How To Get BIS Certification In India | Basic Guide

BIS Certification in India is regulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards, empowered through an Act of the Indian Parliament, known as the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. BIS Certification is a means for providing a third-party guarantee of the quality, safety, and reliability of products to the customer.

Generally, the BIS Certification is voluntary in nature. However, the Government of India has made BIS certification mandatory for certain products taking into consideration public health. The certification allows the licensees to use the popular ISI Mark.

Read: How to Register a Company in India

Schemes Of BIS Certification In India

BIS Product Certification Scheme is one of the largest in the world, with over 26500 licenses covering more than 900 products.  As per Government notification, 90 products are mandatorily required to have BIS certification.

BIS also operates Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme under which overseas manufacturers can be granted the license to use the BIS Standard Mark. At present, over 350 licenses have been granted for over 50 Indian Standards in 40 different countries.

System Of BIS Certification In India

The BIS product certification scheme is essentially voluntary in nature and is largely based on ISO/IEC Guide 28 which provides general rules for third-party certification systems of determining conformity with product standards through initial testing and assessment of a factory quality management system and its acceptance followed by surveillance that takes into account the factory Quality management system and the testing of samples from the factory and the open market.

All BIS certifications are carried out in accordance with Indian Standards, which are amenable to certification. A large number of operational elements of the BIS product certification scheme correspond with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065.

Different Schemes For BIS Certification In India

BIS Certification is provided in India for products under different types of schemes as follows:

Normal Procedure for Domestic Manufacturers

The applicant is required to submit the filled-in application along with the required documents and requisite fee to the nearest BIS branch office. Subsequently, after the recording of the application, a preliminary factory evaluation is carried out by the BIS officer to ascertain the capability of the applicant/manufacturer to produce goods according to the relevant Indian Standard and to verify the availability of the complete testing facility and competent technical personnel.

Read: Top Profitable Small Manufacturing Business Ideas

Samples are tested in the factory and also drawn for independent testing. Grant of the license is considered by BIS provided the samples pass during independent testing, preliminary evaluation is satisfactory and the applicant agrees to operate the defined Scheme of Testing & Inspection and pay the prescribed marking fee. By this procedure, the license is expected to be granted within 4 months of the recording of the application by BIS and 6 months in the case of all India’s first licenses for a product.

Simplified Procedure for Domestic Manufacturers

The applicant is required to furnish the test report (s) of the sample (s) got tested by him in the BIS-approved laboratories (link for BIS lab database and circular 89), along with the application. If the test report (s) and other documents come satisfactory, BIS will carry out a verification visit.

The license is granted thereafter if the verification report is found satisfactory. By this procedure, you can expect the grant of the license within 30 days of recording the application by BIS. However, you have to provide all the required documents with satisfactory nature. The simplified procedure is available for all products which are covered under voluntary certification only.

Tatkal Scheme

Those manufacturers who need BIS standard marks mandatorily as per Government notification can obtain a BIS license under the Tatkal scheme. Under this scheme, the agency processes the application within strict timelines. Basically, the total time for processing is specified as 30 days. In addition, the agency will process the application received under the Tatkal Scheme on a priority basis to adhere to the strict time norms.

ECO Mark Scheme

You can apply for BIS License for eco-friendly products in a scheme separate from the normal BIS Certification process. Eco-friendly products should conform to additional requirements specified in the Indian Standards to qualify for the ECO mark. The procedure for the grant of a license is, however, similar to that of the Domestic Manufacturer’s scheme.

Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme

Overseas applicants/foreign manufacturers can get the license for the use of ISI mark under a separately designed scheme within 6 months period.

Mandatory Products For BIS Certification In India

Certain products are mandatory to have BIS Certification in India considering public health and safety. Without BIS Certification, you can’t manufacture or sell these products. The following are products that require mandatory BIS Certification in India:

• Cement
• Household electrical goods
• Food and related products
• Diesel engines
• Oil pressure stoves
• Automobile accessories
• Cylinders, Valves, and Regulators
• Medical Equipment
• Steel Products
• Electrical Transformers

The schemes of BIS certification in India operate through a network of 34 Branch Offices set up in State capitals or major industrial towns. Additionally, the department has 5 Regional Offices for overseeing the work of the Branch offices.