BIS / ISI Certification

The ISI (Indian Standards Institute) was established in 1947 as an organization responsible for the formulation and certification of quality standards in India. Later, it was renamed as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in 1987. The BIS Certification, also known as ISI Certification, is a crucial requirement for foreign manufacturers looking to export their products to India. The Bureau of Indian Standards is the national standards body of India, responsible for formulating and enforcing standards to ensure the quality, safety and reliability of products available to consumers. BIS is pivotal in promoting the "Make in India" initiative by emphasizing compliance with Indian quality standards.

Foreign manufacturers are required to obtain ISI/BIS Certification to show that their products meet the specific safety and quality standards prescribed by BIS. These standards cover various products, including electronics, electrical equipment, appliances, automotive components and more. Compliance with BIS standards is essential for regulatory compliance and to gain the trust of Indian consumers who prioritize the quality and safety of the products they purchase.

Foreign manufacturers are expected to comply with the relevant Indian standards and ensure that their products bear the ISI mark, a symbol of quality and safety recognized and trusted by consumers across the country. By obtaining ISI/BIS Certification, foreign manufacturers can access the vast and rapidly growing Indian market while assuring consumers of their product's quality and safety. It helps meet regulatory requirements and sets the stage for a successful entry into one of the world's largest consumer markets, contributing to the growth and expansion of businesses on a global scale.

Importance of BIS/ISI Certification 

BIS/ISI Certification is important for foreign manufacturers seeking to export their products to the Indian market in the following ways:

• BIS/ISI Certification is mandatory for foreign manufacturers to access the Indian market, ensuring adherence to Indian quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• This certification opens the doors to one of the world's largest consumer markets, expanding the reach of foreign manufacturers and their products.
• The ISI mark signifies quality and safety, earning the trust of Indian consumers and establishing a strong reputation for foreign brands.
• BIS-certified products stand out in the market, often commanding a premium and outperforming non-certified competitors.
• Compliance with BIS/ISI standards safeguards manufacturers from legal and regulatory issues, ensuring a smooth entry into the Indian market. 
  

Through the Export Approval platform, Brand Liaison (Compliance Service Partner) provides comprehensive support and guidance to foreign manufacturers throughout the BIS/ISI Certification process in India. Brand Liaison can act as the Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) for a Foreign OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) if there are no alternative arrangements. With our specialized expertise, you can seamlessly navigate the BIS/ISI Certification journey, guaranteeing that your products meet compliance standards and are fully prepared to export in the Indian market. 

Feel free to contact Brand Liaison for quick and seamless BIS/ISI Certification services!

Here is the list of documents required for foreign manufacturers for ISI/BIS Certification in India:

• Main Application Form V - (View / Download) (Primary factory and product category information)
• ISI Application Fee - (View / Download)  (Copy of Remittance / Payment Advice)
• In-House Laboratory Test Report  (Indicating product compliance with the relevant Indian Standard, conducted within one month)
• Manufacturing Unit Address Proof (Factory License or Tax Registration document specifying the manufacturer's scope)
• Trademark Registration (if applicable) (Copy of Trademark Registration)
• Certifications from Relevant Regulatory Agencies (If applicable)
• Product Drawings (As applicable)
• Current Installed Capacity (Manufacturing)
• Raw Material Specifications (Component names, supplier names, and quality certifications)
• Machinery Details (Machine names, manufacturers, capacities and quantities)
• Factory Layout Blueprint (Floor plan and technical layout)
• Manufacturing Process Overview (Flowchart of the manufacturing process, including any outsourcing)
• Packaging Details (Packaging size, quantity and storage facilities)
• Testing Equipment Inventory (Equipment names, sizes, quantities, calibration status, and calibration date)
• Details of Quality Control (QC) Personnel (Employee names, qualifications, designations and years of experience)
• Protocol for Handling Substandard Products (Post-manufacturing)
• Factory Organizational Chart (List of management personnel with names and designations in chart format)
• Factory Location Map (Indicating distance from the airport and city center)

Specific Requirements for Foreign Manufacturers:

There are some specific additional requirements for foreign manufacturers with their factory locations outside India:

