brief introduction
the bureau of indian standards (bis) is an indian national standards and certification authority established under the bureau of indian standards act, 2016 (the bis act, 2016). its main tasks are to formulate and implement national standards, implement conformity assessment systems, and manage bis certification.
product certification in india basically implements the principle of voluntary certification, but considering factors such as public health and safety and mass consumption, the indian government implements compulsory certification for specific products by issuing instant decrees. all products listed in compulsory certification must obtain product certification according to indian product standards before they can enter the market.
foreign manufacturer certification scheme (fmcs)
the foreign manufacturers certification scheme (fmcs) is a scheme implemented by the bureau of indian standards for manufacturers outside india that enables non-indian applicants/manufacturers to use the standard marking to sell their products in india. the foreign manufacturers certification department (fmcd) is the only agency qualified to grant licenses to foreign manufacturers. the main motivation of bis to issue licenses to foreign manufacturers is the desire for the public to have access to quality, safe, reliable and risk-free products. in addition to this, foreign manufacturers must also appoint an authorized representative in india (air).
according to the different types of bis certification in india, the process and requirements for each certification will vary. for details click the link below
type | certification mark | product category |
scheme–i (mark scheme) isi certification (indian standards institution) |
| • at this stage, a total of 371 products have been included in the isi mandatory product catalogue, covering building materials, chemicals, household appliances, medical equipment, vehicle parts, food, etc. • adopt factory inspection and product testing mode. • the initial certification is valid for 1 year, and the renewal can be extended to 1-5 years. |
scheme–ii (registration scheme) crs registration (compulsory registration scheme) |
| • crs registration is a certification scheme administered by bis that authorized by ministry of electronics and information technology (meity) and ministry of energy (mnre) of india. its main products cover electronics, it, lamps, batteries, electrical appliances, photovoltaic products, etc. • adopt registration and product testing mode • the certificate is valid for 2 years, renewing it before expiry can maintain its validity |
scheme–iv (grant of certificate of conformity ) coc certification (certificate of compliance) | • currently only two products have been included in the coc certification, namely ① stampings/laminations/transformer cores and ② bicycle reflectors • adopt factory inspection and product testing mode |
frequently asked questions
1. what are the basic requirements for a manufacturer to apply for a license from bis in india?
in order to be licensed by bis, a manufacturer must have the necessary manufacturing infrastructure, proper process control, quality control and product testing capabilities in accordance with the relevant indian standard (iss). the product should also meet all the requirements specified by the indian standard.
2. how does the indian bis grant the license?
bis grants licenses by visiting their manufacturing sites based on a successful assessment of the manufacturer's manufacturing infrastructure, process control, quality control and testing capabilities.
compliance with relevant standards is also determined through third-party laboratory testing or manufacturing site testing or a combination of both.
3. are there technical guidelines available for products under the bis product certification scheme in india?
yes, the technical guide applies to all products covered by the product certification scheme and is called the "product manual". product manuals include sampling guidelines, test equipment lists, inspection and testing protocols (sits), scope statements, and more. to search for the required product manual, please visit the: >> conformity assessment >> product certification>> product specific guidelines >> product manuals.
4. can the importer obtain a bis license if the product is imported into india from abroad?
bis licenses are granted to manufacturers, not importers. if the product falls within the scope of mandatory certification, the foreign manufacturer will need to obtain a license from bis under bis's foreign manufacturer certification scheme (fmcs).
all products to indian standards are covered under fmcs and are acceptable for certification, with the exception of some electronic and it products.
5. can i submit one application for different products and indian standard (iss) produced in the same factory?
no, a separate application is required for each product and iss even within the same facility
6. can i submit one application for the same product made in different factories?
no, even if the products and iss are the same, a separate application needs to be submitted for each factory location.
our services
- bis certification consulting and training;
- bis certificate application;
- bis certificate renewal application;
- bis certificate extension application.
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