BIS Certification in India – Process, Documents & Consultant
Get your BIS License and sell legally in the Indian market. PSR Compliance handles end-to-end BIS India certification — ISI, CRS, and FMCS — so your product clears testing, audit, and approval without delays.
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
India's National Standards Body
What is BIS Certification?
BIS stands for Bureau of Indian Standards —
the body behind India's national product safety and quality
framework. It operates under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution.
Safety • Quality • Reliability • Compliance
BIS at a Glance
IS
Standard Formulation
Develops and maintains Indian Standards
for products and services.
✓
Product Certification
Certifies products against applicable
Indian Standards.
T
Testing Services
Provides testing and quality
verification services.
M
Market Surveillance
Monitors products and compliance
in the Indian market.
IS
Standard Formulation
BIS develops and maintains Indian Standards
for products and services.
✓
Product Certification
BIS certification confirms that products meet
applicable quality and safety standards.
T
Testing Services
Testing services help verify product quality,
performance and compliance.
M
Market Surveillance
BIS monitors products available in the Indian
market for compliance.
01
UNDERSTANDING BIS
The role of BIS certification in
product compliance.
What is BIS Certification?
BIS India certification confirms that
a product has been tested and meets the safety, quality,
and reliability requirements set out in the applicable
Indian Standard (IS).
Once certified, the manufacturer holds a valid
BIS License and may legally sell the
product in India, applying the Standard Mark
— commonly known as the ISI Mark or
BIS CRS Mark, depending on the scheme.
From Product Testing to BIS Mark
01
Product Testing
Product is tested against the
applicable Indian Standard.
02
Assessment
BIS assesses the product and applicable
manufacturing requirements.
03
BIS License
The manufacturer receives the applicable
BIS certification license.
04
Standard Mark
The certified product can carry the
applicable BIS Standard Mark.
ISI
A BRIEF HISTORY
Why is it still called the ISI Mark?
Before April 1, 1987, this authority operated as the
Indian Standards Institution (ISI).
BIS replaced ISI and took over its functions, which is
why the ISI Mark is still used today
even though the certifying body is now BIS.
BIS stands for Bureau of Indian Standards - the body behind BIS India's national product safety and quality framework. It operates under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. BIS is responsible for standard formulation, product certification and marking, testing services, and market surveillance across the country.
Is BIS certification always mandatory?
Not always. BIS runs both a mandatory certification track and a voluntary certification track:
Mandatory certification applies to products the Central Government has flagged as requiring compulsory Standard Marking - currently around 380 product categories, covering electricals, building materials, food items, and more. Selling these products without BIS certification is prohibited.
Voluntary certification is open to manufacturers of roughly 738 other product categories who want the ISI mark as a quality signal, even though it isn't legally required for their product.
If you're unsure which bucket your product falls into, our team can confirm this for you in a free consultation.
Why Does BIS Certification Matter?
Legal compliance — Products without required certification can be detained at customs, pulled from retail shelves, or attract fines and legal proceedings under the BIS Act 2016. Penalties can reach ₹5 lakh, with criminal liability possible for repeat violations.
Consumer confidence — The ISI mark remains one of India's most recognised quality signals. Certified products consistently perform better on e-commerce platforms like Amazon India and Flipkart, both of which require BIS registration for electronics listings.
Market access for foreign manufacturers — For international companies, BIS certification under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) is the established route into India's consumer market. Without it, shipments regularly face import rejection or indefinite customs delays.
Quality assurance — The testing and audit process built into certification catches manufacturing or design issues before products reach end users, reducing the risk of recalls.
BIS CERTIFICATION TYPES
Types of BIS Certification (Scheme I, Scheme II & More)
BIS certification isn't one single process — it runs through several
distinct schemes, each governed by the BIS (Conformity Assessment)
Regulations, 2018. Here's how they compare:
Validity
1 year (renewable, up to 5 years for some categories)
04Hallmarking
Also Known As
BIS Hallmark
Factory Audit?No
Typical Products
Gold (22K/24K) and silver (92.5%) jewellery
TimelineVaries
Validity
No expiry (subject to ongoing purity compliance)
UNDERSTANDING THE SCHEMES
Which BIS certification route applies to your business?
01SCHEME I
ISI Mark (Scheme I) — Domestic Manufacturers, With Factory Check
This is the oldest and most common BIS certification route for
Indian manufacturers, governed by Scheme I of Schedule II under
the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018. It requires
product testing and a factory inspection by BIS
officers.
Covers
Electrical items (fans, geysers), building materials (cement,
steel), automotive safety items (helmets, tyres, safety glass),
food items (bottled water, milk powder), and home items
(LPG cylinders, pressure cookers).
