Importing smart plugs into India: the BIS question, WPC approval, EPR and labelling in 2026

A smart plug is two products in one: a mains plug-and-socket and a small radio. The radio side is clearer. The plug-and-socket side is not.

• BIS: unclear. Smart plugs are not on the BIS CRS list, checked on 30 October 2026. Their plug and socket portion may fall under the Plugs and Socket-Outlets QCO 2021 (IS 1293)^[1]. Whether that order applies to adapter-type smart plugs has not been verified, and we found no official ruling. The next section explains both possibilities.
• WPC ETA: yes, on our reading, for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth models^[3].
• Plastic EPR: yes, and Legal Metrology: yes on our reading, for an importer of retail packs^[7][9].
• E-waste EPR: depends, because we could not confirm how Schedule I treats smart plugs (see below).

We cannot give you a yes or no, and we will not pick one for you. Here is exactly what the official sources say and where they stop.

What is certain. Smart plugs are not a category on the BIS CRS list^[1]. So a CRS registration is not the route, and a supplier offering one for a smart plug is offering the wrong scheme.

Candidate 1: ISI mark under IS 1293. The Plugs and Socket-Outlets QCO 2021 has required plugs and socket-outlets to conform to IS 1293 and carry the ISI mark under Scheme-I since 1 June 2022^[2]. BIS's product manual for IS 1293:2019 lets a licence cover fixed, portable, multiple and combined socket-outlets and socket-outlets for appliances^[19]. A smart plug has a plug on the back and a socket on the front, so its plug and socket portion may fall under this order^[1].

Candidate 2: no BIS requirement. The research behind this page frames the main question as ISI under IS 1293 versus no BIS requirement at all^[1]. The QCO names plugs and socket-outlets, not adapters with electronics inside, and whether IS 1293 applies to adapter-type smart plugs has not been verified.

What is missing. We found no BIS circular, product manual note, FAQ or ruling that settles this. The same open question applies to extension boards with USB ports or surge modules^[2].

What you can do.

1. Ask your factory whether it holds an IS 1293 licence and whether its scope includes this product. If it does, the question is answered in practice for your supply.
2. Ask BIS in writing, quoting the product's construction, and keep the reply.
3. Ask a BIS-recognised lab whether it can test the product to IS 1293.
4. Until you have an answer, budget for the ISI route, which is the longer and costlier of the two (about six months under FMCS for a foreign factory^[11]).

If ISI does apply, the penalty for importing without the mark is serious (see penalties below), which is why we suggest planning for it. For how the ISI route works, see our extension boards guide, our ISI mark guide and our FMCS guide.

If your smart plug is treated as a plug or socket product, the factory needs an ISI licence to IS 1293, with a sample of 10 socket-outlets and 15 plugs^[20] and lab charges that are low by BIS standards: Rs 8,000 to Rs 42,620 before taxes^[21]. The bigger costs are the minimum marking fee and, for a foreign factory, the FMCS inspection.

What is tested. Marking, dimensions, shock protection, earthing, terminals, ageing and humidity, insulation and electric strength, temperature rise, breaking capacity, normal operation, withdrawal force, cord retention, mechanical strength, heat, creepage, glow-wire, tracking and rusting^[20]. The electronics and radio inside a smart plug are not what IS 1293 tests; they are why the fit is unclear.

How many factories already hold it. BIS recorded 489 Scheme-I licences for IS 1293:2019 on 29 May 2024^[22]. Among Chinese factories, BIS's FMCS list had 32 IS 1293 records on 1 November 2026, of which only 3 were operative^[23]. A supplier that shows you an IS 1293 licence may be holding one that is not operative, so check status.

See our IS 1293 guide, ISI mark fees and ISI licence cost.

Not by name: the Electrical Accessories QCO 2023 lists boxes, trunking, bayonet lamp holders, switch-socket-outlets, gloves, mats and cable wrap, not smart plugs or extension sets^[26]. Goods it does cover need the Standard Mark under a Scheme-I licence^[27], so a smart switch-socket built into a wall plate is a different story from a plug-in adapter.

Two 2026 changes are worth knowing. The Electrical Accessories (QC) Amendment Order of 13 January 2026 removed PVC insulating tape from the order^[28]. And DPIIT's S.O. 775(E) of 12 February 2026 exempts imports shipped before a QCO's implementation date, if the Bill of Entry is filed within 180 days, for 26 implemented QCOs including electrical accessories^[29]. Track both on the QCO tracker and our electrical accessories QCO page.

We could not confirm an HS code for smart plugs, and we found no official classification ruling. The line a broker is likely to discuss first is 8536 69 10, "Lamp-holders, plugs and sockets - Other: Of plastic", which is the likely line for plastic plug-and-socket products such as extension boards, though no official ruling has been opened^[30]. But a smart plug also switches power on and off through a relay, which could point to a different heading. Agree the code with your customs broker and keep the reasoning on file.

