Importing air conditioners and electronics from Thailand into India: BIS, BEE and ASEAN duty

India does not run a separate approval system for goods from Thailand. The work splits the same way it does for every foreign source. BIS product approvals belong to the factory in Thailand that makes the goods. Environmental, packaging and radio approvals belong to the business in India that imports and sells them.

The CRS licence goes to the manufacturer for each factory, not to an importer or trader^[4]. Even so, the ban on covered goods without the Standard Mark applies to anyone who imports them^[4], and the BIS Act counts importers, distributors and sellers as persons bound by it^[8]. So the Thai factory's licence must cover your exact model before the goods leave Laem Chabang.

India imported goods worth US$ 16,426.79 million from Thailand in 2025-26, up from US$ 14,267.08 million^[1]. Chapter 84 machinery, which includes air conditioners and computers, was US$ 1,999.64 million^[1], and chapter 85 electrical goods US$ 1,846.30 million^[1].

Thailand is unusual among India's suppliers in that a home appliance tops its electrical list: air conditioners and parts came to US$ 422.85 million^[1]. Phones and transmission apparatus were close behind at US$ 419.97 million^[1], and computers rose to US$ 300.55 million^[1]. Refrigerators and parts were US$ 80.34 million^[1].

We could not find a BIS count of CRS registrations by country, so there is no official figure for Thai factories under CRS.

For the ISI mark, BIS's FMCS list showed 208 records for Thailand on 30 October 2026, 192 operative and 16 deferred^[2]. Cooling equipment stands out: 6 licences for room air conditioners under IS 1391, 4 for ducted and package air conditioners under IS 8148, 11 for room-AC heat exchangers, 7 for hermetic compressors and 3 for household refrigerators. There are also 6 under IS 302 for household electrical appliances, 10 for toys and 2 for plugs^[2].

On BIS's list of CCTV registrations meeting the security Essential Requirements, Thailand had 1 entry on 1 November 2026: Chicony Electronics (Thailand) Co., Ltd., making for the Bosch brand^[25].

Air conditioners are the largest electrical import from Thailand^[1], and they carry more approvals than most electronics.

• ISI mark via FMCS. Thai AC plants already hold FMCS licences for room ACs under IS 1391 and ducted and package units under IS 8148^[2]. The Air Conditioner and related parts QCO was amended again on 5 October 2026^[19]; check the current scope and dates on our air conditioners page.
• BEE star label. Room ACs, including fixed and variable speed, cassette, floor-standing, ceiling and corner types, are on BEE's mandatory list^[3]. Every brand must be registered separately and tested in BEE-recognised labs^[26].
• EPR. Air conditioners are electrical and electronic equipment, so the importer is a producer under the E-Waste Rules^[11].

BIS CRS: plan on testing in India. A test report counts only if it comes from a lab established, maintained or recognised by BIS for that product^[10]. When we checked BIS's laboratory search on 1 November 2026, all 68 lab entries listed for IS 13252 (Part 1) were in India^[27], and none of the 54 lab entries listed for IS/IEC 62368 showed a location outside India^[28]. So samples from Thailand normally travel to an Indian lab, and a report from a Thai lab for its home certification does not replace it.

WPC ETA: an accredited lab anywhere. The self-declaration asks that the RF test report come from an accredited laboratory and that you state the lab's name and country^[16]. A report from an accredited lab in Thailand can therefore support an ETA filing.

MTCTE: foreign labs only from non-border countries. Thailand does not share a land border with India, so the 2025 telecom conformity rules allow an ILAC-accredited lab there to be recognised as a Conformity Assessment Body for MTCTE^[29]. Recognition is not automatic: check TEC's current list before relying on a foreign lab.

Samples from Thailand go to a BIS-recognised lab in India, and the largest cluster is around Delhi NCR. BIS's Group-1 list of recognised labs dated 30 October 2026 had 444 entries, every one in an Indian state or union territory^[30].

On the lab search for IS 13252 (Part 1), at least 32 of the 68 entries have names placing them in Delhi NCR^[31]. Each lab declares its own charge, so quotes for the same standard differ by several times. The table shows what BIS's lab search displayed on 1 November 2026; see BIS labs in Delhi NCR, Mumbai and Pune and our guide to CRS test labs.

Could a lab in Thailand be recognised later? The rules allow it. A foreign lab is judged on the same criteria as an Indian one, plus a liaison office or authorised representative in India and a signed agreement with BIS^[32]. None was on the list when we checked.

Shipping the samples. MeitY's CRS FAQ says the registration order does not apply to goods imported for demonstration, R&D or testing in India^[33], so test samples can clear customs without an R-number. Our guide to importing samples for BIS testing covers the paperwork, and how to read a BIS test report helps you check the report the Thai factory sends you.

