BIS Certification is the umbrella term for licences issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards — the national standards body of India. Every product that falls under a Quality Control Order (QCO) must hold a valid BIS licence before it can be manufactured, imported, sold, or distributed in India.
The two schemes that matter
BIS operates two primary product-certification schemes: Scheme I (ISI Mark) and Scheme II (CRS — Compulsory Registration Scheme). Most manufacturers we work with fall under one of these two.
Scheme I (BIS Mark / ISI Mark)
Scheme I covers traditional manufactured products — cement, steel, electrical appliances, packaged drinking water, food additives, kitchenware, automotive components, and 380+ categories. It mandates an in-house lab, a BIS factory audit, and ongoing surveillance. Validity is initially 1–2 years, renewable up to 5 years.
Scheme II (BIS-CRS)
Scheme II covers electronics & IT products — mobile phones, LED lighting, power adapters, IT hardware, smart watches, and 80+ categories. It’s sample-based (no factory audit), faster, and granular at the model-variant level. Validity is typically 2 years.
How to know if your product needs BIS certification
- Check if your product or HSN code appears in a Quality Control Order (QCO)
- Identify the applicable Indian Standard (IS) for your product
- Determine whether the IS falls under Scheme I or Scheme II
- Confirm whether you’re a domestic manufacturer (BIS-direct), importer (BIS-CRS for electronics), or foreign manufacturer (FMCS)
If you’re unsure, send us your product details — we confirm applicability within 24 hours, for free.
Penalties for non-compliance
Selling, manufacturing or importing a notified product without a valid BIS licence attracts a minimum penalty of ₹2 lakh and up to twice the value of goods. Customs hold-ups, stop-sale notices, and e-commerce delisting are routine for non-compliant brands.
Next steps
Most Indian manufacturers need either Scheme I (BIS Mark) or Scheme II (BIS-CRS). If you’re a foreign manufacturer, you’ll need FMCS instead. Read our deep-dive on documents required, timelines and costs in the linked posts below.