Borderline variants:

• Smart plugs with energy monitoring. On our reading these are not "smart electricity meters", which are a separate MTCTE product^[31].
• Smart hubs and gateways. A hub that links many devices to the internet can be an IoT gateway, which has been MTCTE-mandatory since 1 January 2024^[31]. A plug endpoint on its own does not appear to be listed^[5].
• Smart extension boards. On our reading, a multi-socket board with Wi-Fi sits under IS 1293 for its sockets and would need an ETA for its radio^[2][3].

No official ruling classifies smart plugs, so the line is a judgement for you and your broker; the table shows the candidates and what each implies. Whatever you choose, record the reasoning and test it in the HS code approval finder.

Radios add a WPC ETA, multiple sockets push the product closer to the IS 1293 order, and hubs may fall under MTCTE. The matrix sets out the common variants. "Likely" or "unclear" marks our reading, not an official ruling; run your model through the approval checker.

Settle the BIS question first, because if ISI applies it takes longest and is held by the factory. The WPC ETA is quick. This order is our suggestion; it does not guarantee approval or timing.

Tools and help. Check your exact model in the approval checker, work through the first electronics import checklist and read how to get WPC approval. For help with the ETA, see our WPC consultants guide; for the BIS question, our BIS consultants guide. For a free compliance check, contact us.

Yes, in our reading, for any smart plug with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth: such smart plugs need a WPC Equipment Type Approval through self-declaration^[3]. ETA is required for the import, sale and use of wireless devices in de-licensed bands^[4].

How it works. Since the DoT OM of 9 September 2024, ETAs for all licence-exempt wireless devices are granted on self-declaration on the Saral Sanchar portal, and the certificate is downloaded on submission^[12]. Only radar, jammers, drones and satellite equipment are excluded from self-declaration^[4].

Fee and documents. Rs 10,000 per model, paid through BharatKosh^[4]. You need an RF test report, the manufacturer's authorisation if you apply as its Indian representative, and technical literature^[4].

Validity. For the life of the model unless WPC revokes it^[4].

Import. For licence-exempt devices that are 'Free' under DGFT policy, the undertaking generated by Saral Sanchar is enough to import, with no separate WPC import licence^[37]. The ETA covers RF compliance only; DGFT import rules still apply^[12].

Watch for change. DoT stopped taking new applications under the Indian Telegraph Act and moved authorisations to a new portal in 2026. Whether the ETA self-declaration route has changed was not clear when we checked^[38].

• MTCTE: no, on our reading. Smart plugs do not appear among MTCTE-notified products such as Wi-Fi access points and CPE or IoT gateways^[5].
• BEE: no. Smart plugs are not on BEE's mandatory or voluntary lists, checked on 30 October 2026^[6].
• Battery EPR: no, on our reading. A smart plug has no battery, so the battery rules' producer obligation should not apply^[15].
• E-waste EPR: depends, and unconfirmed. The E-Waste Rules apply to the equipment listed in Schedule I, including components and parts^[13]. We did not find smart plugs named in the Schedule, and we could not confirm whether CPCB maps them to any code. For several accessories not named in the Schedule, coverage depends on generic entries and how CPCB classifies them on its portal^[39]. We therefore give no EEE code. If CPCB does treat them as covered, an importer offering them for sale becomes a producer^[39]. Ask CPCB or check the portal's product list.

Plastic EPR: yes. An importer of smart plugs sold in plastic packaging is an 'Importer' under the plastic EPR guidelines and needs registration^[7]. If you operate in more than two states, CPCB registers you; otherwise the state board does, through the same portal^[16]. Fees are Rs 10,000, 20,000 or 50,000 by tonnage^[17], plus 25% of the fee yearly^[17]. The annual return is due by 30 June^[36]. See our plastic EPR guide.

Legal Metrology: yes for retail packs. Importers of commodities for sale must register under rule 27^[8]. For smart plugs imported as retail units, we understand this means registration and full package declarations, though we have confirmed only the registration form, not the full rules text^[9]. The fee is Rs 500^[8], and since 29 May 2026 a company must name the director responsible for violations^[18].

Legal Metrology. Each retail pack must show the importer's name and address, country of origin, generic name, net quantity, month and year of manufacture, MRP, unit sale price and consumer care details^[40], including a phone number (and an e-mail address, which the 2011 text requires 'if available')^[8]. For electronic products and accessories, the month and year of manufacture can reportedly go anywhere on the pack^[41]. Since 29 May 2026, declarations can be applied at AEO Tier-2 and Tier-3 bonded warehouses before the goods leave^[18].

Plastic EPR. Rule 11 requires the name and registration number of the producer or brand owner on plastic packaging and extends this to importers, although a proviso in the same clause exempts packaging of imported goods^[42]. A QR code or barcode carrying the details is allowed since 1 July 2025^[43].

BIS. If the ISI route applies, every unit must carry the ISI mark under the factory's licence^[2]. Never apply a BIS mark without a licence covering the product: misusing the BIS name or the words 'Indian Standard' is itself an offence^[44].

WPC. The ETA covers the model. Keep the certificate details available for marketplaces and Customs.

Tick each line for the plug body and the retail box. Check the text in the label checker, and see the product label checklist and Legal Metrology label rules.

