BIS Product Certification (ISI Mark) for Domestic manufacturers

BIS Certification is a vital initiative by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that empowers domestic manufacturers to produce and sell high-quality, safe, and reliable products in the Indian market. Through this scheme, eligible Indian manufacturers can  use the ISI Mark, a symbol of conformity to the relevant Indian Standard.

This certification process is governed under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS Act, 2016 and the Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018. It ensures that products manufactured comply with the requirements, laid down in the Indian standards, covering safety, performance and quality requirements.

The Bureau of Indian Standards plays a vital role in assessing, inspecting and certifying product manufacturing units. By obtaining BIS certification, domestic manufacturers gain not only regulatory compliance but also a competitive edge in both government procurement & consumer markets.

The core objective of BIS in granting the ISI Mark licence to domestic manufacturers is to ensure that a good quality products, complying all applicable safety & regulatory requirements is received by Indian consumers.

The BIS certification for domestic manufacturers is governed through a well designed product certification scheme I of BIS. The said scheme ensures that products manufactured in India comply with the relevant Indian Standards. This scheme is exclusively for the manufacturers and not intended for traders & importers.

Under this Scheme, manufacturers of products for which an Indian Standard is available may obtain a BIS licence to use the Standard Mark (ISI Mark). However, the applicability of BIS certification depends on whether the product is covered under mandatory BIS certification requirements, voluntary certification, or applicable Quality Control Orders (QCOs). The certification process involves verification of manufacturing & testing facilities and capabilities through factory inspection, product testing in the factory and in independent testing to check the conformity of the product as per the relevant Indian Standard. In addition acceptance of Scheme of Testing & Inspection (SIT) and advance annual marking fee and payment of applicable fee as per the procedure, are also part of Certification process.

BIS Standard Mark/ISI Mark

The BIS Standard Mark, popularly known as ISI Mark, a symbol of quality, safety & reliability, issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) which includes:

• The Indian Standard (IS) number above the ISI mark, indicating the standard the product conforms to.
• The license number in the format CM/L-XXXXXXXXXX below the ISI mark.

This mark is granted only after thorough evaluation and successful grant of the BIS certificate, which certifies that the manufacturing process and final product conform to the applicable Indian Standard.

The BIS Certification for domestic manufacturers is governed under Scheme-I of BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, offers multiple advantages to Indian manufacturers producing goods covered under an Indian Standards. The Key benefits include:

Seamless Market Access

• BIS certification enables hassle-free entry of ISI-marked products into the Indian market, ensuring smooth regulatory compliance and acceptance by retailers, consumers etc.

Legal Use of ISI Mark

• Upon grant of a BIS licence, domestic manufacturers are legally authorized to use the ISI Mark on their products, validating compliance with relevant Indian Standards. The BIS licence is mandatory for products listed under QCOs issued by the Government of India.

Competitive Market Advantage

• Products bearing the ISI mark demonstrate verified quality and safety, giving manufacturers a competitive edge over uncertified manufacturers and enhancing their brand reputation in the market.

Eligibility for Government Procurement

• Many public sector and government tenders require BIS-certified products. Certification increases eligibility for procurement opportunities, contributing to business growth.
   

To obtain a BIS licence under Scheme-I of BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, domestic manufacturers must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Applicant Must Be a Manufacturer

• Only manufacturers with a legally established production unit in India are eligible. Importers, traders, and distributors are not eligible to apply for a BIS licence under this scheme.

2. Compliance with Relevant Indian Standard (IS)

• The product to be certified must strictly conform to the applicable Indian Standard (IS). The product should either fall under mandatory BIS certification (QCO) or be voluntarily submitted for certification.

3. In-house Manufacturing and Testing Facility

• The applicant shall have the requisite manufacturing facilities and testing arrangements as applicable under the relevant Indian Standard and Scheme of Inspection and Testing (SIT). Where required test facilities are not available or where permitted based on the applicable criteria, sharing or subcontracting of test facilities may be considered in accordance with Annexure-X – Relaxation in Test Facilities and the applicable BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.

4. Scheme of Inspection & Testing (SIT) and Marking Fee

• The manufacturer must accept the Scheme of Inspection & Testing (SIT) issued by BIS and pay the applicable annual minimum marking fee (MMF) in advance.

5. Separate Application for Each IS Standard and Location

• A separate application must be filed for each Indian Standard and for each distinct manufacturing location, even if owned by the same company.
   

