BIS Licensing (Bureau of Indian Standards)

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What is BIS Licensing?

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national standards body of India, established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution. BIS sets and maintains quality, safety, and performance standards for products across industries, from electronics and electrical goods to food products, toys, chemicals, and construction materials.

BIS Licensing, commonly called BIS Certification, is the process by which a manufacturer or importer obtains the right to apply the ISI mark (Indian Standards Institute mark) or the BIS Standard Mark on their products. The ISI mark is the most recognised quality certification mark in India and signals to consumers, buyers, and regulatory authorities that the product has been independently tested and meets Indian national standards.

For a defined list of products – called Notified Products – BIS certification is not optional. Selling, importing, or distributing a notified product in India without a valid BIS licence is a punishable offence under the BIS Act, 2016, regardless of whether the manufacturer is Indian or foreign.

ISI Mark vs BIS CRS – what is the difference:

The ISI Mark scheme (Product Certification Scheme) covers most notified goods manufactured in India and imported products. The BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) is a separate scheme specifically for electronics and IT products, where manufacturers register their products rather than their manufacturing facility. Both require BIS compliance.

Who Needs BIS Licensing?

BIS licensing is required by any manufacturer, importer, brand owner, or distributor that deals with products covered under BIS mandatory certification schemes. If your product falls on the notified list, there is no exemption; the requirement applies regardless of company size, origin of manufacture, or sales channel.

• Indian manufacturers of notified products across electronics, electricals, cement, steel, food products, chemicals, toys, and dozens of other categories

• Foreign manufacturers exporting notified products to India, the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) allows overseas factories to obtain BIS certification for Indian market access

• Importers of notified products without a valid BIS licence, customs authorities will not allow notified products to clear Indian ports

• E-commerce sellers marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, and others are increasingly enforcing BIS compliance for product listings in notified categories

• Brand owners who source products from third-party manufacturers – the licence is issued in the brand owner’s name for the specific product and manufacturing facility

• Manufacturers of school furniture, hospital furniture, and institutional products, BIS certification is required in many government and institutional tender specifications

Key Product Categories Covered Under Mandatory BIS Certification

BIS publishes a notified list of products for which certification is mandatory. The list is periodically expanded by the government. Here are the major categories:

Electronics and IT Products (CRS Scheme)

• Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and chargers

• LED lights, CFL bulbs, and LED drivers

• Power banks, adapters, and switching power supplies

• Smart meters, set-top boxes, and consumer electronics

• Electronic toys and gaming devices

Electrical Products (ISI Mark Scheme)

• Electric fans, motors, and transformers

• Wires, cables, switches, and plug points

• Electric geysers, irons, and home appliances

• MCBs, distribution boards, and electrical accessories

Construction and Industrial Products

• Portland cement and blended cement

• TMT steel bars and structural steel

• Helmets, safety equipment, and PPE

• Pressure cookers and LPG cylinders

Food and Agricultural Products

• Packaged drinking water and mineral water

• Milk powder, condensed milk, and infant formula

• Refined edible oils and vanaspati

Toys and Children's Products

• All toys intended for children below 14 years of age BIS certification is mandatory since January 2021

• Baby feeding bottles, rattles, and soft toys

The notified product list is continuously updated.

BIS adds new product categories to the mandatory certification list regularly through government notifications. If you are launching a new product in India, always verify whether your product category has been notified before going to market.

Types of BIS Certification Schemes

Product Certification Scheme (ISI Mark)

This is the primary BIS certification scheme for most manufactured products. The ISI mark is issued after testing of the product at a BIS-approved laboratory, inspection of the manufacturing facility, and verification that the production process consistently meets Indian Standard requirements. The licence is tied to a specific product and a specific manufacturing location. Any change in product formulation, manufacturing process, or location requires fresh certification or amendment.

Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS)

The CRS scheme applies specifically to electronics and IT products notified under the Electronics and IT Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order. Under CRS, the manufacturer or importer registers the product model with BIS after independent testing at a BIS-recognised laboratory. The registration is product-model specific. CRS is managed entirely online and does not involve factory inspection for most categories.

Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS)

Foreign manufacturers who want to export their products to India without going through an Indian importer holding the licence can obtain BIS certification directly under the FMCS. The process involves product testing at a BIS-approved laboratory, factory inspection by BIS officials who travel to the overseas manufacturing location, and ongoing surveillance to maintain the licence. FMCS is administratively more complex and costly than the standard Indian manufacturer scheme.

Hallmarking Scheme

BIS administers India’s gold and silver hallmarking scheme the certification of precious metal purity in jewellery. As of 2022, BIS hallmarking is mandatory for gold jewellery sold in India. Jewellers must register with BIS and have their jewellery hallmarked at BIS-approved Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs).

Documents Required for BIS Certification

The documents required vary based on the certification scheme and product category. Here is a general checklist for the standard Product Certification (ISI Mark) scheme:

• Company registration documents: Certificate of Incorporation, Partnership Deed, or proprietorship proof

• PAN Card and GST Registration Certificate of the applicant entity

• Details of the manufacturing facility address, production capacity, and quality control equipment list

• Product technical details, specifications, drawings, composition, and manufacturing process description

• Test reports from a BIS-recognised or NABL-accredited laboratory — for the specific Indian Standard applicable to the product

• Quality Management System documentation, manufacturing SOPs, quality control procedures, incoming material inspection records

• Declaration of conformity to the applicable Indian Standard

• For imported products import documents, foreign manufacturer details, and test reports

• For CRS registration product model details, test reports from BIS-recognised labs, and declaration of conformity

BIS Certification Process - Step by Step

Step 1 - Identify the Applicable Indian Standard

Every BIS-notified product is covered by a specific Indian Standard (IS number). The first step is identifying the correct IS number for your product. Using the wrong standard leads to incorrect testing and application rejection. For products covered under the CRS scheme, the applicable order notification specifies the standard.

Step 2 - Product Testing at a BIS-Recognised Laboratory

Submit product samples to a laboratory recognised by BIS for the specific Indian Standard. The laboratory conducts all tests prescribed under that standard and issues a test report. The test report is the most critical document in the BIS application. It must show full compliance with all parameters of the standard. A failed test report cannot be used for the application and requires product modification and re-testing.

Step 3 - Application Filing with BIS

File the BIS licence application online through the BIS portal manakonline.in. Attach the test reports, company documents, manufacturing facility details, and quality documentation. Pay the prescribed application fee. The application is reviewed by BIS officers and an acknowledgement is issued.

Step 4 - Factory Inspection (for ISI Mark and FMCS)

For the ISI Mark scheme, BIS deputes a team of officers to inspect the manufacturing facility. The inspection verifies that the factory has the required production equipment, quality control infrastructure, testing equipment, and processes to consistently manufacture the product to the certified standard. The inspection report is a key determinant of licence grant or rejection.

Step 5 - Licence Grant and ISI Mark Authorisation

If the product testing and factory inspection are satisfactory, BIS grants the licence and issues a Licence Number. The licensee is authorised to apply the ISI mark on the product along with the licence number and IS number. The licence is valid for an initial period after which it must be renewed through a surveillance process.

Step 6 - Ongoing Surveillance and Renewal

BIS conducts regular surveillance visits to licensed facilities typically once or twice a year to verify that ongoing production continues to meet the certified standard. BIS officers may also conduct market surveillance purchasing and testing licensed products from the open market. Non-conformance during surveillance can result in licence suspension or cancellation.

Consequences of Selling Without a BIS Licence

Selling, importing, stocking, or distributing a notified product without a valid BIS licence in India carries serious legal consequences under the BIS Act, 2016:

• First offence – imprisonment up to 2 years, or fine up to Rs. 2 lakhs, or both

• Subsequent offences – imprisonment up to 5 years, or fine up to Rs. 5 lakhs, or both

• Seizure and destruction of goods – BIS officers have the authority to seize non-compliant products from the market

• E-commerce delisting – major e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho actively delist products in notified categories that do not have valid BIS certification

• Customs detention – notified products imported without valid BIS certification are detained at Indian ports and cannot be cleared for domestic distribution

Market surveillance is active and increasing.

BIS conducts regular market surveillance drives – purchasing products from retail stores, e-commerce platforms, and wholesale markets and testing them against the applicable Indian Standard. Products found non-compliant or sold without a licence face immediate enforcement action. The toy sector, electronics, and electrical products have seen particularly active enforcement in recent years.

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