Selling in India: BIS certification

For many businesses that want sell in India, obtaining BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification is a crucial step. This certificate is required for the import of various categories of products, as it certifies compliance with the Indian quality and safety standards established by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the national certification body under the Indian Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.  

In our article, we will look at the nature of this certification and the process needed to obtain it. 

BIS certification, what you need to know for sell in India certain products 

 BIS certification has two main categories, distinguished based on the need to undergo a factory inspection or not:  

• BIS Registration (CRS): does not require a factory inspection and was introduced in 2012 for 15 product categories, subsequently extended. Foreign products can also obtain BIS registration, according to the regulations established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY).  
• BIS (ISI) certification: includes an inspection at the product manufacturing site (in the event that production takes place in multiple locations, the plant in which the last production phase takes place is checked) and is issued by the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Department (FMCD). This certification attests compliance with the regulations established by the certification scheme for foreign producers (FMCS).  

Every year, the list of products requiring certification grows with new product groups, making it impossible to definitively establish the exemption of a specific product. However, new mandatory standards usually take effect at a later date than they are published. In this way, producers can have a useful period to obtain certification within the expected timeframe. 

Products that require BIS certification 

For sell in India, And so it is essential to be updated on the BIS catalogue, so long as it's about an element that is constantly updated

AND It is necessary to carefully check whether products intended for export to the country require certification BIS ISI (Scheme I) or registration BIS CRS (Scheme II). 

 In this way, compliance with current regulations of the Indian market is guaranteed. 

Among the product groups subject to these provisions we find: 

 ISI certification: 

• Cables 
• Food 
• Safety glass 
• Electric engines 
• Electrical transformers 
• Chemical products 
• Automotive accessories 
• Steel 
• Toys 

 CRS Registration: 

• Cameras 
• Photovoltaic systems 
• Low voltage switchboards and control equipment 
• Power supplies 
• LED lights 
• Display/Monitor 

Once the product category has been identified, it is essential to correctly follow the BIS registration procedure. 

The BIS registration procedure 

 The BIS certification procedure includes a series of standard steps: 

1. Processing of documentation and submission of the request to the BIS. 
2. Factory inspection exclusively for ISI. 
3. Carrying out product tests at an accredited laboratory.
4. Issuance of the certificate. 
5.  Application of marking and labeling on the product. 

The process generally takes 2 to 3 months (without audit for BIS-CRS registration) or 4 to 6 months (with audit for BIS-ISI certification).  

The validity of the BIS certificate is two years, but further tests may be required during this period, according to the required testing standards.  

Any changes to the product or production process will require new tests to maintain the validity of the certificate. 

Changes that are affected include: 

• Changes to major components  
• Updates to core components 
• Redefining product design. 
• Product structure review. 
• Replacement of raw material. 
• Change of raw material suppliers. 

Changes in BIS regulations may also require a certification review.  

It is therefore essential to maintain careful compliance with the regulations and testing standards related to your product. 

The role of the Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) 

It is important to underline that the BIS approval procedure necessarily requires the intervention of an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR), appointed by the manufacturer. This figure, who must be resident in the country, acts as a local contact point for the Indian authorities and assumes responsibility for managing requests.  

Ensuring you designate a competent AIR is an essential step to ensure correct interaction with the authorities and efficient management of approval procedures.  

Common mistakes to avoid 

Some common errors that can occur during the certification process include: 

• Non-compliance with Indian standards, which may have slight differences compared to international standards. 
• Errors in application documents due to the complexity of the formal BIS requirements. 
• Lack of stamp on the application documents, which is an essential requirement. 
• Poor cooperation from the Authorized Indian Representative (AIR), which can cause delays in the certification process. 

The BIS brand 

Once the BIS certificate has been obtained, it is possible to proceed with the marking of the product. Until early 2022, two types of marks were in use: the BIS-CRS logo and the BIS-ISI logo. 

 The BIS-CRS logo was used to indicate BIS registration, while the BIS-ISI logo (also known as the BIS standard mark) was intended for BIS certification. 

 In addition to the logo, an identification number is assigned: CM/L BIS for BIS-ISI certification or an R number for BIS-CRS registration. This number, consisting of 7 or 8 digits, simplifies the identification of the product in the manufacturing plant. 

 However, as of January 2022, BIS has decided to exclusively adopt the BIS-ISI logo. Although this change is mainly cosmetic, information such as the registration number, IS/IEC standard and BIS website will remain unchanged.  

Help in obtaining BIS certification  

Octagona has consolidated its reputation as a trusted partner for companies wishing to expand their business beyond national borders. Thanks to its extensive experience, Octagona is able to offer a range of internationalization strategies dedicated to Italian companies. 

 Our team offers fundamental support in the process of obtaining BIS certification, which is essential for sell in India certain products, in accordance with current regulations. In fact, the Indian authorities do not directly notify economic entities of any regulatory updates, which are only available in English on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) website, which can be complex to interpret. 

With in-depth experience in the Indian market and detailed knowledge of local regulations, Octagona is ready to assist companies in every sector in all phases of the certification process.

 Our activities include simplifying technical requirements, managing necessary paperwork and assisting in interactions with Indian authorities.  

For more information, please feel free to contact us.