Bureau of Indian Standards product certification

Category: Licenses & Certifications. From ₹19,999. Typical timeline: 60–90 days.

Overview

BIS Certification is the mark of conformity issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards confirming that a product meets prescribed Indian quality and safety standards, and is mandatory for over 700 product categories — including electronics, cement, steel, toys and packaged drinking water — under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) and product-specific licensing schemes. Manufacturers and importers of covered products cannot legally sell in India without displaying the ISI mark or the CRS registration number, making it a foundational compliance step for both domestic and imported goods.

Who needs it

• Manufacturers of electronics, IT equipment, cement, steel and other CRS/ISI-notified products
• Importers of electronic goods covered under the Compulsory Registration Order
• Manufacturers of packaged drinking water, LPG cylinders and other safety-critical products
• Businesses seeking the ISI mark to build consumer trust and meet regulatory mandates

Eligibility

• Applicable to manufacturers (Indian factory-based ISI licence) and importers/manufacturers of electronics/IT goods (Compulsory Registration Scheme)
• Product must conform to the relevant Indian Standard (IS) specification for its category
• Manufacturing unit must have in-house or accredited lab testing facilities as required by the scheme
• Foreign manufacturers can apply directly for CRS registration for electronics/IT products without a local presence

Documents required

• Manufacturing unit details, factory layout and machinery list
• Product test reports from a BIS-recognised laboratory
• Company incorporation documents and factory ownership/lease proof
• Quality control manual and in-house testing facility details
• List of raw materials and manufacturing process flow chart

Process

1. Standard identification — Identify the applicable Indian Standard (IS) specification and scheme (ISI licence or CRS registration) for the product.
2. Product testing — Get the product tested at a BIS-recognised laboratory against the applicable standard.
3. Application filing — Submit the application with test reports and factory details on the BIS portal (Manak Online/CRS portal).
4. Factory inspection — BIS officials inspect the manufacturing facility and quality control processes.
5. Licence/registration grant — On satisfactory testing and inspection, the ISI licence or CRS registration certificate is granted.

Government fees

• Application/licence fee (ISI scheme): Varies by product category, typically ₹1,000 – ₹10,000 plus annual marking fee
• CRS registration fee: Varies by product category and applicant type (Indian/foreign manufacturer)

Professional fee

Kanoons charges from ₹19,999 for BIS certification facilitation, covering standard identification, lab testing coordination, documentation and liaison through factory inspection.

Timeline

BIS certification typically takes 60–90 working days, driven largely by product testing turnaround and factory inspection scheduling.

Deliverables

• BIS ISI Licence or CRS Registration Certificate authorising use of the certification mark
• Test reports and quality control documentation supporting ongoing compliance

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ISI mark and CRS registration?

ISI mark licensing applies broadly to products under the BIS Act and involves factory-level quality control assessment, while CRS specifically covers electronics/IT goods under simplified registration without ongoing surveillance audits.

Can a foreign manufacturer get BIS certification without an Indian factory?

Yes, for CRS-covered electronics/IT products, foreign manufacturers can register directly; for ISI-licensed products, a foreign manufacturer scheme (FMCS) is also available.

How long is BIS certification valid?

ISI licences are typically granted for 1-2 years initially and renewed thereafter; CRS registration is generally valid for 2 years.

Common mistakes

• Selling products under the wrong or expired Indian Standard version
• Sourcing test reports from a laboratory not recognised by BIS
• Not maintaining consistent quality control records required for surveillance/renewal
• Assuming CRS registration substitutes for ISI licensing where the product actually falls under the ISI scheme

Penalties for non-compliance

• Manufacturing, selling or importing BIS-notified products without valid certification can attract imprisonment up to 2 years and fine up to ₹2 lakh under Section 29 of the BIS Act, 2016
• Repeat offences attract enhanced fines and imprisonment up to 5 years
• Improper use of the BIS/ISI mark is a punishable offence with fines and confiscation of goods

Legal references

• Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 — establishes BIS and its certification mandate
• Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirement for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012 — governs CRS scheme for electronics/IT products
• Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 — prescribes licensing and registration procedure