BIS Certification
What is BIS Certification for India?
For export to India, manufacturers need BIS certification (ISI) under Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS), or BIS registration under Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for certain products. BIS Certification is obligatory for these products, so that they can be introduced and sold on the Indian market. BIS Certification India or BIS Registration issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ensure the quality, safety and reliability of products in accordance with Indian Standards (IS).
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national certification body in India under the umbrella of the Indian Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. On April 1, 1987, it effectively replaced the Indian Standards Institution (ISI) organization and took over their functions.
BIS Certification - Process, Types and Validity
BIS certification is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in India. The BIS certification indicates third party, i.e. BIS assurance of any product’s quality, reliability, and safety to the customers. The BIS is involved in several activities like certification of products, standards formulation, testing, hallmarking, calibration scheme, etc.
The BIS certification for products is voluntary. However, the Government of India has made it mandatory for certain products considering public health. As per the government notification, 380 products are mandatorily required to obtain the BIS certification. The BIS certification permits the license holders to use the ISI mark (‘standard mark’) on their products. The ISI (Indian Standards Institution) mark denotes quality products.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
The BIS is a national standards body promoting and regulating standards of products and goods in India. The BIS has set up eight Central, four regional, and three branch laboratories in India to test the samples of the products during the preliminary and surveillance operations. The BIS certification for products, even though voluntary, is encouraged by the government for the following purposes:
- It provides a safeguard to public health
- It provides quality assurance
- It protects the consumer from hazardous products
- It promotes consumer confidence
Benefits of BIS Certification
The BIS registration provides the following benefits:
- Ensures quality standards as BIS registration products are bound to follow a certain standard while manufacturing the goods
- Gives authenticity to BIS certified products as they deliver high-quality performance and reliability
- BIS certified products minimise environmental risks as BIS has prohibited the usage of certain chemicals and materials under its prescribed norms
- BIS registration is granted after testing the samples of the products in BIS set-up laboratories, ensuring quality inspection and high-quality of products
BIS Certification | BIS Certification Schemes in India
BIS certification refers to the process of obtaining a quality standard certificate from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for manufacturing and selling various products in India. The Indian BIS certification schemes are primarily voluntary, offering businesses the flexibility of seeking certification or not. However, for certain products, the Central Government enforces mandatory certification to ensure compliance with Indian Standards. These mandatory certification schemes have several important goals: safeguarding the public, ensuring the safety of people, animals, and plants, promoting environmental protection, preventing unfair business practices, and maintaining national security. In such instances, the Centrals Government mandates using the Standard Mark obtained through a License or Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Introduction to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is an Indian Standard Organization functioning under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, within the Government of India. BIS is responsible for ensuring the quality, stability, and reliability of products for end users. This is accomplished through the issuance of numerous quality certifications and active involvement in managing, grading, establishing industry standards, and conducting tests for products sold and distributed in India.
In 1986, a law was enacted, empowering BIS to offer a voluntary product certification scheme to the manufacturers. This certification enables manufacturers confident in their product’s compliance with Indian standards to use the standard mark, signifying their adherence to prescribed quality standards.
It is important to note that the sale of BIS Mandatory Products within the country requires adherence to applicable Indian standards and the inclusion of the standard mark. Failure to meet these criteria results in the prohibition of selling such products within India.
Now, let’s explore the activities undertaken by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
