The Complete Guide to BIS Certification

Leverage the vast experience of certification and homologation experts in the field of IT and telecom with this exhaustive guide designed to help new users navigate their way around regulations set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for IT/Telecom devices.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification is a mandatory requirement for products sold in India. It is a certification mark issued by the BIS, which is a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.

The BIS certification process involves testing and evaluation of the product to ensure that it meets the relevant technical standards and regulations set by the Indian government. The standards and regulations cover various aspects of the product, including safety and quality.

Obtaining a BIS certificate confers several benefits to manufacturers, including:

  • Establishes ground for Total Quality Management.
  • Optimizes overhead expenses used in product manufacturing
  • Promotes global recognition, which broadens access to overseas markets
  • Provides official evidence of product quality
  • Enables firms to deploy quality management services

Activities involving consumer interest that are overseen by the BIS are as follows:

  • Compulsory registration scheme
  • Standard formulation 
  • Foreign manufacturers certification scheme
  • Product certification scheme
  • Hall Marking scheme
  • Sale of Indian standards
  • Laboratory services
  • Laboratory recognition scheme
  • Consumer affairs activities
  • Information services
  • Promotional activities
  • Training services at the national and international level

Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS)

It is now mandatory for consumer electronics manufacturers to adhere to the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) set by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY). To ensure compliance, these manufacturers must seek registration from the BIS after their products have been tested at BIS-recognized laboratories.

The BIS registration scheme allows manufacturers who meet the Indian Standard(s) to declare their compliance, and those who are registered are authorized to display the Standard Mark as notified by the Bureau.

Compulsory Registration Scheme is operated under Scheme - II of BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations.

Manufacturers must adhere to the guidelines and standards set by the BIS for IT/telecom products to ensure the quality and safety of their products. They are also required to test their products in BIS-approved labs to obtain certification.

The BIS monitors compliance with the CRS for IT/telecom products through market surveillance, factory inspections, and testing of products. Non-compliance can result in penalties, fines, and even imprisonment.

Registration Steps

  • Applicants need to apply online for the Grant of Registration.
  • Original copies of test reports issued from labs recognized by BIS under CRS to be submitted with application.
  • In case of a foreign applicant having no liaison office or branch office located in India, an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) needs to be appointed according to the guidelines issued by BIS in the prescribed nomination form.
  • Authorized Indian Representatives of the foreign applicants have to submit an affidavit cum undertaking.
  • All applicants located in India have to submit an affidavit cum undertaking.
  • Fee has to be deposited according to the fee structure for CRS.
  • Fill the application form online. Refer to the checklist of documents to be submitted along with the application form.
  • Hard copies of application to be submitted within 15 days of online submission of the application. In case of non-receipt of hard copies of application within fifteen days of online submission.
  • BIS will scrutinize the applications (refer to some of the commonly shortcomings observed by BIS during scrutiny of application).
  • All queries on the application will be raised by BIS online and have to be replied to by applicants online.
  • The shortcomings communicated have to be complied by the applicant without any delay.
  • The applicant will be responsible for overall delay in Grant of Registration in case of incomplete application and delayed response to queries.
  • Once a query is satisfactorily resolved and an affidavit cum undertaking has been submitted, registration is granted by BIS.
  • The Grant of Registration letter will be uploaded on the applicant's portal.
  • Registered manufacturers can request for inclusion of new models of the same product and brand under the same registration number.
  • Registration is initially granted for 2 years which has to be renewed after every 2 years.
  • Refer to guidelines for use of Standard Mark and labeling requirements under BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme for Electronic and IT Products, after Grant of Registration.