Most consumer electronics from Thailand fall under the Compulsory Registration Scheme: phones, laptops, earphones, power adapters, CCTV cameras, lithium cells and more. CRS is BIS's Scheme-II and rests on the manufacturer's self-declaration of conformity backed by a lab report^[4]. The factory applies online on crsbis.in^[37]. These are the steps from the factory's side.

Any Indian resident who agrees to answer for the Thai factory's compliance with the BIS Act, Rules and licence terms can be its Authorised Indian Representative (AIR)^[40]. The factory nominates the AIR on Form IV, with further details in Forms IIIA and IIIB^[10].

There are three routes: the factory's own liaison or branch office in India, the Indian brand owner or registered user of the brand, or another Indian entity backed by the brand owner's declaration^[9]. FMCS works the same way: ISI-mark applicants also nominate an AIR on the prescribed form^[41]. The role is explained in our glossary entry on the AIR.

Three rules catch importers out:

• One foreign factory per AIR. An AIR may represent only one foreign manufacturer, unless the factories are in the same group of companies or the AIR is a related importer^[40]. An Indian trading company cannot act for two unrelated Thai suppliers at once.
• The AIR shares the liability. When a company commits an offence under the BIS Act, its responsible officers and its authorised representative are deemed guilty along with it^[8]. Importing or selling notified goods without a valid Standard Mark is punishable with up to two years' imprisonment or a fine of not less than Rs 2 lakh for a first contravention^[8].
• Switching AIR costs a fee. BIS charges Rs 5,000 plus GST to change the AIR or contact person on a CRS licence^[42].

If you own the brand, being the AIR yourself keeps the licence paperwork in your hands and lets you see renewal dates. Many Thai factories instead appoint a BIS consultant or an Indian distributor. Read how to choose a BIS consultant and our guide for foreign manufacturers before you sign anything.

It depends on the scheme.

CRS: no factory visit in the official steps. The listed steps are lab testing and an online application^[37].

ISI mark through FMCS: yes. Products under a Quality Control Order that need the ISI mark are certified for foreign factories under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme. BIS scrutinises the application, visits the factory to check its manufacturing and testing set-up and draw samples, has the samples tested independently, and then grants the licence^[5]. For a factory in Thailand that means:

• Apply online. From 1 June 2026 BIS accepts FMCS applications only through the Manakonline portal^[41].
• Pay in dollars. Applicants outside SAARC pay in equivalent US dollars, by RTGS, NEFT or SWIFT, net of bank charges^[43].
• Pay for the inspection trip. Fees match Indian Scheme-I licensees, plus per-diem, air tickets, visa and insurance for the BIS officers and a Rs 10,000 contingency payment^[43]. Visit charges are Rs 7,000 per man-day^[43].
• Give a bank guarantee. After grant the factory signs an agreement and indemnity bond and gives a USD 10,000 performance bank guarantee^[5].
• Allow about six months. BIS says FMCS licences take on average around six months from a complete application^[5].
• Expect surveillance. BIS keeps visiting licensed factories and buys samples from the market^[44].

Thai factories are among the most experienced with FMCS: 192 of their licences were operative on 30 October 2026^[2]. For other appliances, the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2026 was issued on 6 April 2026 with implementation on 1 October 2026^[24].

Two can apply.

ASEAN–India agreement. Signed on 13 August 2009^[45], its goods provisions took effect between India and Thailand on 1 January 2010^[7]. India's concessional ASEAN rates are reported to be in Notification 46/2011-Customs, as amended^[46]. A product with non-ASEAN inputs qualifies if AIFTA content is at least 35% of FOB value and the inputs change tariff sub-heading, with final manufacture in Thailand^[45]. The certificate is Form AI^[45].

India–Thailand Early Harvest Scheme. A narrower bilateral scheme implemented since 1 September 2004, still listed among India's FTAs in the Commerce Ministry's July 2026 table^[47]. It covers a limited list of tariff lines; check whether yours is one.

Review under way. The ASEAN–India agreement is being reviewed, with a stated aim of addressing injury to Indian industry^[48]; reports say the review had not concluded by October 2026^[49].

For air conditioners, which lead Thailand's electrical exports to India^[1], the 35% content test is the key question: ask the Thai plant how much of the compressor, heat exchanger and electronics is made in ASEAN.

Preferential duty is never automatic. Since 21 September 2020, the Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020, known as CAROTAR, apply whenever an importer claims a preferential rate^[50]. They were made by Notification 81/2020-Customs (N.T.) under section 28DA of the Customs Act^[51]. Section 28DA puts the duty of reasonable care on you: a certificate of origin from the exporting country does not take that responsibility away^[52].

