Over 450 Products under the BIS Compulsory Mandatory Certification

· Consumers to Ensure they Purchase Products Bearing ISI Mark

· Quality of such products manufactured in India as well as imported to the country. BIS certification scheme is basically voluntary in nature.

· QCOs are issued by various Line Ministries (Regulators) under the Central Government

As on date, over 450 products are under the ambit of mandatory certification. The key consumer products under mandatory certification include Cement, Electric iron, Electric immersion water heater, Domestic Food Mixer, Switches, Helmets, Domestic Pressure Cookers, Automotive tyres, Tubes, Packaged drinking water, LPG stoves, LPG cylinders, Toys etc. The key consumer electronic products under compulsory certification include Mobile phones, Laptops, TV, Power adapters, Power banks, Digital camera etc. Consumers must ensure that they purchase these products bearing ISI Mark.

For a number of products, compliance to Indian Standards is made compulsory by the Government of India taking into cognizance various considerations viz. public interest, protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of environment, prevention of unfair trade practices and national security. For these products, the Government makes it mandatory for manufacturers to follow Indian Standards and obtain BIS certification.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is committed to quality of products and services. The Indian Standards formulated by BIS form the basis for Product Certification Schemes, which provide Third Party Assurance of Quality of products to consumers. BIS implements Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued by the Government which ensure that the notified products conform to the requirements of the relevant Indian Standard(s).

After the date of commencement of the QCO, no person can manufacture, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store or exhibit for sale any product(s) covered under the QCO without a Standard Mark except under a valid certification from BIS. As the QCOs are equally applicable to Indian manufacturers as well as foreign manufacturers, the Indian consumers are assured of the quality of such products manufactured in India as well as imported to the country. BIS certification scheme is basically voluntary in nature.

QCOs are issued by various Line Ministries (Regulators) under the Central Government depending upon the product(s)/ product categories being regulated through the Order, after having stakeholder consultations. Any person who contravenes the provisions of the Order shall be punishable under the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 29 of the BIS Act, 2016 with imprisonment or with fine or with both.

Any exemptions like non-applicability of the Order on specific product(s), product(s) meant for export etc. come under the purview of the Line Ministry (Regulator) who has issued the QCO. Wherever exemptions are permitted, these are clearly brought out in respective QCO itself.

For the purpose of facilitating the Central Government in issuance of QCOs, BIS regularly interacts with Line Ministries/ Departments and provides technical inputs related to Indian Standards, appropriate Conformity Assessment Scheme etc. and also participates in stakeholder’s consultation meeting.

The information on QCOs issued by the Central Government can be obtained from BIS website (www.bis.gov.in) under the following link Conformity Assessment -> Product Certification -> Products under Compulsory Certification.