Checklist of documents to be submitted

  • Copy of acknowledgement received from portal/ Screenshot of the online file
  • Submission.
  • Address Proof
  • Business License
  • Govt issued Documents for Proof
  • Payment receipt (DD or NEFT details)
  • Application form signed by CEO or an authorized employee of the company
  • FORM VI Online generated copy (duly signed and sealed)
  • Brand name 
  • For Registered brands:
    •  Registration certificate
    •  If owned by others, Authorization letter/agreement from the brand owner
    • Copy of TM application, if applied for
    • If owned by others, Authorization letter/agreement from the proprietor of the brandFor Un-registered brands:
  • Authorized Indian Representative & Affidavit
    • A. Foreign Manufacturer
      • Nomination Form sealed and signed. 
        • If Liaison Office/Branch Office of the applicant is in India
          • Certificate issued by the Registrar of Companies or any other relevant document from Government/Statutory Authorities which establish proof of its liaison office or branch office in India
          • Affidavit cum undertaking from the CEO/MD/authorized employee of said liaison office/branch office
          • Copy of ID Proof of the person signing the affidavit
        • If brand owner or registered user of the brand is in India
          • Document establishing the nominee as the Brand Owner or Proprietor or Registered User of the Brand/Trademark in question;
          • Document authenticating the identity of the nominee (such as Certificate issued by Registrar of Companies, etc);
          • An affidavit cum undertaking from the said Brand Owner or Proprietor or Registered User of the Brand/Trademark located in India or its CEO/MD/authorized employee
          • Copy of ID Proof of the person signing the affidavit
        • If other entity is nominated
          • Declaration from the brand owner that they do not have a proprietor/registered user of the brand in India.
          • Document establishing legal status of the company such as Certificate issued by Registrar of Companies,Registered Partnership Deed, etc;
          • An affidavit cum undertaking by the CEO/MD/authorized employee of the said entity located in India.
          • Copy of ID Proof of the person signing the affidavit
    • B. Indian Manufacturer –
          • Affidavit
          • If Affidavit signed by Authorized signatory, an authorization letter from the CEO. 
          • Copy of ID Proof of the person signing the affidavit
  • 9. Test Report

How long is the BIS certification valid for?

BIS certification is valid for a duration of two years. Renewal can be done for a further period not less than two years and up to five years through the submission of a few documents and a prescribed fee, without on-site or lab testing.

How does the BIS inspection process take place?

  • Examining Official visits the factory to verify test reports.
  • BIS Official sends the samples to testing laboratory
  • A test report detailing the following will be issued:
    • Reasons on why product failed inspection in the event of failure
    • Brief on inspection if product is found to be complaint
  • A performance review report is generated
  • BIS issues certification if all testing requirements are fulfilled

Full lists of products covered under BIS certification

List of products covered under Mandatory Certification: Scheme - I (ISI Mark Scheme)
  • Air conditioner and related parts e.g. hermetic compressor and temperature sensing controls

  • Aluminum foil

  • Automobile accessories

  • Automobile wheel rim component

  • Batteries

  • Butterfly valves

  • Cables

  • Capacitors

  • Cattle feeds

  • Cement

  • Centrifugally cast (spun) iron pipes

  • Chemicals, fertilizers, polymers & textiles

  • Cylinder, valves and regulator

  • Domestic gas stoves for use with

  • Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)

  • Domestic pressure cooker

  • Domestic water heaters for use with

  • LPG

  • Electrical motors

  • Electrical transformers

  • Electric toys

  • Flat transparent sheet glass

  • Flux cored (tubular) electrodes

  • Foot wear

  • Helmet for riders of two-wheeler motor vehicles

  • Household electrical goods

  • Jute bag

  • Kitchen appliances

  • Medical equipment

  • Non-electric toys

  • Oil pressure stoves

  • Paper

  • Plugs, socket-outlets, and alternating

    current direct connected static prepayment meters for active energy

  • Press tool-punches

  • Reflectors for bicycles

  • Refrigerating appliances

  • Rubber hose for LPG

  • Safety glass

  • Sewing machine

  • Steel and iron products

  • Transparent float glass

  • Water treatment system

  • Woven sacks

 

List of products covered under Mandatory Certification: Scheme - II (ISI Mark Scheme)
  • Adapters for household and similar electrical appliances

  • Amplifiers with input power of 2000W and above

  • Automatic Data Processing Machine

  • Automatic Teller Cash dispensing machines

  • Bluetooth speakers

  • CCTV cameras/CCTV recorders

  • Cash registers

  • Copying machines/duplicators

  • DC or AC supplied electronic control gear for LED modules

  • Dimmers for LED products

  • Digital camera

  • Electronic clocks with mains powers

  • Electronic games (video)

  • Electronic musical system with input power below 200 watts

  • Electronic musical systems with input power 200W and above

  • Fixed general-purpose LED luminaires

  • Induction stove

  • Keyboard

  • Laptops, notebooks, and tablets

  • LED flood lights

  • LED handlamps

  • LED lighting chains

  • LED luminaires for emergency lighting

  • LED luminaires for road and street lighting

  • Lighting chain (rope lights)

  • Microwave ovens

  • Mobile phones

  • Optical disc players with built-in amplifiers of input power 200W and above

  • Passport reader

  • Plasma/LCD/LED televisions of screen size 32″ & above

  • Plasma/LCD/LED television of screen size up to 32"

