E-commerce Brands: Import Products From China

An Indian online brand that wants to import products from China faces more than a shipping problem. Before a carton is booked, the product has to be legal to import, tested to the Indian standard where one applies, labelled the way Indian law requires and described correctly on the website or marketplace. The shipping is the easy part. This guide goes through seven steps for e-commerce brands: choosing products you can lawfully sell, getting registered, verifying the supplier, designing the packaging and labels, choosing the shipping route, understanding the duty and planning the first order. It uses official sources, and it flags where rules have changed or are about to change.

For the shipping options in detail, see international shipping solutions for e-commerce businesses. For the basics of a first import, see how to start an import business in India.

Step 1: Choose Products You Can Lawfully Sell

India's Foreign Trade Policy 2023 says imports are free unless prohibited, restricted or reserved for State Trading Enterprises, and that domestic technical specifications and safety, health and environmental norms apply to imports as well. DGFT's general notes on import policy spell out what that means for some categories popular with online brands:

Products under mandatory BIS standards. The notes say that quality of products subject to mandatory Indian Standards must comply, and that all manufacturers and exporters of these products to India are required to obtain a BIS licence to use the Standard Mark. The list is in Appendix III of the import schedule.
Electronics and IT goods. The import of goods notified under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012 is prohibited unless they are registered with the Bureau of Indian Standards and comply with BIS labelling requirements, or the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology grants a specific exemption letter for a consignment. The notes add that the importer shall re-export such goods reaching a customs port, failing which customs shall deform them beyond use and dispose of them as scrap.
Toys and dolls. Import policy for toys, dolls and similar recreational goods is governed by BIS standards under the policy conditions of Chapter 95.

BIS says on its importers page that its certification scheme is basically voluntary, but that compliance with Indian Standards is made compulsory for a number of products by the Central Government on grounds such as public interest, health and safety and the prevention of unfair trade practices. Its registration scheme page lists the electronics and IT goods under the Compulsory Registration Scheme, which works on a self-declaration of conformity. Check these lists for your product before you place an order, and ask the supplier for proof of registration or licence.

Step 2: Get Registered

You need an Importer Exporter Code. The Foreign Trade Policy says no import may be made without one unless specifically exempted, and the Handbook of Procedures exempts imports for personal use not connected with trade, which does not describe a business importing stock. See our guide to the importer exporter code, and use the DGFT IEC page for the current process.

Step 3: Verify the Supplier

Online sourcing carries risk. The Embassy of India in Beijing's advisory for Indian SMEs recommends checking the credentials of a Chinese entity before doing business, avoiding transactions with companies found on B2B platforms and protecting advance payments with a bank guarantee or escrow route. Our guide to reliable suppliers in China sets out the checks.

Step 4: Design Packaging and Labels for India

The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, as published with their amendments on the Department of Consumer Affairs site, set what an imported retail package must show. Rule 6 requires a conspicuous declaration, and for an imported package that includes:

the name and address of the importer;
the name of the country of origin or manufacture or assembly;
the common or generic name and the net quantity; and
the retail sale price, as the maximum retail price inclusive of all taxes, in Indian currency.

The Rules also say it is permissible to affix a label on imported packages to make the declarations required under the Rules, which gives you a way to add India-specific declarations to packaging that was designed abroad. The Rules add that an e-commerce entity must display the mandatory declarations on its digital network, except the month and year of manufacture or packing. Rules change, so confirm the current consolidated text.

Step 5: Know the E-commerce Rules

The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, published on the Department of Consumer Affairs site, apply to marketplace and inventory models. Under the marketplace provisions, a seller must give the platform the relevant details of its goods, including the country of origin, and the name and details of the importer and guarantees of the authenticity of imported products. An inventory e-commerce entity, which owns the stock and sells directly, must display information on returns, refunds, warranties, delivery and grievance redressal. A PIB release of 10 September 2026 says the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 require importer details and country of origin to be disclosed for imported goods and come into force on 1 January 2027. Build the data into your product pages now.

Step 6: Choose the Shipping Route and Understand the Duty

Use courier for samples and test orders, air freight for urgent restocks and sea freight for planned stock, as described in our guide to shipping solutions for e-commerce. Duty and IGST are charged on the value including freight and insurance as the rules provide, so work out the landed cost before you set a selling price.

Person taping and labelling a cardboard box — Importer details, origin and price have to be on the package or on a label affixed to it. Photo: GB The Green Brand on Unsplash

Step 7: Plan the First Order

A made-up launch plan shows the order of work.

Stage	Action	Output
Product choice	Check the import policy, BIS lists and Legal Metrology needs	A short compliance note per product
Registration	Obtain the IEC and set up customs filing	An active IEC
Supplier	Verify the company and agree the contract	A verification file and a signed contract
Sample	Order samples by courier and test them	An approved sample and a specification
Labels and listing	Prepare importer, origin, price and net quantity declarations and product page data	Approved label artwork and page text
First stock order	Choose the route, calculate landed cost and arrange payment	A booked shipment and a cash plan
Review	Compare plan with actual cost, days and errors	An updated plan

A Compliance Checklist

Item	What to hold	Where it comes from
Import policy	The policy status of the item	Foreign Trade Policy and the ITC (HS)
BIS	Licence or registration evidence for notified goods	DGFT general notes and BIS lists
IEC	An active IEC	Foreign Trade Policy
Supplier file	Licence copy, identity documents, bank account check	Embassy advisory
Labels	Importer, origin, quantity and MRP on the package	Legal Metrology Rules
Product pages	Country of origin and importer details	E-commerce Rules
Customs file	Invoice, packing list, transport document, classification	Customs Act and Foreign Trade Policy

Keep a Compliance File for Each Product

For every product, keep one file holding the classification, the BIS evidence where it applies, the manufacturer's test reports, the approved label artwork, the supplier's declaration and the listing text. If customs, BIS or a marketplace asks a question about the product, you can answer it at once instead of searching your email.

Mistakes to Avoid

Ordering electronics or toys without checking BIS requirements.
Relying on the supplier's word that a product is compliant.
Packaging with no space for Indian declarations.
Listing products without country of origin or importer details.
Choosing a route by price alone.
Forgetting duty and IGST in the selling price.

Import With Support From RR Brothers and Logistics

RR Brothers and Logistics ships from China to India by sea and air, supports e-commerce logistics and handles customs clearance. Tell us your product and your plan and we will explain the logistics and the documents your first order needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

For products under mandatory Indian Standards, the manufacturer or exporter must hold a BIS licence, and electronics notified under the 2012 Compulsory Registration Order must be BIS-registered. Check the BIS and DGFT lists for your product.

DGFT's notes say they are prohibited, that the importer shall re-export them, and that otherwise customs shall deform them beyond use and dispose of them as scrap.

Among other declarations, the name and address of the importer, the country of origin, the net quantity and the maximum retail price inclusive of all taxes in Indian currency. A label may be affixed to imported packages for these declarations.

Yes. The 2020 Rules require marketplace sellers to give details including country of origin and importer details. The 2026 amendment, effective 1 January 2027, requires importer details and country of origin for imported goods.

Courier for samples and test orders, then air or sea freight for stock depending on urgency and volume. Compare routes using landed cost.

Yes, unless an exemption applies. Imports for personal use not connected with trade are exempt, which does not cover stock for sale.

Sources

This article is general information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Rules, rates and procedures change; confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or a licensed customs professional before you ship. Regulatory references were checked against the official sources listed above on 26 October 2026.

Image credits: header photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash; photo by GB The Green Brand on Unsplash. Used under the Unsplash License.

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How Indian E-commerce Brands Can Import Products from China