Wholesale toys: standard, GST and HSN by toy type
BIS lists toys in two rows: "Non Electric Toys" to the IS 9873 series and "Electric Toys" to IS 15644:2006. The non-electric row names six parts of IS 9873: Part 1 (mechanical and physical properties, 2018 edition) and Parts 2 (flammability), 3 (migration of certain elements), 4 (swings, slides and similar activity toys), 7 (finger paints) and 9 (certain phthalate esters), all 2017 editions (BIS Scheme-I list, checked 22 Oct 2026).
The Standard Mark is the ISI mark a manufacturer may print only under a BIS licence for that IS number. On a toy carton, look for the mark and the IS number together; a mark with no IS number, or an IS number from a different product, does not cover the toy.
At eight digits, the GST portal master now reads 9503 00 10 as "Electronic" and 9503 00 20 as "Non electronic". If a supplier’s price list reads those two numbers differently, go by the current master (read 22 Oct 2026). Soft toys shaped like animals have their own line, 9503 41 00.
Toys wholesale market: what makes a lot unsellable
A toy covered by the order but sold without the Standard Mark under a BIS licence is the first thing that makes a lot unsellable. Ask for the licence details before you ask for the price.
The order has moved since 2020. BIS lists the Toys (Quality Control) Amendment Order, 2024 (S.O. 4277(E), 1 Oct 2024) and a Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 (S.O. 3417(E), 25 June 2026) against the toy rows. A certificate a supplier showed you two years ago may not match the current text; read the current order on the BIS Scheme-I page before you rely on it.
The tax error to watch is the rate. Electronic toys billed at 5% instead of 18% is an invoice mistake that the buyer inherits when reselling, since your sale has to carry the right rate (Notification 9/2025, Schedule I S.No. 497 and Schedule II S.No. 616, from 22 Sept 2025). BIS says "electric" and the GST notification says "electronic", and the two are different words; for a toy with a motor and no circuit board, ask your accountant which line applies.
Wholesale toy shop checklist: 4 checks before you pay
- Sort the lot by toy type. BIS lists "Electric Toys" (IS 15644:2006) and "Non Electric Toys" (IS 9873 series) as separate rows, so put battery- or mains-powered toys in one pile and the rest in another.
- Ask for the BIS licence details for that IS standard. Match the IS number on the carton to the toy row on the BIS Scheme-I list; a licence for a different product does not count.
- Check the HSN line and GST on the invoice. Non-electronic toys: 9503 00 20 at 5%. Electronic toys: 9503 00 10 at 18%. One invoice can carry both lines.
- Work out the landed margin. Put the cost per piece, freight and the marketplace fee into the wholesale margin calculator before you agree a quantity.
Buying toys at wholesale prices only pays if the stock can be listed. The Meesho catalog form has HSN and GST fields of its own, so a wrong line on the purchase bill follows the toy onto your listing.
Wholesale soft toys vs electric toys: one order, two rules
Worked example: a festive carton of soft toys and battery cars
A Meesho reseller buys one mixed carton for the festive season: stuffed teddies and battery-run cars. The teddies are 9503 41 00, taxed at 5%, and as non-electric toys they need the IS 9873 series. The battery cars are electric toys under IS 15644:2006; if they are electronic toys for GST, they go on 9503 00 10 at 18%.
That one carton therefore needs two invoice lines, two GST rates and two licence checks. A supplier who bills it all as "toys, 5%" has given you a bill you cannot defend for the cars. Split the lines before payment, and list the two products separately on the marketplace with their own HSN.
Chinese toys wholesale: the same rules apply
Imported toys fall under the same Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020: BIS’s list names the product and shows no exemption for imports. A carton of toys made in China needs the same IS 9873 or IS 15644 licence details as one made in India, and the same HSN and GST lines on your bill. Customs, import codes and freight are a separate job from these product checks.
Listing toys on Meesho?
ListMagic creates your Meesho listing for each product: title, category, attributes, images and price, so soft toys and electronic toys each go up with their own line. Free plan to start; Seller Pass ₹99 a month (StitchMagic pricing, checked 16 Oct 2026).
Try ListMagicToys supplier list
We are building a list of toy wholesalers who sell to small resellers and can show the BIS licence for the toys they sell. Every number on it comes from a supplier who asked to be listed.
Your number is used to send the list and nothing else.
Frequently asked questions
Do toys need a BIS mark to be sold in India?
Yes: toys are on BIS’s compulsory-certification list under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020. Non-electric toys follow the IS 9873 series (BIS Scheme-I list, checked 22 Oct 2026).
Which standard applies to electric toys?
IS 15644:2006, Safety of Electric Toys, under the same order. Match that number to the licence details your supplier gives you.
What is the GST on toys?
5% on toys other than electronic toys and 18% on electronic toys, under Notification 9/2025 (Rate). Both rates apply from 22 Sept 2025.
What is the HSN code for soft toys?
Stuffed toys representing animals are 9503 41 00 in the GST portal’s HSN master. The full toy list is on our toys HSN page.
Where is the wholesale toys market?
We do not list markets or shops we have not verified; buy from a seller who can show the BIS licence for the toy’s IS standard, offline or on a B2B site. Check the licence before you compare prices.
Do Chinese toys bought wholesale need BIS certification?
Yes, the toy order lists the toy, not the country. The import steps (customs, codes, freight) are a separate process.
Related
Checked by the StitchMagic team on 22 Oct 2026. StitchMagic is a set of free tools and one AI listing agent (ListMagic) for online sellers in India that helps them list faster on Meesho, Flipkart and Amazon.in and sell more. Found an error? Tell us; we correct with a dated note.