• All applications and required documents must be submitted in duplicate.
• All foreign manufacturers are categorized as 'Large Scale' according to FMCS norms.
• The applicant must designate an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) for BIS license operations. When nominating an AIR, the applicant must ensure the following:
  • The AIR should be an Indian resident.
  • The nominated AIR exclusively represents one manufacturing firm and does not serve as an AIR for another foreign manufacturer(s) under BIS Conformity Assessment schemes. However, this restriction doesn't apply to foreign manufacturers belonging to the same group of companies and importers nominated as AIR.
  • The AIR should have no conflicts of interest related to its role as AIR and the testing of samples in third-party laboratories.
  • The AIR should hold at least a graduate qualification and understand the BIS Act 2016 provisions and the rules and regulations framed therein, along with their implications.
  • The AIR must declare consent to be responsible for compliance with the BIS Act, Rules, Regulations and Terms & Conditions specified in the BIS License, Undertaking, Agreement, etc., executed by or on behalf of the foreign manufacturer in connection with the grant and operation of the license.
  • The name of the AIR is endorsed in the license document.
• The applicant should confirm their readiness for inspection and make all necessary arrangements, including the availability of a translator, air tickets, issuance of VISA, insurance, transport arrangements in the foreign country, etc., for the visiting officer(s) to ensure a timely visit.
• The responsibility for the timely and secure deposition of samples to the labs and the remittance of testing charges lies with the manufacturer firm.
• Payment of fees and charges: Applicants from Non-SAARC Countries must make all payments in equivalent USD. Applicants from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) can make payments either in Indian Rupees with applicable GST or in equivalent USD.
• Execution of an Agreement (View / Download) and Indemnity Bond (View / Download) is required.
• After the license is granted, the manufacturer must provide a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of USD 10,000 from any bank with an RBI-approved branch in India. The PBG should be valid for six months longer than the license's validity (View / Download).

Note: Separate applications must be provided for each product/Indian Standard and this requirement applies to each factory location.

Costing for ISI/BIS Certification

Kindly contact our team with your product details so that we can provide you the personalized quotations for the cost of ISI/BIS Certification.

Contact information: +91-9250056788 or +91-8130856678

Timeline for ISI/BIS Certification

For Foreign manufacturers: 5-6 months (Approximately)

PERT Chart - ISI Mark for Foreign Manufacturers: View/Download

Complete your ISI/BIS Certification process by following these steps:

Step 1: Application Submission

• Gather all required documents
• Submit documents and the Application Fee
• Receive the Application Number
• Scrutinize the Application within the specified time frame

Step 2: Query Raised (If any)

• Receive communication about any missing documents or non-compliance
• Respond within the given period

Step 3: Inspection (Audit)

• Pay the Inspection/Audit Fee
• Nominate an Inspecting Officer
• Schedule the inspection itinerary according to availability
• Conduct a 3-man-day inspection of the Manufacturing Unit to assess testing facilities

Step 4: Sample Testing

• Inspect and test samples at the factory premises during the audit
• Seal and collect samples to send to BIS-approved Laboratories
• Receive Test Reports at BIS (FMCD)

Step 5: Grant of License

• If the samples pass, receive intimation to pay the Marking Fee and License Fee
• Get issued a Letter for Grant of License

Step 6: Indemnity & PBG

• Sign the Agreement/Indemnity Bond with the Authorized Indian Representative
• Submit a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) of USD 10,000

Note: Payments must be made only in USD to the BIS Account.

Validity of ISI License

ISI License is initially valid for a minimum of one year and can extend up to two years. If you want to include additional product variations under the existing license, you can submit an application along with the necessary fees and required documents.

Renewal of ISI License

If your ISI license approaches its expiration date, it's essential to initiate the renewal process. To initiate the process, you should:

• Prepare a comprehensive renewal application, ensuring that it includes all the necessary documents.
• Pay the renewal and marking fees as required.
• Ensure that your application complies with ISI standards to expedite the renewal process.

The BIS team will consider and verify the following aspects during their factory visit:

• Qualifications and details of the Quality Control Personnel.
• Calibration Certificates of Testing Equipment.
• Copies of Test Certificates for Raw Materials, when applicable, to ensure compliance with the relevant product standards.
• Sampling of the Product and/or Components, where relevant.
• Evaluation of general hygiene conditions.
• Review of the plant layout, including the location of the manufacturing area, raw material and finished product storage and testing laboratory.
• Examination of the factory's location plan.
• Verification of arrangements for subcontracted tests, including copies of agreements or consent letters with external laboratories.
• Inspection and Test Plan proposed for adherence.
• Assessment of subjective criteria such as workmanship, visual characteristics, surface defects, description, taste, flavour, etc., directly within the factory.
• In cases of bulkier products, dimensional measurements and other tests that cannot be conducted in a third-party testing facility, like steel plates, sheets, or steel pipes, will be performed during factory testing.
• If any non-conformities are observed during factory testing, no samples will be sent to a Third Party Laboratory for testing. The applicant will be advised to make necessary improvements, which will be verified through another inspection and factory testing.

