Furniture

The India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force on 1 May 2022; the Department of Commerce said India would get preferential access on over 97% of UAE tariff lines, covering 99% of India's exports to the UAE by value, especially for labour-intensive sectors including furniture. From October 2023, a quality control order required upholstery in non-domestic furniture used in public areas such as offices, malls, airports, restaurants, hospitals and educational institutions to meet IS 15768:2008. The order also applies to imports of complete furniture or sub-assemblies with upholstered fabric for public use, with relaxation till 31 March 2025 at the request of industry. In September 2024 the Ministry of Textiles said it had asked DPIIT to integrate IS 15768:2008 into the quality control orders for furniture.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued the furniture quality control order, S.O. 801(E), dated 14 February 2025. Under it, standards for work chairs, general purpose chairs, stools, tables, desks, storage units, beds and bunk beds become mandatory for large-scale industries from 13 February 2026 and for MSMEs from 13 August 2026. To explain the order, BIS Coimbatore set up a stall at the Hindustan International Furniture Fair, held in Coimbatore from 20 to 22 September 2025, which drew more than 2,000 visitors.

Through a quality control order, the concerned ministry directs the mandatory use of the BIS Standard Mark under a valid licence from BIS; by March 2025, 187 such orders covering 769 products had been notified for compulsory certification. For furniture, the standards include IS 17632:2022 for general purpose chairs and stools, IS 17635:2022 for beds and IS 17637:2021 on the performance of surface finishes, all of which have since been amended. On tax, the 56th GST Council placed furniture of bamboo, rattan and cane in the handicrafts group whose rate fell from 12% to 5% from 22 September 2025; a PIB factsheet on Gujarat of 6 October 2025 described the cut as applying to handcrafted wooden articles and furniture.

Recent trade agreements widen market access. Under the India–Oman CEPA, signed in December 2025, Oman offered zero-duty access on 98.08% of its tariff lines, covering 99.38% of India's exports to Oman, with full tariff elimination for labour-intensive sectors including furniture. India and the EU announced the conclusion of FTA negotiations on 27 January 2026; the agreement lowers duties of up to 10.5% on Indian wooden, bamboo and handcrafted furniture. On 26 May 2026, BIS Mumbai held a seminar with furniture manufacturers, MSMEs and industry associations on the amended standards, ahead of the order applying to MSMEs from 13 August 2026.

14 Feb 2025 furniture quality control order S.O. 801(E) issued. 13 Feb 2026 and 13 Aug 2026 mandatory dates for large-scale industries and MSMEs. 12% → 5% GST on furniture of bamboo, rattan and cane (22 Sep 2025). Up to 10.5% duties lowered on Indian wooden, bamboo and handcrafted furniture under the India–EU FTA. 98.08% of Oman's tariff lines at zero duty for Indian goods. IS 15768:2008 fire-safety standard for upholstery in public-use furniture (October 2023). Sources: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Consumer Affairs (BIS), via PIB.