  • Point of sale terminals

  • Power adaptors for audio, video & similar electronic apparatus

  • Power adaptors for IT equipment

  • Power banks for use in portable applications

  • Printers, plotters

  • Recessed LED luminaires

  • Rice cooker

  • Scanners

  • Sealed secondary cells/batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes for use in portable applications

  • Self-ballasted LED lamps for general lighting services

  • Smart card readers

  • Smart speakers (with and without display)

  • Smartwatches

  • Standalone LED modules for general lighting

  • Standalone switch mode power supplies (SMPS) with an output voltage of 48V (max)

  • Telephone answering machines

  • Televisions other than plasma/LCD/LED TVs

  • UPS/inverters of rating ≤ 10kVA

  • UPS/inverters of rating ≤ 5kVA

  • USB-driven barcode readers, barcode scanners, iris scanners, optical fingerprint scanners

  • USB type external hard disk drive

  • USB type external solid-state storage devices (above 256GB capacity)

  • Video camera

  • Visual display units, video monitors of screen size 32″ & above

  • Visual display units, video monitors of screen size up to 32"

  • Webcam (finished product)

  • Wireless headphones and earphones

  • Wireless keyboards

  • Wireless microphone

 

List of solar photovoltaics, systems, devices, and components covered under the Compulsory Registration Scheme - Notified by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) modules (Si wafer-based)

  • Low Voltage switchgear & control gear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and contactors for non Motor loads

  • Low Voltage switchgear & control gear: AC semiconductor motor controllers and starters

  • Low Voltage switchgear & control gear: Circuit Breakers

  • Low Voltage switchgear & control gear: electromechanical contactors and Motor starters

  • Low Voltage switchgear & control gear: electromechanical control circuit devices

  • Low Voltage switchgear & control gear: electrical emergency stops devices with mechanical latching function

  • Low Voltage switchgear & control gear: proximity switches

  • Low Voltage switchgear & control gear: switches, disconnectors, switch disconnectors and fuse Combination units

  • Power converters for the use in photovoltaic power system

  • Storage battery

  • Thin-Film Terrestrial Photovoltaic (PV) Modules (a-Si, CiGs and CdTe)

  • Utility Interconnected Photovoltaic inverters

List of products covered under Mandatory Certification: Scheme - II (ISI Mark Scheme)

  • Adapters for household and similar electrical appliances
  • Amplifiers with input power of 2000W and above
  • Automatic Data Processing Machine
  • Automatic Teller Cash dispensing machines
  • Bluetooth speakers
  • CCTV cameras/CCTV recorders
  • Cash registers
  • Copying machines/duplicators
  • DC or AC supplied electronic control gear for LED modules
  • Dimmers for LED products
  • Digital camera
  • Electronic clocks with mains powers
  • Electronic games (video)
  • Electronic musical system with input power below 200 watts
  • Electronic musical systems with input power 200W and above
  • Fixed general-purpose LED luminaires
  • Induction stove
  • Keyboard
  • Laptops, notebooks, and tablets
  • LED flood lights
  • LED handlamps
  • LED lighting chains
  • LED luminaires for emergency lighting
  • LED luminaires for road and street lighting
  • Lighting chain (rope lights)
  • Microwave ovens
  • Mobile phones
  • Optical disc players with built-in amplifiers of input power 200W and above
  • Passport reader
  • Plasma/LCD/LED televisions of screen size 32″ & above
  • Plasma/LCD/LED television of screen size up to 32"
  • Point of sale terminals
  • Power adaptors for audio, video & similar electronic apparatus
  • Power adaptors for IT equipment
  • Power banks for use in portable applications
  • Printers, plotters
  • Recessed LED luminaires
  • Rice cooker
  • Scanners
  • Sealed secondary cells/batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes for use in portable applications
  • Self-ballasted LED lamps for general lighting services
  • Smart card readers
  • Smart speakers (with and without display)
  • Smartwatches
  • Standalone LED modules for general lighting
  • Standalone switch mode power supplies (SMPS) with an output voltage of 48V (max)
  • Telephone answering machines
  • Televisions other than plasma/LCD/LED TVs
  • UPS/inverters of rating ≤ 10kVA
  • UPS/inverters of rating ≤ 5kVA
  • USB-driven barcode readers, barcode scanners, iris scanners, optical fingerprint scanners
  • USB type external hard disk drive
  • USB type external solid-state storage devices (above 256GB capacity)
  • Video camera
  • Visual display units, video monitors of screen size 32″ & above
  • Visual display units, video monitors of screen size up to 32"
  • Webcam (finished product)
  • Wireless headphones and earphones
  • Wireless keyboards
  • Wireless microphone