When someone says BIS certification what I hear is this not a piece of paper but a promise. A promise that the product you are building or importing meets a defined Indian standard and that someone somewhere has thought about safety, durability, and fairness for the end user. If you have ever held a device and wondered whether it will last or whether it is safe for your family, BIS is that quiet, official voice that answers the question. The Bureau of Indian Standards is the national standards body of India and BIS certification is the mechanism it uses to convert technical standards into real world trust.
There is a difference between compliance and paperwork. Many folks hear the phrase BIS license and picture an endless stack of forms. The truth is more subtle. BIS certificate or BIS registration is about conformity assessment to relevant Indian standard. Sometimes the path is straightforward….. sometimes it requires testing, factory audits, or a foreign manufacturer engagement. The bureaucracy can be navigated if you treat it like engineering rather than paperwork.
Let us start at the beginning. BIS certification means an independent assessment that a product conforms to a specific Indian standard. The process is driven by the Bureau of Indian Standards and results in either a registration certificate or a product certification licence that allows use of the BIS standard mark or ISI mark for products that are covered under the relevant scheme. In effect….. BIS certification is the legal and market passport for many products sold in India.
Which products need BIS certification and which do not is a question with a moving answer. The Government of India publishes lists under different schemes. Products under compulsory certification or registration are listed publicly and updated from time to time. Electronics and IT categories often fall under the compulsory registration scheme while many industrial and safety sensitive products fall under product certification. If you plan to sell a product in India it is wise to check whether the product is on the list before you invest too much in market entry.
When people say bis license they usually mean the product certification license issued under BIS product certification schemes. That licence allows the manufacturer to mark the product with the BIS standard mark or ISI mark and to sell in India where the standard requires it. For foreign manufacturers there is a separate route called the Foreign Manufacturer Certification Scheme which allows overseas firms to obtain BIS product certification and export to India with the same credentials that a domestic manufacturer would hold.
The Bureau of Indian Standards operates as the national standards body. It writes the Indian standard documents, runs laboratory recognition programs, and operates conformity assessment schemes. Think of the bureau as the steward of national standards and the entity that translates technical consensus into regulatory and market practice. When BIS updates a standard or issues a quality control order the effects can ripple across manufacturing, imports, and retail.
A bis certificate can take different forms. It can be a certificate of conformity under Scheme IV which is often used for certificate based conformity or it can be a license under Scheme I which is the ISI mark product certification scheme. There is also the registration certificate used under Scheme II for self declaration and registration for certain electronics and IT products. Each pathway has slightly different technical and documentary requirements and different surveillance obligations.
Here is the practical bit that matters at three in the morning when a shipment arrives at a port. BIS operates several certification schemes including product certification under the ISI mark scheme….. a registration scheme for certain electronics and IT products….. and the foreign manufacturer certification scheme for overseas makers. Each scheme has its own pathway and criteria. Choose by asking two questions….. is my product on the compulsory list and which scheme has been assigned to it. The official website and the CRS portal list the products and the implementation dates.
Product certification under Scheme I which allows use of the standard mark.
Registration scheme under Scheme II for products covered by compulsory registration.
Foreign Manufacturer Certification Scheme for overseas manufacturers who want an ISI mark license.
This is the checklist that turns ambiguity into action. Typical documents required for BIS certification include the application form and a set of attachments such as the manufacturer details….. factory address proof….. test reports from accredited labs….. process flow and quality control documents….. and for foreign manufacturers an authorized Indian representative may be needed. BIS publishes official checklists which are precise and must be followed. It helps to prepare these before you begin testing so that the application moves smoothly.
Here is a clear, human friendly step by step pathway that I would give to a founder or a procurement lead. Do these steps before you make any irreversible business decision.
Identify the relevant Indian standard that applies to your product this is where you begin.
Check whether your product is under compulsory registration or product certification the BIS product lists will show this.
Arrange testing at an accredited lab to the relevant Indian standard. Keep meticulous test reports.
Prepare the documents required for bis certification including manufacturing details and quality control documents.
