Indian import policy
As of 2026-11: commercial coffee machines are 'Free' under ITC(HS). Household-type electrical appliances are increasingly under BIS QCOs (a household electrical appliances QCO is listed in the 2026 Transition Facilitation QCO schedule) — check whether your model and its classification (commercial vs household) are covered. Machines with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth telemetry need WPC Equipment Type Approval. The machinery safety OTR was reported repealed on 14 Jan 2026 (confirm). Sources: https://www.lkslaw.com/insights/articles/transition-facilitation-quality-control-order-2026-a-new-route-to-bis-compliance; https://saralsanchar.gov.in; https://www.bis.gov.in/product-certification/products-under-compulsory-certification/.
Check the current DGFT, BIS and CBIC notifications before contracting.
Importing commercial coffee machines & horeca beverage equipment into India: requirements
| Requirement | Authority | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Importer-Exporter Code; GST; ICEGATE | DGFT / GSTN / CBIC | IEC; GSTIN; ICEGATE DSC registration |
| Import policy classification | DGFT | ITC(HS) policy: Free/Restricted/Prohibited/STE; import authorisation if Restricted |
| Customs declaration & duty | CBIC / ICEGATE | Bill of Entry; BCD + AIDC + SWS(10% of BCD) + IGST |
| Mandatory BIS certification | BIS / DPIIT & line ministries | BIS licence (ISI, FMCS for foreign plants) or CRS registration |
| Compulsory Registration Scheme | BIS | CRS registration (Scheme-II) per model/factory |
| Equipment Type Approval | DoT WPC via SARAL Sanchar | ETA self-declaration + import undertaking |
| Duty deferment | CBIC (Customs Act s.65) | MOOWR bonded warehouse licence |
| Trusted trader status | CBIC | AEO-T1/T2/T3/LO |
Where Indian buyers are
Maharashtra — Mumbai, Pune. Café chains, hotels, corporate offices
Karnataka — Bengaluru. Specialty-coffee cafés and tech-campus offices
Delhi NCR — Delhi, Gurugram, Noida. Hotels, QSR chains, offices
Tamil Nadu / Telangana — Chennai, Hyderabad. Cafés, hotels and IT parks
Goa — Panaji, North Goa. Hospitality and tourism
Frequently asked questions
Do commercial coffee machines need BIS certification for import into India?
Commercial machines are not clearly covered, but household electrical appliances are coming under BIS QCOs. Check whether your model and classification fall within a QCO before importing.
Do connected coffee machines need WPC approval?
Yes. Machines with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cellular telemetry need Equipment Type Approval from DoT's WPC wing before import.
Which countries make commercial espresso machines?
Italy is the main source of traditional espresso machines; Switzerland and Germany make most premium bean-to-cup machines; China makes value and OEM machines.
What after-sales support do Indian café buyers expect?
Installation, water-filtration setup, barista training, preventive maintenance and quick spare-parts supply, usually under an annual maintenance contract.
Import routes
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