BIS Registration
BIS CERTIFICATION
For certain types of products manufacturers are required to have BIS certification (ISI) or BIS registration (CRS) to import them into India. 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.
TYPES OF BIS CERTIFICATION
There are two main types of certifications:
- BIS-Certification (ISI), Includes Factory Inspection (Scheme I, ISI Mark Scheme):
The Foreign Manufacturers Certification Department (FMCD) issues the BIS ISI certification for foreign manufacturers. Since 2000 this authority has been responsible for the BIS certificate under the umbrella of BIS. Rules and regulations under which ISI certification is granted are set out in the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).
All products that comply with the FMCS regulations are marked with the ISI logo, also known as the “BIS Standard Mark” or “ISI Mark” in accordance with ISI Mark Scheme I.
- BIS-Registration (CRS) Without Factory Inspection (Scheme II):
The BIS registration under CRS (Compulsory Registration Scheme) was introduced in 2012 for 15 product categories. Since then, new products have been added in phases. Based on the regulations published by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), foreign products for the Indian market can also obtain BIS registration.
The BIS-CRS registration mainly covers products in the IT, electronics and lighting categories, however the list of products subject to registration is constantly being expanded. This makes BIS-CRS registration one of the most important and common registrations in India.
BIS REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
A factory inspection (at BIS-ISI) and follow-up testing may be required in addition to product testing. If a factory inspection is required, the auditors will select the test samples during the audit. This will result in a longer certification process.
The BIS certification process always includes:
- Preparation of application documents and application at BIS
- Only with ISI: Factory Inspection
- Product tests in accredited laboratory
- Issuance of certificate
- Marking and labeling of the product
The validity of the BIS certificate is two years, however additional tests may also be required during the validity period of the BIS certificate. The intervals at which the tests are required will depend on the testing standards for the product type. Any change to the product or manufacturing process will require retesting to maintain the certificate validity.
BENEFITS OF SECURING BIS CERTIFICATION
In A Nutshell, BIS Certificate:
- Provides ground for Total Quality Management, i.e., TQM
- Ensures better utilisation of resources
- Get rid of overhead expenses used to manufacture the final products.
- Facilitate global recognition, thereby ensuring access to untapped and overseas market
- Serves as strong evidence of product quality
- Enable firm to deploy bespoke quality management
- Aids firm to improve market reputation over time.
TYPES OF DOCUMENTATION NEEDED FOR BIS CERTIFICATION
BIS demands a number of documents, as shown below, for the issuance of BIS Certification to the applicant:
- Name and Address proof of the applicant and the factory.
- Proof of Establishment of Manufacturing Unit such as Certificate of Incorporation or Registration Certificate, MOA, etc.
- SSI or MSME Certificate
- Details of Outsourcing of the manufacturing process
- Layout plan
- Location plan of the factory
- Manufacturing Process Flow
- Detailed List of Machinery involved
- List of Testing equipment and facilities
- Calibration Certificates of testing equipment
- 3rd party laboratory test report as per the Indian Standards
- If an authorised signatory signs the Application, an authorisation letter from the CEO in the name of the authorised signatory
- In the case of Overseas or foreign manufacturers, the Indian Agent and Nomination Form details.
- Technical details of products, such as PCB Layout, Schematic Diagrams, User Manual and Critical Components List
- Acknowledgement receipt
- Letter of Consent from CEO of Company
- Undertaking and Affidavit attested with ID Proof and signature of the approved Indian Representative (in case of the foreign or overseas manufacturer)
- Original Test Reports from BIS Laboratory
- Undertaking related to the test report
