The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India's national standards body and certification authority. Its certification is a mandatory requirement for many products entering the Indian market. The core objectives of BIS certification are to ensure public health and safety, protect the environment, prevent unfair trade practices, and ensure national security.
As of March 2025, the Indian government has issued 187 Quality Control Orders (QCOs), covering 769 products, requiring these products to undergo mandatory BIS certification.
1.Standard Upgrade: The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has officially enacted the new safety standard IS/IEC 62368-1:2023, replacing the previous IS 13252 (Part 1):2010 and IS 616:2017, making it the new regulatory basis for consumer electronics, audio/video, and ICT equipment under the "Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS)".
2.New Product Categories: Extended Reality (XR) devices, including Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality products, have been formally included in the CRS controlled list.
3.Policy Easing Signal: After a suspension of nearly five years, the Bureau of Indian Standards is expected to resume processing certification applications from Chinese manufacturing facilities. This move covers CRS registration and ISI Mark certification under the "Foreign Manufacturer Certification Scheme (FMCS)".
BIS Certification Schemes & Applicable Products
For foreign manufacturers, the primary BIS certification pathways include the following:
1.Foreign Manufacturer Certification Scheme (FMCS): Applicable to most regulated consumer and industrial products, requiring factory inspection and product testing.
2.Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS): Primarily for electronic and IT products, involves self-declaration reports based on laboratory testing, no factory audit required.
3.Scheme X (Scheme-I for specific products): Targeted at industrial, electrical, and high-risk equipment. This certification was set to become mandatory from August 28, 2025.
Common mandatory BIS certification product categories include:
1.Information Technology Equipment: Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, etc.
2.Audio-Video Equipment: Televisions (including digital television receivers requiring the latest IS 18112:2025 standard), audio systems, etc.
3.Lighting Products: LED lamps, ballasts, etc.
4.Components: Batteries, transformers, power banks, etc.
5.Metal Materials: Steel products, aluminum products, etc.
6.Chemicals: Methanol, boric acid, caustic soda, etc.
7.Machinery Equipment: Pumps, compressors, cranes, etc. (primarily through Scheme X certification).
BIS Certification Process & Timeline Planning
1.Confirm Applicability & Prepare: First, check if the product falls under any QCO and identify the relevant Indian Standard (IS). Simultaneously, prepare product technical documents, including PCB layout, circuit schematics, critical component list (CDF), and English user manual.
2.Appoint Indian Authorized Representative (AIR): This is mandatory. An importer, subsidiary, or consultant located in India must be authorized to act as the representative, assuming legal responsibility.
3.Submit Application & Pay Fees: Submit the application form via the BIS portal and pay the application and audit fees.
4.Product Testing: Send product samples to a BIS-recognized laboratory for testing. This process typically takes 4-8 weeks.
5.Factory Inspection: A BIS inspector will conduct an on-site audit at the manufacturing factory, typically lasting 3 days, reviewing the production process, quality assurance system, and documentation.
6.Report Review & Certificate Issuance: BIS headquarters evaluates the test report and factory audit results. Upon approval, the certificate is issued. The total timeline for standard products is approximately 3-6 months.
Practical Suggestions for Successful BIS Certification
1.Plan Ahead: Initiate the certification process at least 6-8 months before the planned shipment date.
2.Conduct Pre-testing: Perform pre-compliance testing in domestic partner labs to avoid re-testing due to design flaws.
3.Prepare Complete Documents: Ensure all documents are complete and compliant. Non-English documents require notarized translations.
4.Monitor Standard Updates: Closely follow the latest standards published by BIS. For example, the digital TV receiver standard IS 18112:2025 became mandatory on October 26, 2025.
5.Understand Transition Periods: For standard updates, BIS usually sets parallel periods. For instance, for the IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 standard, the transition period for XR products lasts until May 1, 2026, and for all other electronic and ICT products until November 1, 2028.
Summary & Outlook
BIS mandatory certification is a crucial step for entering the Indian market. As of 2025, its system covers 769 products and has introduced new mechanisms like the IS/IEC 62368-1:2023 standard and Scheme X.
Corporate Response Strategies:
·Closely monitor the official announcement regarding BIS resuming certification for Chinese manufacturers.
·Utilize the new and old standard transition periods to complete product upgrades.
·For complex products (e.g., multi-model family certification), budget an additional 1-2 months for potential timeline extensions.
We hope this India BIS Mandatory Product Certification guide helps you better plan your compliance strategy for the Indian market. If you have more specific questions about certifying particular product categories, feel free to ask. BLUEASIA is happy to provide further information. BLUEASIA: +86 13534225140, will provide you with professional certification consulting services!
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