02SCHEME II
BIS CRS Registration (Scheme II) — No Factory Check
CRS stands for Compulsory Registration Scheme, introduced in 2012
under the Compulsory Registration Order (CRO), and jointly
administered by BIS and the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY). No factory visit is required, but
product testing at a BIS-recognised lab is mandatory. Applications
go through the CRS portal at crsbis.in.
Covers
Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, chargers, LED lights,
smartwatches, power banks, cameras, displays/monitors,
and power supplies.
03HALLMARKING
Hallmark Certification — Gold and Silver Jewellery
If you manufacture or sell gold or silver jewellery in India,
hallmark registration is mandatory. BIS introduced gold
hallmarking in 2000 and silver hallmarking in 2005 to protect
consumers from adulteration and enforce purity standards. It
covers 22K and 24K gold and 92.5% pure silver. Registration
doesn't expire, but ongoing compliance with BIS purity norms is
required, and assaying/hallmarking centres must themselves be
BIS-recognised.
04FMCS
FMCS — For Manufacturers Outside India
The Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme lets companies
manufacturing outside India obtain the ISI mark and sell into the
Indian market. It works like the domestic ISI scheme, except BIS
conducts the factory audit at your overseas facility, and you're
required to appoint an Authorised Indian Representative
(AIR) — the legally mandated local point of contact who
handles paperwork and liaises with BIS on your behalf.
Understand the BIS registration and certification process in a few minutes.
PSR COMPLIANCE
BIS Certification in India
Which Products Need BIS Certification?
Electronics and IT — phones, laptops, chargers, LED lamps, batteries, smartwatches, displays, power supplies
Building materials — cement, steel, safety glass, PVC pipes
Vehicles — helmets, tyres, rims
Food and drinks — bottled water, milk powder
Home items — LPG cylinders, pressure cookers, geysers
Chemicals — PVC and industrial solvents
Roughly 380 product categories currently fall under mandatory certification, and the list is updated regularly by BIS. Before starting your application, confirm your product's current status or talk to our team.
How BIS Certification Works: Step by Step
Step 1: Confirm Your Scheme and Indian Standard (IS) Number
Identify whether your product falls under Scheme I (ISI), Scheme II (CRS), FMCS, or a voluntary category, and pin down the exact IS number that applies.
Step 2: Appoint an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) — Foreign Manufacturers Only
The AIR is your official point of contact with BIS. Not just anyone qualifies — the AIR must be:
A registered legal entity or an Indian citizen with permanent residence in India
Technically competent enough to respond to BIS queries professionally
Exclusive to one foreign manufacturer (as a rule, an AIR cannot represent multiple foreign principals before BIS simultaneously)
If your business already has a liaison or branch office in India, that entity is typically designated as your AIR.
Step 3: Gather Required Documents
Manufacturing licences, product specifications, test reports, factory floor plans, a signed conformity affidavit, and (for CRS) a self-declaration per MeitY rules.
Step 4: Get Your Product Tested
Testing happens at a BIS-recognised lab. Test reports must generally be no older than 90 days at the time of application.
Step 5: Factory Inspection (Scheme I and FMCS only)
BIS officials assess the manufacturing facility, quality control process, and production line — at the overseas location for FMCS applicants.
Step 6: Submit the Application
ISI and FMCS applications go through the Manak Online portal; CRS applications go through the dedicated CRS portal, with all documents and test reports uploaded.
Step 7: Receive Your BIS License and Mark Your Product
Once approved, BIS issues a certification licence — your BIS License — along with a unique identifier: a 7-digit CM/L number for ISI/Scheme I certification, or an 8-digit R-number for CRS registration. These numbers, along with the applicable IS standard, must be displayed on the product or its packaging alongside the Standard Mark.
What Documents Do You Need?
DOCUMENT CHECKLIST
What Documents Do You Need?
The documents required for BIS Certification depend on the
certification scheme and product. Here are the key documents
commonly required during the application process.
01
Manufacturing Licence
From your home country. Foreign firms may use CE or FCC
certificates as supporting documentation.
02
Factory Details
Factory address, floor plan, manufacturing layout and
relevant machinery or equipment details.
03
Product Test Reports
Test reports from a BIS-approved laboratory, generally
required to meet the applicable testing requirements.
04
Technical Specifications
Product drawings, technical diagrams, specifications,
safety data sheets and other relevant technical information.
05
Conformity Affidavit
A signed conformity affidavit from the applicant and AIR,
with notarisation where required.