Submit the application online to BIS under the right scheme and pay applicable fees.
If the scheme requires factory inspection BIS will conduct an audit expect this for product certification licenses.
On satisfactory testing and inspection BIS will grant a license or registration certificate and you will obtain the right to use the BIS standard mark as applicable.
This process requires patience and precision. Do not treat testing as a checkbox. It is the technical truth that secures trust in the market.
Most product certification licenses have validity tied to the surveillance schedule which may involve periodic factory audits and sample testing. Renewal or continued validity is conditional on successful surveillance outcomes. The exact validity term can vary by scheme and product. Always track expiry and surveillance dates as the market consequences of an expired license can be severe if your product is under compulsory certification.
The compulsory registration scheme is a streamlined path for certain electronics and IT products….. its emphasis is on registration and self declaration backed by testing rather than a full certification license in some cases. The CRS portal and the BIS lists will show which products and what IS numbers are covered. If your product is on that list you must comply before placing the product into the Indian market.
An Indian standard is the technical specification you must meet. These standards are numbered as IS numbers and cover everything from materials to safety tests. When you see an IS number on a certificate it is the anchor point of conformity. The standards are public and maintained by technical committees in BIS. They evolve over time as technology and risk profiles change. That is why constant checking of the standard and its amendments matters for manufacturers and importers.
If you are a company outside India trying to enter the Indian market there are two pragmatic options. You can set up a branch office in India and apply as a domestic manufacturer….. or you can engage an authorized Indian representative who handles the application, surveillance, and local queries. The FMCS exists specifically to issue BIS product certification to foreign manufacturers and to allow them to mark products with the ISI mark when permitted. This pathway has helped many exporters access the Indian market responsibly.
Let me be plain. The benefits of BIS are not just legal compliance. They are market trust and risk mitigation. A BIS certificate signals that the product was tested against Indian standard criteria and that the manufacturer is subject to surveillance. That reduces buyer friction and can be a differentiator when competing in the Indian market. For regulated categories BIS certification is mandatory and not optional. Failing to obtain the required registration certificate or license can mean denied entry, confiscation, or market penalties.
Do not think of this as another form to fill to satisfy an officer. Think of this as a short journey that proves your product behaves the way you claim it behaves. The sequence looks like this in practice
Identify the exact product and the Indian Standard code that should apply. Without that you are guessing.
Check whether your product is under compulsory certification or registration. If it is under compulsory cover then you cannot bypass this step.
Arrange for testing in a BIS recognized laboratory and gather quality control paperwork. Testing is the most frequent cause of delay. Labs have queues. Plan for that.
Nominate an Authorized Indian Representative if you are a foreign manufacturer and you are importing goods to India. That person is the local focal point for compliance.
Apply online on the BIS portal, pay fees, and be ready for an inspection or factory audit if required. After tests and audits are satisfactory BIS issues the certificate or registration which gives you the right to use the standard mark and the R number where applicable.
A blunt piece of advice from experience…. start this at least as early as you think you need to. Waiting until the shipment lands will cost you time and money.
BIS does not have a single type of stamp. At a high level there are two commonly referenced schemes that you will meet
Scheme One…. Product certification under the Standard Mark scheme where BIS certifies that a tested sample and manufacturing quality systems conform to the Indian Standard. This is common for items such as construction materials or some household goods.
Scheme Two…. The Compulsory Registration Scheme which applies to many electronics and IT products. Under this scheme manufacturers can register and declare conformity. The product then carries a registration number. CRS was introduced to manage safety for electrical and electronic goods that proliferate rapidly.
There are also special procedures such as simplified procedures for low risk products and hall-marking for precious metals which operate under their own rules. When someone says “types of BIS registration” they usually mean these broad categories followed by specific options within each scheme.
If you make things in India you will still need to think about BIS carefully. Domestic manufacturers whose product categories fall under mandatory schemes must obtain the necessary license or registration before they store, transport for sale, sell, distribute or import those products within India. Getting certified early becomes an operational advantage. In practice BIS expects that the manufacturer has the required quality control, test facilities or access to testing and documentation to show conformity.
