Is BIS certification mandatory for furniture in India?
For six categories, yes. The Furniture (Quality Control) Order, 2025 covers work chairs (IS 17631), general-purpose chairs and stools (IS 17632), tables and desks (IS 17633), storage units (IS 17634), beds (IS 17635) and bunk beds (IS 17636). It applied to medium and large enterprises from 14 February 2026 and to micro and small enterprises from mid-August 2026. Static sofas and settees reportedly fall outside IS 17632's scope. Rules have been amended during 2026, so check the current notification on egazette.gov.in or bis.gov.in before relying on any summary.
Are motorised recliners covered by BIS rules?
Furniture with electrically motorised parts is listed by BIS under IS 302 (Part 1):2024, through the Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances Quality Control Order, 2026. It applies from 1 October 2026, with later dates reported for small (1 January 2027) and micro (1 April 2027) enterprises. The order applies to the product, so ask the seller about the certification status of the finished recliner, not just its motor. SOISU's recliner motors are BIS-certified and sourced in India.
What happens to imported furniture that needs BIS but has no licence?
Goods covered by a Quality Control Order that arrive without the required BIS licence can be held by customs. Compliance advisers describe outcomes such as detention, re-export or destruction. Transition relief existed for goods shipped or ordered before the deadline, but that window closed around mid-August 2026. If you are importing a covered category, confirm the manufacturer's BIS licence before you pay, not after the container sails.
What were the 2026 amendments to the Furniture QCO?
Two amendments are reported: S.O. 774(E) of 13 February 2026 (limited R&D imports, a 12-month sell-off for pre-deadline stock by certified or applying makers, and an exemption for import-for-export) and S.O. 1125(E) of 2 March 2026 (an exemption for goods shipped or ordered before the deadline if the Bill of Entry was filed within 180 days). In June 2026 DPIIT also notified the Transition Facilitation Order, S.O. 3417(E), which lets permitted Indian companies source covered goods from makers holding a self-declaration (Scheme II) licence; it is not an extension of the furniture deadline and gives no clearance route for consignments already shipped. Check the notifications themselves for the exact conditions.
My furniture container is stuck at customs because of BIS. What should I do?
Get the facts in writing first: the container and Bill of Entry numbers, the port or ICD, the current status, and the manufacturer's BIS licence or application number. Then ask the importer which route they are taking — waiting for the licence, warehousing under bond, or re-export — and agree a written date for delivery or refund. Our step-by-step guide explains each option and how to protect your money: soisu.com/knowledge/furniture-container-stuck-customs-bis-what-to-do.
What is a bonded warehouse, and how long can furniture stay there?
A bonded warehouse is a licensed customs facility where imported goods are stored without being cleared for sale, with duty deferred or secured under a bond. Under Chapter IX of the Customs Act, goods can generally stay up to one year from the warehousing order, extendable by the Commissioner, and interest on the duty is payable after 90 days. Warehousing buys time; it does not by itself solve a missing BIS licence.
Can furniture held for BIS be sent back to the supplier?
Yes, the importer can apply to re-export it. From a warehouse, section 69 of the Customs Act allows re-export without paying import duty. Tribunals have differed on whether a redemption fine still applies, so the importer's customs broker should advise on the specific case. For a buyer, re-export usually means the order won't be delivered, so discuss a refund early.
Can customs confiscate furniture imported without a BIS licence?
Goods imported without a licence the law requires can be treated as prohibited goods and made liable to confiscation under section 111(d) of the Customs Act. The officer may allow redemption on payment of a fine under section 125 — often on condition of re-export — and a penalty can be imposed under section 112. Outcomes depend on the facts of each case.
I paid an advance and the furniture is stuck at the port. How do I get a refund?
Ask the seller in writing for a delivery date and a refund date. If the date passes, send a formal notice asking for a refund within, say, 15 days. If that fails, call the National Consumer Helpline on 1915, and if needed file a complaint on e-Daakhil (edaakhil.nic.in). The District Commission hears claims up to ₹50 lakh and you can file where you live, within two years.
Should I pay extra to get my furniture cleared from customs?
No. Customs duty is paid by the importer through ICEGATE, and port, shipping-line and warehouse charges come with invoices from those parties. Don't pay any amount without a proper invoice. If anyone asks for an unofficial payment, decline and keep a record; a complaint can be made to the Commissioner of Customs of that port or on CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in).
What is the import duty on furniture from China to India?
Since Budget 2025, furniture under HS 9401 and 9403 attracts 20% basic customs duty plus a 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess, and then 18% IGST on the value including those duties. On ₹100 of CIF value that works out to about ₹47.50 in duty and tax. Freight to your door, port charges, a clearing agent, insurance and breakage are extra. Confirm with a customs broker before you order, because rates and classifications change.
Is it cheaper to import furniture from China?
The sticker price often is; the landed and lived-with cost often isn't. Add roughly 47.5% in duty and tax on the CIF value, freight and clearing, the risk of damage in transit, BIS requirements for covered categories, months of lead time, and the fact that nobody in India is obliged to service it. Compare the total, including what a problem would cost you, not the factory price.
