# Importing from China to India: BIS, duties, and restricted lists
Importing from China to India is one of the highest-potential and highest-complexity sourcing routes in Asia. The market is enormous, the demand for Chinese-made goods is deep, and the logistics are well established. But India also runs one of the most layered import regimes anywhere: BIS certification for regulated products, duties that stack in multiple parts, restricted and prohibited lists that change, and documentation standards that punish carelessness. Importing from China to India rewards importers who do their regulatory homework before they order, and punishes those who treat compliance as an afterthought.
This guide covers BIS certification, how Indian duties work, what the restricted lists mean for you, and how to clear customs without getting stuck.
BIS certification when importing from China to India
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) runs India's product certification system, and for many product categories it is mandatory. Electronics and IT goods fall under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), which requires products to be tested at BIS-recognized labs and registered before they can be sold in India. Other categories, from steel products to toys to certain chemicals, have their own mandatory certification requirements under Quality Control Orders issued by the relevant ministries.
For anyone importing from China to India, the key facts are:
- **The Indian importer or the brand owner is responsible.** BIS registration is tied to the Indian entity or its authorized representative. Your Chinese supplier can provide samples and technical documents, but cannot complete the process on your behalf without the proper authorization structure.
- **Testing happens at recognized labs.** Products are tested against the applicable Indian Standards. Factories that already export to India usually know the process; factories new to the market need guidance and time.
- **The BIS mark must be applied correctly.** Certified products carry the BIS Standard Mark as prescribed. Marking errors cause clearance problems.
- **Certification takes time.** First-time applications, especially for new factories, can take months including testing, documentation, and any factory audit requirements. Build this into your timeline from the start.
Check current official sources for which products currently require BIS certification, because the list of products under mandatory certification expands over time. Never assume that because a product cleared last year without BIS, it still can. This is one of the most common and most expensive mistakes in importing from China to India, and it traps experienced importers too when they add new product lines without re-checking.
Beyond BIS, other regulators matter depending on your category: telecom equipment needs TEC approval, medical devices fall under CDSCO, food products need FSSAI clearance, and cosmetics have their own registration requirements. Map every applicable regime before you commit to an order. Regulatory mapping is unglamorous work, but it is the foundation of importing from China to India without nasty surprises.
Getting set up as an importer
Commercial importing into India requires an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Without an IEC, you cannot clear commercial shipments. The application is done online, and you will need your business registration documents, PAN, and bank details. Getting the IEC sorted early is one of the simplest ways to avoid delays when importing from China to India.
You will also need a customs broker (called a CHA, Customs House Agent) to file declarations and handle clearance. For your first shipments, a good CHA is worth more than a cheap one: Indian customs procedures have enough local detail that experience pays for itself quickly.
Payment to Chinese suppliers typically goes through your bank with the standard trade documentation. Indian banks are familiar with China trade, but keep your paperwork clean: invoice, purchase order, and shipping documents should tell a consistent story.
How Indian customs clearance works
Indian Customs, under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), runs electronic filing through its ICEGATE system. The clearance sequence:
1. Your CHA files the bill of entry electronically before or on arrival of the goods. 2. Customs assesses the declaration: HS code classification, valuation, origin, and compliance with BIS and other regulatory requirements. 3. Duties and taxes are calculated and paid. 4. Customs may select the shipment for examination based on risk parameters. 5. Goods are released for pickup.
Indian customs is known for thorough assessment, and that reputation shapes daily life for anyone importing from China to India. Valuation scrutiny is common, particularly for related-party transactions and for product categories with a history of under-invoicing. Keep complete documentation: supplier invoices, proof of payment, freight and insurance documents, and any correspondence supporting your declared value. If customs raises a query, you answer with documents.
Main container ports for China cargo are Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai, Mundra in Gujarat, and Chennai on the east coast. Choose based on your warehouse location and inland transport costs. Air cargo arrives mainly at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai airports.
Duties and taxes: how the stack works
India's import duty structure has multiple components, and this is where new importers get confused. The main elements include basic customs duty on the assessable value, plus additional duties and cesses that apply to specific products, and GST (in the form of IGST) on imports. The exact combination and the rates depend on the HS code, the product, and current law.
Because the structure is complex and rates change, check current official sources or have your CHA confirm the full duty stack for your products before you finalize pricing. Never work from a single duty number you found online: the total landed duty is the sum of several parts, and missing one part wrecks your margin calculation. Getting the duty math right is a core skill in importing from China to India profitably.
The HS code classification is the foundation of everything. It determines each duty component, whether BIS applies, and whether the product sits on a restricted list. Have your CHA verify the classification for your exact product against the current Indian customs tariff.
Additional cost lines to budget:
- **BIS testing and certification fees**, a significant per-product cost.