The importer usually carries everything that is certain (ETA, plastic EPR, LMPC); if ISI applies, the factory holds the licence; and sellers are bound either way. The BIS Act's definition of person covers sellers and retailers as well as importers^[44]. See Amazon sellers, Flipkart sellers and foreign manufacturers.

Because the BIS position is unclear, here are two scenarios using official fees only. The totals are our arithmetic. Neither scenario is a ruling on which applies.

Scenario A: no BIS requirement. WPC Rs 10,000 + plastic EPR Rs 10,000 + Rs 2,500 + LMPC Rs 500 = Rs 23,000 for one model.

Scenario B: ISI under IS 1293 via FMCS. Add Rs 1,000 application + Rs 10,000 contingency fund + Rs 1,000 annual licence = Rs 12,000, so Rs 35,000, plus Rs 7,000 per inspection man-day, BIS officers' travel costs, the IS 1293 minimum marking fee and unit marking fees^[48], and a USD 10,000 bank guarantee as security^[11].

If CPCB treats smart plugs as EEE, add Rs 10,000 e-waste registration and Rs 5,000 annual maintenance^[14]. RF testing, IS 1293 testing, AIR fees and consultants are not government fees.

Without BIS, three Wi-Fi models cost about Rs 43,000 in official fees against Rs 23,000 for one, because only the ETA is per model. If the ISI route applies, the IS 1293 licence adds a fixed block of fees that does not grow much with model count, since one licence can cover grouped varieties^[20]. Assumptions: one brand, a new importer, under 1,000 tonnes of plastic, a large-enterprise marking fee. Totals are our arithmetic; RF testing, IS 1293 lab charges, inspection travel and the bank guarantee are excluded. Try the compliance cost estimator with your own numbers.

Without BIS, the official clocks are short, because the ETA downloads on submission; if the ISI route applies, BIS says FMCS grants take about six months on average^[11]. The table lists the official limits.

1. First-time importer of a white-label Wi-Fi smart plug. File the WPC ETA for the model^[3], register for plastic EPR and LMPC, and get the BIS question answered in writing before you place a large order. If your factory already holds an IS 1293 licence covering the product, use it^[19].

2. Marketplace seller sourcing from an Indian importer. Ask for the ETA certificate and the importer's position on BIS in writing. The BIS Act binds sellers and retailers as well as importers^[44], so if ISI is later held to apply, unmarked stock is your problem too. E-commerce platforms must display package declarations, as reported since a 2017 amendment^[47].

3. Foreign smart-home brand launching in India. The ETA can be filed by your Indian representative with your authorisation^[4]. If ISI applies, your factory applies under FMCS with an Indian-resident AIR^[46]. If you also sell a hub, check whether it is an IoT gateway under MTCTE^[31].

• No ETA for a wireless product. Customs may treat the importer's ETA self-declaration as sufficient evidence for licence-exempt wireless goods^[4]; without it, there is nothing to show.
• The BIS question raised at the port. If an officer treats the product as a plug or socket-outlet under the QCO, unmarked goods face the ban in section 17 of the BIS Act^[44]. A written BIS reply helps.
• Missing plastic EPR proof. CPCB has asked Customs to check plastic EPR registration, according to its court affidavit^[49].
• Incomplete retail declarations. Packs must carry the Legal Metrology declarations before sale^[40].

For smart plugs the sharpest enforcement is online: CCPA's 2025 guidelines on radio equipment listings apply to manufacturers, importers, sellers and platforms^[45].

Online listings. A device that works in de-licensed bands but has no WPC ETA is an "unauthorised device" under the guidelines^[45]. Listings must state the operating frequencies, give ETA details with a downloadable ETA copy and test report, and carry the seller's certification; platforms must take down non-compliant listings within 24 hours of a direction^[45]. The guidelines were written with walkie-talkies in mind, but they cover radio equipment generally. CCPA has reportedly fined major platforms Rs 10 lakh each over walkie-talkie listings^[50].

At the port. Customs may accept the importer's ETA self-declaration as evidence for licence-exempt wireless products^[4], and CPCB has asked Customs to check plastic EPR registration^[49]. Keep the customs clearance documents ready.

If ISI applies. BIS's 2026 market surveillance guidelines provide for buying generally two samples a year per Scheme-I licence^[51], and officers can search premises and seize goods^[52]. See selling without BIS and WPC ETA vs MTCTE.

BIS (if ISI applies). Importing or selling notified goods without the Standard Mark carries up to two years' prison or a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh (Rs 5 lakh for repeat offences), up to ten times the goods' value, or both^[44]. These figures are from the Act as enacted.

WPC. In the self-declaration the importer accepts liability to prosecution for a wrong declaration and agrees to WPC sample checks and audits^[34].

Legal Metrology. Improvement notice for a first offence, up to Rs 5 lakh for a second, then Rs 25 to 50 lakh^[53].

Plastic EPR. EC of Rs 2,900 to Rs 7,900 per tonne of shortfall by category, rising for repeat defaults^[54], and penalties under section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act^[43].