1. Certification Introduction

BIS stands for the Bureau of Indian Standards, a third-party certification body. Products certified by BIS are labeled with the ISI mark, which holds significant influence and good reputation in India and neighboring countries, serving as a reliable guarantee of product quality. Once a product bears the "ISI mark," it signifies compliance with relevant Indian standards, assuring consumers of its quality.

Depending on the product category, BIS certification is divided into three types: mandatory ISI mark certification, CRS certification, and voluntary certification. The BIS certification system has been in existence for over 50 years and covers more than 1,000 products. Products listed under the mandatory category must obtain BIS certification (ISI mark registration certification) to be sold in India.

2. Certification Categories

Currently, BIS certification is divided into three categories:

(1) Mandatory ISI Mark Type Certification (product testing + initial factory inspection + post-certification surveillance), mainly including major categories such as cement, food, automotive parts, and steel products;

(2) BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) (product testing + post-certification surveillance), mainly including tablets, microwave ovens, wireless keyboards, printer power adapters, LED lights, lithium batteries, power banks, mobile phones, smart card readers, uninterruptible power supplies/inverters ≤10kVA, and rear-projection/LCD/LED TVs with screen sizes of 32 inches or less;

(3) The remaining products fall under BIS voluntary certification, which can be applied for products not covered by mandatory mark certification or registration certification.

3. Product Lists

(1) BIS-ISI Product List

Currently, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has 361 types of products under quality control orders that require mandatory ISI certification.

(2) BIS-CRS Product List

In 2012, India issued the first batch of BIS-CRS mandatory orders, known as the "Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012." This order specifies the list of products under the compulsory registration scheme, the classification principles for series models, and the requirements for key components. Currently, 63 types of electronic and information technology products, including a small number of household appliances, are covered under this registration scheme. Any product within the mandatory list exported for sale in the Indian market must obtain BIS-CRS approval before it can be sold without restrictions.

4. BIS Certification Models and Processes

(1) BIS-ISI Certification Model and Process

According to the requirements of Scheme - I (ISI Mark Scheme), manufacturing factories applying for this certification must comply with the corresponding standard's Scheme of Inspection and Testing. Indian auditors will review the manufacturing factory based on the corresponding standard's Scheme of Inspection and Testing, and relevant samples must pass tests conducted by authorized laboratories in India to obtain the Certification License issued by BIS.

(2) BIS-CRS Registration Model and Process

According to the latest Conformity Assessment Regulation 2018 for the Compulsory Registration Scheme (BIS-CRS), manufacturers must comply with the regulation's testing requirements and the approval certificate registration process to obtain the approval letter issued by BIS.

Testing is conducted by authorized laboratories in India, and an Indian legally registered company must act as the authorized representative for the application. After testing is completed, the relevant registration documents are submitted for certificate registration. BIS reviews the documents within 15 working days and issues the approval letter. The initial certificate is valid for two years.