Practical note…. for a domestic unit the factory inspection and the ability to demonstrate consistent production quality are the two gates. Work on both simultaneously.
Once the certificate or registration is live the product can be marketed and distributed with the standard mark or the R number, as applicable… The mark is not just decorative. It allows customs to release shipments without quibbling and allows retailers and distributors to accept goods with less friction. But the mark also brings responsibility. BIS and enforcement agencies conduct random checks and actions against misuse of the mark or false claims can be severe. Enforcement includes seizure and legal penalties when misuse or fraud is spotted.
If you are importing goods into India, you may very well encounter a requirement for a BIS certificate or registration. What does that mean? It means before the goods can be sold or distributed, they must comply with the Indian standard and have the certification or registration from BIS.
Here are the key points of the import side:
The importer (or foreign manufacturer via Indian representative) must identify the product category and whether that category is under the compulsory BIS regime.
Application is submitted online via BIS portal.
Product testing in an authorized/recognized laboratory (often in India) is required. Factory audit or inspection might also be required depending on scheme.
Only after successful testing, inspection and compliance will BIS issue the registration/certificate.
For example, one guide says the process of BIS registration for importers takes around 20-30 working days, assuming all documents are in order.
So if you are planning to import an item, you must check early whether your product falls under BIS mandatory registration, and start the compliance groundwork.
Because you asked for “applying for a BIS certificate” here is a practical sequence (feel free to pause and make notes if this is your business).
Identify your product what exactly are you importing or manufacturing? Determine the Indian Standard (IS) code applying to it. Without this your application will stall.
Check whether certification is compulsory BIS has a list of products covered under mandatory schemes (e.g., the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) or Standard Mark under ISI/other).
Collect required documents depending on domestic manufacturing or import, test reports, manufacturing infrastructure details, quality control records, and others.
Submit application via BIS portal fill out the online form, upload documents, pay applicable fees.
Product testing & inspection testing in BIS recognized lab + possibly factory inspection. If you are a foreign manufacturer exporting to India you typically must designate an Indian authorized representative.
Issue of license/certificate once compliance is confirmed, BIS issues the certificate or registration number, mark usage rights, etc. Then you’re compliant to sell/import that product.
Here is a little tip from someone who has gone through it: start early. The testing and inspection phases often have waiting lists. If your item is novel or not previously covered, clarifications may take additional time.
You may hear the term “registration under the compulsory” (or “Compulsory Registration Scheme”, CRS). What does this mean?
The CRS is a scheme by BIS under which certain product categories (especially electronics, information-technology goods, lighting, etc) must be registered with BIS before manufacturing, import or sale in India.
Under CRS:
The manufacturer (foreign or Indian) must obtain registration, for example: using Form-I for self-declaration of conformity.
Products cannot be manufactured, stored for sale, sold, imported or distributed unless they conform to specified Indian Standards and bear the standard mark with BIS registration number (“R-number”).
The list of products under the scheme is being expanded: meaning if you are in a manufacturing/import line you need to keep track of updates.
So “registration under the compulsory” basically means you are on the list of products mandates by government regulation to conform and register. It is not optional for those categories.
This question matters: “Do I have to have BIS certification?” The short answer: yes, if your product falls under the list of mandatory categories. The longer answer: it depends on the product, the standard, the scheme.
Here are the facts:
The Government of India (via Quality Control Orders and regulations) has made BIS certification or registration mandatory for certain goods.
As one source says: “As per the government notification, 380 products are mandatorily required to obtain the BIS certification.”
If your product is not under the compulsory list, certification may be voluntary — but voluntary does not mean “ignore”. Having BIS mark often creates market trust.
For imported products the risk is higher: customs may block goods without proper registration/certification. So even importers look at BIS compliance early.
Thus the phrase “required to have BIS certification” is accurate for many products — you must check your category carefully.