06
AIR Authorisation Letter
Authorises the Authorised Indian Representative to act
on behalf of the foreign manufacturer, with required
identity and address details.
07
User Manual
Product user instructions and safety information in
English and, where applicable, the required Indian language.
08
Self-Declaration
Required for applicable CRS products under the relevant
MeitY requirements and scheme conditions.
!
Important:
Exact documentation requirements can vary depending on the
BIS scheme, product category and applicable Indian Standard.
Common schemes include ISI, CRS, FMCS and
Hallmark
.
Common Problems You Might Face
Paperwork mistakes — each Indian Standard has its own documentation requirements; incomplete or incorrect paperwork is the top cause of application delays.
Long test queues — labs get backed up; LED and lighting products commonly wait 4–6 months for results.
Translation and classification errors — misreading Indian requirements has led to real compliance violations, including mislabelled materials from overseas manufacturers.
Post-certification compliance — getting your licence isn't the finish line. Any change to product design, key components, raw materials, or manufacturing location must be reported to BIS and may trigger retesting or a modification application.
Determining requirements from HS Codes alone isn't reliable — customs classification tools are a helpful starting point but shouldn't be your only method of confirming whether BIS certification applies to your product; always cross-check against the current BIS mandatory products list.
BIS CERTIFICATION
Why BIS Certification
Helps Your Business
BIS certification can strengthen market access, compliance,
customer confidence and business opportunities.
01
Win Government Contracts
Many government and defence tenders require BIS registration,
helping certified businesses qualify for more opportunities.
02
Expand Online Marketplaces
BIS certification can help meet applicable compliance requirements
for selling regulated products on major online marketplaces.
03
Support Faster Clearance
BIS-compliant products can help businesses meet applicable
regulatory requirements during import and customs processes.
04
Reduce Legal Exposure
Proper compliance documentation provides evidence of conformity
and can reduce the risk of regulatory action.
05
Build Brand Trust
The recognised ISI mark can help communicate product conformity
and strengthen consumer confidence in applicable products.
BIS Certification Help Across India
PSR Compliance supports businesses across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Noida, Ghaziabad, Pune, Lucknow, and Chandigarh whether you need an ISI mark as a domestic manufacturer or FMCS approval as a foreign one.
How PSR Compliance Helps You
We manage your full BIS certification, start to finish:
Identify the correct scheme (Scheme I, Scheme II, FMCS, or Hallmark) and Indian Standard for your product
Prepare and review all documentation
Coordinate product testing with BIS-approved labs
Act as your AIR, or source a qualified one for you
Prepare you for the factory audit
Submit your application and liaise with BIS directly
Manage renewals and ongoing compliance monitoring
Not sure which scheme applies to your product? Talk to our team — your first consultation is free.
See why businesses choose PSR Compliance for professional
BIS certification assistance and regulatory guidance.
RR
Rishi Raj
BIS Certification Customer
★★★★★
“
The PSR Compliance team explained the BIS certification
requirements clearly and guided us through the documentation
process. Their professional support made the certification
journey much easier to understand.
SG
Saloni Gupta
BIS Certification Customer
★★★★★
“
We needed assistance with BIS certification and were unsure
about where to start. The team explained the requirements,
documents and application steps in a simple and professional way.
SD
Sudip Dutta
BIS Certification Customer
★★★★★
“
The team was responsive and professional throughout the BIS
certification process. They helped us understand the required
documentation and explained each stage clearly.
Written by
Raju Karn
SEO Team Lead · PSR Compliance
5+ Years Experience
Raju Karn has 5+ years of experience writing compliance content covering CPCB, CDSCO, BIS, EPR, FSSAI, WPS, PESO and various small and large business registrations, licenses and certifications across India.
Running your business without a registered entity?
Check the mandatory products list on the BIS website or contact PSR Compliance for a product-specific assessment. The relevant Indian Standard number will confirm the applicable scheme.
Foreign manufacturers must apply through the FMCS route and are required to appoint an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) in India. Direct applications without an AIR are not accepted.
CRS registrations are valid for two years. ISI and FMCS licences are initially valid for one year, with renewal options. Certain FMCS licences can be renewed for up to five years, though annual renewal is the standard practice.
Any change to the product design, key components, raw materials, or manufacturing location requires a change notification to BIS and may trigger additional testing.
CRS registrations are valid for two years. ISI and FMCS licences are initially valid for one year, with renewal options. Certain FMCS licences can be renewed for up to five years, though annual renewal is the standard practice.
India has mutual recognition agreements with select countries, which can expedite approvals in those markets for BIS-certified products. Additionally, having BIS certification often signals manufacturing quality to international buyers.