Preconditions for ISI Certification

ISI Mark Assessment: The BIS grants the ISI Mark after a successful evaluation of a manufacturer's manufacturing infrastructure, production processes, quality control, and in-house
 testing capabilities.

Manufacturing Premises Visit: This evaluation involves an inspection of the manufacturer's manufacturing premises to verify compliance with the relevant standards.

Independent Laboratory Testing: To ensure conformity with the specified Indian Standard(s), independent laboratory testing is conducted.

In-House Testing: Alternatively, testing can also occur within the manufacturer's premises to ensure compliance with the specified standards.

Combined Evaluation: In some cases, a combination of independent laboratory testing and in-house testing may be employed to verify product conformity.

• Samples must be collected within 1 month from the test report's issuance date.
• Beyond the 1-month period, the testing lab holds the right to dispose of the samples in accordance with its policy.
• After this period, no claims will be considered for the samples that have been destroyed as per the lab's policy.

Note: During the testing process, samples may experience partial or full damage. Neither the laboratory nor Brand Liaison will entertain any claims related to sample damage during testing.

The Bureau of Indian Standards can issue a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) in accordance with Scheme-IV of Schedule II, BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, for products that meet the specified requirements outlined in the relevant Indian Standards.

CoC is obligatory for Stampings, Laminations and Cores of Transformers, whether they have winding or not. The Indian Standards included in the CoC are IS 3024:2015 (Grain Oriented electrical steel sheet and strip), IS 648:2006 (Cold rolled non-oriented electrical steel sheet and strip), IS 16585:2016 (Fe-based amorphous strip delivered in the semi-processed state), and IS 10613:2014 (Retro-Reflective Devices for Bicycles).

Here are the steps to obtain a Certificate of Conformity (CoC):

Step 1: Prepare the Manufacturing Unit for CoC Requirements

• Customize the manufacturing unit to meet the CoC requirements.
• Use ISI-marked coils along with their Mill Test Certificate.
• Establish in-house testing facilities as required for CoC.

Step 2: Submit the Application

• Gather Internal Test Reports and Mill Test Certificates of steel coils.
• Compile all necessary documents.
• Complete the Application Form.
• Pay the application fees online to BIS.
• Submit hard copies of the Application Form with all enclosures to the relevant Branch Office (BO) of BIS.

Step 3: Application Scrutiny and Inspection Officer Nomination

• Review all submitted documents and information and address any deficiencies.
• Assign a BIS officer for Factory Inspection.

Step 4: Payment of Audit Fees and Inspection Expenses

• Pay the audit fees for inspection.
• Confirm the BIS Inspection Officer's participation.
• Arrange lodging and boarding for visiting officer(s).

Step 5: Factory Inspection

• Conduct a visit to the factory to assess manufacturing infrastructure, production processes, quality control, testing capabilities, and storage areas.
• The Inspection Officer will select random samples for testing using available testing facilities.

Step 6: Receive the Certificate of Conformity (CoC)

• The Head of the Branch Office at BIS will review the case and decide on the CoC issuance.
• BIS will grant the CoC.

Step 7: Address Non-Conformities (if any)

• Rectify any identified non-conformities in the factory's processes as pointed out by the Inspection Officer.
• Provide evidence of the rectifications made to close any non-conformities.

Note: Payments should be made to the BIS account.

• 1. What is BIS/ISI Certification and who needs it?
  BIS/ISI Certification is a quality certification provided by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to ensure that products meet the required Indian standards. Any foreign manufacturer looking to export their products to the Indian market may need BIS/ISI Certification to comply with these standards.
• 2. What are the specific requirements for foreign manufacturers applying for BIS/ISI Certification?
  Foreign manufacturers must nominate an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) for their operations in India, ensure that the AIR is an Indian resident without conflicts of interest, comply with the fees and charges, including performance bank guarantees and follow the specific requirements outlined by BIS for foreign manufacturers.
• 3. What is the purpose of BIS/ISI Certification?
  BIS/ISI Certification is primarily intended to ensure the safety, quality, and reliability of products sold in the Indian market. It guarantees that the products conform to the specified Indian standards, making them suitable for use in India.