BIS Certification
in India

BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification is a quality assurance mark issued by the national standards body of India. It confirms that a product conforms to Indian Standards (IS). BIS operates under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and has published over 20,000 Indian Standards covering 16 broad product categories.

BIS is the Bureau of Indian Standards — the organisation that sets and certifies standards. ISI mark is the certification mark that BIS grants to products meeting Indian Standards. Essentially, ISI mark is the product certification scheme operated by BIS. Products carrying the ISI mark have been independently tested and verified for quality.

Mandatory BIS certification applies to products in categories including electronics and IT goods, electrical appliances, steel products, cement, food products, packaged water, auto components, gas cylinders, medical equipment, and solar photovoltaic systems. The government issues orders under various Acts for mandatory certification on public health and safety grounds.

BIS registration is initially granted for 2 years from the date of issue. It must be renewed every 2 years to maintain valid certification. Separate registration is required for each product manufactured at different locations, and for each brand manufactured at the same location.

Selling products that require mandatory BIS certification without proper registration is a punishable offence. Penalties can include fines and imprisonment. Products may be seized, and the manufacturer can face legal action. Using the ISI mark without BIS authorisation is also illegal.

Yes, foreign manufacturers can apply for BIS certification under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS). They need an authorised Indian representative to file the application along with required affidavits and documents. The licence is typically granted within 6 months.