Let us reflect on what the Government of India has done via BIS and regulatory mechanisms:
Through the BIS Act (2016) it has strengthened the statutory regime under which standardization, certification and enforcement takes place.
By issuing Quality Control Orders (QCOs) the government can mandate that goods must comply with BIS certification/registration in order to be manufactured, sold or imported. It is actively expanding the list of regulated products — for example recently the talk of footwear, furniture and other items coming under BIS certification requirement. (See news item).
It expects modern business to factor in standard-compliance as part of supply chain, not after-thought.
In simple terms: The rule-book is shifting. If you are in trade/manufacture/import you cannot assume “no regulation” any longer. Being ahead of the curve means you avoid headaches.
How long will it take to obtain bis certification? There is no single answer. Time depends on the complexity of testing….. whether a factory audit is needed….. and how complete the documents are. If the product is already tested to equivalent international standards then some parts may be faster. Expect the process to take weeks to months rather than days.
Must I obtain bis for every product I sell in India? Not every product requires mandatory bis certification but many do under the compulsory lists. Check the current BIS lists to confirm if your product must obtain bis or if voluntary bis is an option for you.
Is BIS certification expensive? There are costs that matter. Testing fees….. application fees….. possible factory upgrades to meet standard requirements….. and cost of surveillance. The price of non compliance is much higher than the cost of certification. Budget realistically.
I once worked with a small manufacturer who made electrical accessories. They viewed bis as an obstacle. After a painful early audit they realised the process forced them to document quality controls they had ignored for years. Six months later they were selling to two national retailers who would not even consider buying from them before the BIS certificate came through. The certificate did not magically make their product better overnight. What it did was align the business to a national standard and open doors that were closed before. That is the quiet, practical power of a registration certificate or a bis license.
Identify your product and the relevant Indian standard ….. find the IS number.
Check whether the product is in compulsory certification or compulsory registration lists.
Arrange accredited lab testing to the Indian standard and collect full test reports.
Prepare factory and company documents required for bis certification and for the application.
File the application on BIS online portals and be ready for inspection if required.
BIS certification is not an obstacle to be endured. It is a framework that converts technical consensus into consumer confidence. If you approach the process with technical care and with the right expectations it becomes a pathway to scale and access in the Indian market. Whether you are a domestic manufacturer or a foreign company seeking FMCS certification there is a route available. Prepare well….. respect the standards….. and use the BIS process as a tool to build a product that stands up to scrutiny.
Here are some frequently asked questions (and honest answers) around BIS licensing/certification. I invite you to ask more if your specific product or scenario is different.
Q. What is “BIS certification full form”
A. As noted above, BIS full form is “Bureau of Indian Standards”.
Q. How long does it take to apply for a BIS certificate?
A. It depends on product category, test lab availability, inspection scheduling. Guides indicate for some import registration process between 20-30 working days can be possible (assuming all docs in order).
Q. If I am importing into India, do I need a BIS certificate?
A. If your product is on the list that requires compulsory BIS registration/certification then yes; without it you risk import blockage or inability to sell.
Q. What is “BIS registration under the compulsory” regime?
A. That refers to the who products that come under mandatory BIS registration (such as CRS). Under this regime a manufacturer/importer must register their products under BIS before selling/importing.
Q. What if I manufacture domestically in India? Do I also need BIS?
A. Yes, if your product category is covered by BIS mandatory certification/registration. Domestic manufacturers need to apply under appropriate scheme, test the product, ensure compliance, get BIS mark/license.
Q. Is having BIS mark only about “quality marketing”?
A. No. While the mark does signal quality and reliability, for many products it is a legal requirement — not just a marketing badge. Without it you may be held up by regulation, or face legal exposure.
Q. Does the government plan to expand the list of products under mandatory BIS registration?
A. Yes. There are indications that more product categories (for example footwear and furniture) will come under BIS tag requirement.
Q. What happens if I sell a product covered under BIS mandatory scheme without certification?
A. You open yourself to regulatory action (inspection, seizure, ban on sale), risk of being non-compliant, legal penalties. The BIS regime is enforceable.
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