Anti-dumping duty is imposed by a Finance Ministry customs notification under section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act, after final findings by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies; it usually runs for five years and is paid in rupees^[58]. It is charged on top of basic customs duty and applies whatever approvals the product has. Several Thai measures hit inputs for appliances and wiring, such as copper and aluminium foil.

This is a selection of duties in force on 1 November 2026, chosen for relevance to electronics and appliance importers; it is not a complete list. Check the CBIC notification for your exact product and producer before you price an order.

These cannot be held by the factory in Thailand. They sit with the business in India that imports and sells.

EPR for e-waste. A producer under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 includes anyone who offers imported electrical and electronic equipment for sale^[11]. Imports are allowed only for products that meet the RoHS limits^[11], so ask the factory for its RoHS data.

EPR for batteries. Importing batteries, or equipment containing them, makes you a producer^[12], and CPCB says importers must register before importing^[13].

EPR for plastic packaging. An importer of any commodity in plastic packaging is covered^[14].

Legal Metrology. Every person who imports a commodity for sale must register its name and address^[15], for a Rs 500 fee^[15], within 90 days of starting^[15]. Every retail pack must declare the importer's name and address and the country of origin^[65]: that is Thailand only if the goods were made there.

WPC ETA. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other licence-exempt radio devices need an ETA^[6], filed by the importer or Indian representative at Rs 10,000 per model^[6]. If you file as the Thai maker's representative, you need its authorisation letter^[6].

BEE star label. Any company that makes, sells or imports an appliance on BEE's mandatory list must register with BEE, for a one-time Rs 5,000 fee^[3]. The list includes refrigerators, room air conditioners, ceiling fans, storage water heaters, televisions and washing machines^[3].

MTCTE. A foreign maker's telecom equipment is certified through an Indian company that imports it, acting as AIR^[18]. Wi-Fi access points and CPE have needed MTCTE since 1 January 2024^[21].

Three 2026 changes matter if you buy ACs or AC parts from Thailand: relief for compressors, relief for spare parts, and new BEE star tables. The base rule has not changed: the AC QCO requires the Standard Mark under Scheme-I for room ACs (IS 1391), ducted and package ACs (IS 8148), finned heat exchangers (IS 11329) and hermetic compressors (IS 10617)^[66], in force since 1 October 2023^[67].

For a Thai AC plant the big costs are the FMCS licence and the BEE label fee per unit; for a printer they are CRS fees and an Indian lab test.

Example 1: a brand importing 1,000 room ACs. The Thai plant needs an ISI licence through FMCS: fees as for Indian Scheme-I licensees, plus the BIS officers' travel and a Rs 10,000 contingency payment^[43], Rs 7,000 per man-day of visit^[43], a USD 10,000 bank guarantee after grant^[5] and about six months^[5]. Foreign applicants cannot use the simplified own-test-report route: every application gets a factory visit and drawn samples^[71]. You register with BEE once for Rs 5,000^[3] and pay a label fee of Rs 30 per room AC^[72], so Rs 30,000 for 1,000 units. ACs fall under e-waste code CEEW4^[11], so e-waste EPR applies; registration for a producer whose sales have just started is Rs 10,000^[73]. See the cost of an ISI licence and the BEE star label portal.

Example 2: one Wi-Fi laser printer model. Printers are a CRS category^[23]. The CRS fees are Rs 1,000 to apply^[42], Rs 50,000 processing on BIS's published table^[42] and Rs 1,000 a year^[42]. Mumbai-region labs declared Rs 25,000 to Rs 90,000 for IS 13252 (Part 1) on 1 November 2026^[31]. Printers with Wi-Fi are reported to need a WPC ETA^[74] at Rs 10,000^[6]. That puts official fees and testing at roughly Rs 87,000 to Rs 1,52,000 before GST. Compare with our BIS CRS cost page or run the compliance cost estimator.

Customs wants the commercial papers plus proof of each product approval, and it checks some of them in its own systems. The bill of entry must be filed before the end of the day before the ship or aircraft arrives^[75]; late filing without good reason costs Rs 5,000 a day for the first three days and Rs 10,000 a day after that^[76]. Only the importer or a licensed customs broker can file it^[77]. The full list is in our customs clearance documents checklist and documents required for import.

Most delays trace back to a licence that does not match the goods in the box. The fixes below are the ones we see most often; when a shipment is already stuck, our post on why shipments get held at Indian ports and the CRS rejections guide go further. Not sure which approvals your product needs? Start with the HS code approval finder, or send us the product for a free compliance check.