| Route | Typical products | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Order (QCO) | Steel, chemicals, toys, footwear, appliances, many industrial goods | Notified by a ministry; the product must carry the ISI mark to be sold |
| Product certification (ISI mark) | Products covered by a QCO or voluntary | Factory inspection, in-house testing lab, licence from BIS |
| Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) | Electronics and IT goods: adapters, batteries, LED lights | Samples tested in a BIS-recognised lab, then registered online |
BIS certification and Quality Control Orders: what manufacturers must know
Updated · ImportGap guides
A growing list of products cannot be made, imported or sold in India without Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification. Check this before you buy machinery: it affects your design, testing budget and launch date.
The three routes
How to check your product
- Search the list of products under compulsory certification on bis.gov.in .
- Check the Indian Standard (IS) number that applies and buy the standard to design to it.
- Budget testing time: CRS testing commonly takes 1 to 4 months per model; ISI licences include a factory audit.
Quality Control Orders are added and revised often. Confirm on the BIS portal for your exact product.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell a product before getting BIS certification?
Not if it is covered by a Quality Control Order or CRS; selling uncertified products is an offence. For other products, certification is voluntary.
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