Domestic manufacturers must follow the procedure below to obtain a BIS licence to use the ISI Mark:

1. Determine Applicability (Applicant Responsibility)

• Identify whether your product falls under an Indian Standard and conforms to the applicable Indian Standard (IS).

2. Prepare for Application (Applicant Responsibility)

Ensure your manufacturing unit has:

• A legally established business entity in India
• Availability of Complete functional manufacturing facility
• Availability of Complete In-house testing capabilities 
• Availability of qualified & competent testing personnel
• Willingness to adopt the Scheme of Inspection & Testing (SIT) and annual Minimum Marking Fee (MMF) prescribed by BIS                              

3. Submit Application (Applicant Responsibility)

Apply through the Manakonline portal (www.manakonline.in) by submitting:

• Filled application form (Form V)
• Required documents (raw material details, testing personal details, test reports, factory layout, etc.)
• Prescribed application fee

4. Scrutiny of Application (BIS Responsibility)

• BIS will examine the application for completeness. If everything is in order, an application number is issued for further processing.

5. Factory Inspection by BIS Officer (BIS Responsibility)

      A BIS officer visits the manufacturing premises to:

• Verify manufacturing and testing facilities & capabilities through running production and testing of the final product in the factory
• Ensure testing infrastructure complies with Indian Standards
• Collect product samples for independent testing

6. Product Testing (BIS Recognised Laboratory Responsibility)

• Samples drawn during the inspection are sent to a BIS-recognized laboratory for independent testing to validate conformity with the relevant Indian Standard.

7. Review of Inspection & Test Reports (BIS Responsibility)

• BIS scrutinizes the inspection report and independent lab test report to ensure the product complies fully with the prescribed standards.      

8. Grant of Licence (BIS Responsibility)

• If all criteria are met, BIS grants the licence to use the ISI Mark. The licence is initially granted for a period of minimum one & maximum two years (depending on the case). After the validity of licence, the licensee may apply for renewal of licence for a period of minimum one & maximum five years.

  9. Surveillance Inspections (BIS Responsibility)

• After grant of a licence, BIS conducts periodic surveillance inspections (generally once a year) to monitor ongoing compliance with standards and the accepted Scheme of Inspection and Testing (SIT).

The timeline to grant a licence to domestic manufacturer under Scheme-I typically ranges from 30 to 60 days, subject to the following conditions:

• Complete and correct submission of application and documents via Manakonline portal
• Availability of in-house testing facilities and adherence to the Scheme of Inspection and Testing (SIT)
• Timely completion of factory inspection and product testing
• Satisfactory test reports from BIS-recognized laboratory
• Payment of applicable fees and advance minimum marking fee

Note: Any discrepancies in documentation, testing delays, or non-conformities during inspection can extend the processing time.
 

Important Notes:

• Marking Fee: This fee is determined based on factors such as production volume and cost of surveillance.
• Payment Mode: Payments are to be made through RTGS/NEFT only.

Taxes: All fees are subject to applicable Goods and Services Tax (GST) as per Indian tax regulations

• Application Form (Form V): Duly filled and signed application form.
• Authorization Letter: If the application is not signed by the CEO, an authorization letter on the company's letterhead authorizing the signatory.
• Manufacturing Unit Registration Proof: Documentary evidence confirming the legal status of the manufacturing unit (e.g., Certificate of Incorporation, GST registration).
• Declaration of Manufacturing Machinery: List and details of machinery used in the manufacturing process.
• Process Flow Chart: Detailed flow chart outlining the manufacturing process.
• Declaration of Test Equipment: List of testing equipment available in the in-house laboratory.
• Calibration Certificates: Valid calibration certificates for all relevant testing equipment.
• Quality Control Personnel Details: Information about quality control/testing personnel, including their qualifications and experience.
• Raw Material Details: Information about raw materials used, along with suppliers' details.
• In-house Test Reports: Test reports of the product conducted in the in-house laboratory as per the relevant Indian Standard.
• Factory Layout Plan: Detailed layout of the factory premises.
• Proof of Payment: Receipt or proof of online payment of the application fee (INR 1,000).
• General Undertaking/Declaration: A declaration affirming compliance with BIS regulations and terms.
• Brand Name Declaration: Declaration of the brand name under which the product will be sold.
• Acceptance of Product Manual/Scheme of Inspection & Testing (SIT): Acknowledgment of understanding and acceptance of the Product Manual and SIT.
• Acceptance of Advance Annual Minimum Marking Fee: Agreement to pay the advance annual minimum marking fee as prescribed by BIS.
   

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