- **Port handling and terminal charges.**
- **CHA fees** for clearance and documentation.
- **Demurrage, detention, and storage** if clearance stalls. Indian ports charge real money for delays.
- **Inland transport** to your warehouse. India is vast and trucking costs vary enormously by distance.
- **Cargo insurance** on every shipment.
- **Currency risk** between order and payment.
Compare supplier quotes on identical Incoterms. FOB from the Chinese port is the standard baseline. CIF includes freight and insurance to India but not Indian-side charges. Always compare total landed cost per unit.
Restricted, prohibited, and canalized lists
India maintains lists that control what can be imported and how:
- **Prohibited goods** cannot be imported at all. The list includes obvious categories like narcotics and counterfeit currency, plus others that change.
- **Restricted goods** can be imported only with a license or permit from DGFT or the relevant authority. Many consumer and industrial products sit in this category at various times.
- **Canalized goods** can be imported only through designated state agencies.
For importing from China to India, the restricted list deserves your full attention. Products move between free, restricted, and prohibited categories as trade policy changes. A product that imported freely last year may need a license this year. Check the current DGFT lists for your exact HS code before every new product line, and re-check periodically for existing lines. Importers who get surprised by a newly restricted product face a choice between expensive re-export and abandoning the goods.
Labeling and packaging
India has labeling requirements for many consumer products, including Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules requirements for retail packs: MRP (maximum retail price), net quantity, manufacturer or importer details, and customer care information. Get this right in China where printing and stickering is cheap. Fixing labels after arrival is costly and slow, and labeling is one of the easiest wins in importing from China to India.
Packaging should withstand the realities of Indian port handling and long inland journeys. Sturdy cartons, proper palletization for FCL, and moisture protection during monsoon season all matter. Damaged goods create losses that no margin can absorb repeatedly.
Mistakes that cost importers dearly
Every one of these errors is avoidable with preparation, and importing from China to India has enough genuine complexity without adding self-inflicted problems.
**Ordering BIS-regulated goods without certification in hand.** The goods cannot clear. They sit at the port while you rush certification, or you re-export them at a loss. Certify first, ship second.
**Assuming last year's rules still apply.** BIS coverage expands, restricted lists change, duty structures get amended. Verify everything current before each new order.
**Wrong HS code.** It changes duties, BIS applicability, and license requirements all at once. Verify with your CHA.
**Under-declaring value.** Indian customs has extensive reference data and queries aggressively. Penalties and delays cost far more than the duty saved.
**Skipping pre-shipment inspection.** Check goods in China before loading: quantity, quality, labeling, BIS marking, packaging. Fixing problems at the factory is cheap; fixing them at Nhava Sheva is not.
**Ignoring the restricted list.** Check your HS code against current DGFT lists before ordering. This single check prevents some of the worst outcomes in Indian importing.
**No currency planning.** You buy in dollars and sell in rupees. Build a buffer or hedge for larger orders.
Conclusion
Importing from China to India is a route where regulatory preparation decides everything. Get your IEC, confirm BIS requirements for your exact products with current official sources, verify HS codes, check the restricted lists, calculate the full duty stack honestly, and inspect goods before they ship. The market opportunity is real and large, but it belongs to importers who treat compliance as the core of the business rather than as paperwork to rush at the end. Do the groundwork and importing from China to India becomes a durable competitive advantage.
FAQ
The essentials on importing from China to India, in question form.
### What is BIS certification and do I need it?
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification is mandatory for many product categories, including electronics under the Compulsory Registration Scheme. Regulated products cannot clear customs or be sold without it. Check current official sources for whether your product is covered. When in doubt, verify before you ship: the cost of checking is nothing next to the cost of a held container for anyone importing from China to India.
### What is an IEC and how do I get one?
The Importer Exporter Code is issued by DGFT and is required for commercial imports into India. You apply online with your business documents, PAN, and bank details. Get it before your first shipment.
### How are import duties calculated in India?
The duty stack includes basic customs duty plus additional duties, cesses, and IGST, all depending on the HS code and current law. Have your CHA calculate the full stack for your products using current official sources before you price them.
### What are restricted and prohibited lists?
DGFT maintains lists controlling imports: prohibited goods cannot enter, restricted goods need licenses, and canalized goods move through designated agencies. Products move between categories as policy changes, so check your HS code against the current lists before ordering.
### Which Indian port should I use?
Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai and Mundra in Gujarat are the main west coast gateways; Chennai serves the east coast. Choose based on warehouse location and total inland transport cost, not ocean freight alone.
### Should I use a CHA for clearance?
Yes, especially at first. A Customs House Agent files your declarations and navigates assessment, queries, and examinations. An experienced CHA pays for itself quickly on this lane.