Is a Foshan furniture buying trip worth it?
It can suit someone furnishing a large property who can manage consolidation, shipping, customs, BIS for covered categories and installation themselves. For most homeowners the hidden costs are choosing furniture without seeing it in their own room, damage in transit, duty, waiting time and the absence of after-sales support in India. Decide on the total cost and risk, not the showroom price in Foshan.
Has shipping from China got slower or costlier in 2026?
Freight rates and transit times have been volatile through 2025–26. Drewry's World Container Index stood at $4,468 per 40-foot container on 24 September 2026, and carriers have begun returning to the Red Sea route despite ongoing risk. China-to-India sailings don't use Suez, so the effect is indirect, through fuel and vessel availability. Seasonal factory closures such as Golden Week and Chinese New Year also slow orders. Plan any import with buffer time.
What does "ex-Bhiwandi" mean on a furniture quote?
It means the price is quoted at the Bhiwandi warehouse, Mumbai's main warehousing hub. Transport to your home, handling, installation and sometimes GST are extra. Ask for a delivered-and-installed price in writing so you can compare quotes fairly.
Should I get furniture made by a carpenter or buy ready furniture?
A good carpenter or karigar is usually the right choice for built-ins and anything that must fit a wall exactly, like wardrobes, and usually costs less. Ready or brand-made furniture suits upholstered seating, recliners and pieces where you want a consistent finish, a written specification of hidden materials and a warranty backed by an after-sales team. Many homes use both.
What is the difference between an interior designer and a carpenter?
An interior designer plans the space — layout, materials, lighting and how it all comes together — and coordinates the work. A carpenter builds, usually the woodwork and built-ins on site. Loose furniture such as sofas, recliners and beds is often sourced separately. Agree in writing who is accountable for dimensions, finishes and timelines before work starts.
Can SOISU work with my interior designer?
Yes. SOISU works with designers and architects, providing home measurement, drawings and technical drawings, 3D visualisation and a written specification for each piece. If the site isn't ready when the furniture is, SOISU holds it free for up to 30 days.
How does customisation work at SOISU?
Every piece starts from a base model at a base price. You can change size, material or design wherever the change can be produced, and every change revises the price. A completely new design also carries a development cost. If you want no extra cost, a standard product stays at its base price, with stitch options. You approve a signed drawing and specification before production.
Why doesn't SOISU publish prices?
Because almost every piece is adapted — size, configuration, material and mechanism all change the price. A single published price would not match what most customers actually order. Every quote is itemised line by line and given in writing.
What should I get in writing before paying a furniture advance?
Get the drawing, the specification with materials by grade, the final dimensions, the ready-by date, delivery and installation terms, the warranty terms, what happens if the date slips, storage terms if your home isn't ready, and the cancellation terms. The common complaints in India — late delivery, 'not as shown', slow repairs — are hardest to resolve when these were only spoken.
What should a furniture specification sheet include?
At minimum: overall dimensions, seat height and depth, frame type, seat construction and foam grade, upholstery type with its code and colour, leg or base finish, and for recliners the mechanism type and number of motors. Ask the seller to explain anything you don't understand before you sign.
Why do furniture deliveries get delayed in India?
The usual causes are import lead times, custom work, material availability and the customer's site not being ready. Protect yourself with a ready-by date written on the order and clear terms on what happens if it slips. For ready pieces within Mumbai, SOISU typically delivers within 30–34 hours of payment.
My flat isn't ready. Can SOISU hold my furniture?
Yes. SOISU holds your furniture free for up to 30 days if your home isn't ready, and writes that on your order.
What is composite leather, and does SOISU use real leather?
SOISU uses artificial composite leather — not real leather and not PU — alongside fabric, bouclé and velvet. The trade uses these material names loosely, so for any sofa, ask what the surface and backing actually are, and check it is named on your specification.
What warranty does SOISU give?
A 2-year warranty, on the terms written in your order, with after-sales handled by SOISU's own team.
Is SOISU furniture imported?
SOISU's pieces are designed with global partners and assembled in India by SOISU, from materials sourced worldwide. SOISU began by importing finished furniture, as most of India's premium market did, and moved its production and assembly from China to India as India's BIS quality rules for furniture arrived. SOISU is also the exclusive India partner of We Story.
How is SOISU different from a furniture importer?
An importer can sometimes offer a lower price or immediate stock, but after-sales, BIS status for covered categories and lead times depend on the importer and their supplier. SOISU assembles in India and puts its commitments in writing: a signed drawing and specification, a ready-by date, a 2-year warranty and after-sales by its own team.
How is SOISU different from large Indian furniture manufacturers?
Large manufacturers offer wide catalogues and factory consistency at scale. SOISU works differently: you adapt a base model to your home, approve it on a signed drawing, and receive a written ready-by date, with the Experience Centre in Prabhadevi, Mumbai for seeing and sitting on pieces first.