated 23-10-2024 · Customs Act, 1962

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is applying a single IS number to all products within the consignment without distinguishing disposable from reusable articles. IS 5405:2025 governs disposable sanitary napkins and carries an enforcement date of 05-08-2025, while IS 17514:2021 governs reusable pads and period panties with the earlier Large-and-Medium-Enterprise date of 01-01-2025. A mixed consignment where reusable period panties are invoiced under a CM/L licensed only for IS 5405 will fail customs verification — the licences are standard-specific and product-variant-specific.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 9619 00 10 require BIS certification?

Yes. Disposable sanitary napkins require Bureau of Indian Standards CM/L certification under IS 5405:2025 with effect from 05-08-2025, and reusable sanitary pads and period panties require CM/L certification under IS 17514:2021, both under the ISI Mark Scheme pursuant to S.O. 4634(E).

Do different enterprise sizes have different implementation dates?

Yes. For IS 17514:2021, Large and Medium Enterprises were required to comply from 01-01-2025 and Small and Micro Enterprises from 01-04-2025. For IS 5405:2025, the effective date is 05-08-2025 across enterprise categories under the Medical Textiles QCO Second Amendment 2025.

Does one CM/L licence cover both disposable napkins and reusable period panties?

No. IS 5405:2025 and IS 17514:2021 are distinct standards; a CM/L licence is issued against a specific standard and product scope. A supplier manufacturing both product types requires separate CM/L licences against each standard.

Are any goods exempt from the Medical Textiles QCO requirements?

Certain categories listed under Schedule A of the controlling Quality Control Order, as amended from time to time, may qualify for exemption. Exemption eligibility and conditions are governed by Para 2 of the QCO, and documentary evidence of the exemption basis must accompany the bill of entry.

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