BIS certification is a product certification in India, supervised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). According to different product types, BIS certification is divided into three types, including mandatory ISI mark certification, CRS certification, and voluntary certification. The BIS certification system has existed for more than 50 years and covers more than 1,000 products. All products included in the mandatory list must obtain BIS certification (ISI mark registration certification) before they can be sold in India.
BIS is a third-party certification agency. Products certified by it will be marked with the ISI label, which has a wide influence in India and neighboring countries. Good reputation is a reliable guarantee of product quality. Once a product is marked with the "ISI mark", it means that it meets the relevant Indian standards, and consumers can buy it with confidence.
In order to unify product regulatory standards and requirements and ensure product quality and safety, India began to implement a product certification system in 1955. According to the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 (The BIS Act, 1986), India's product certification implements the principle of voluntary certification, but considering factors such as public health and safety and mass consumption, the Indian government has issued an immediate decree to implement mandatory certification for specific products. It aims to provide end consumers with quality-assured, safe and reliable products. All products included in the compulsory certification must obtain product certification certificates according to Indian product standards before they can enter the market. Therefore, manufacturers who want to enter the Indian market need to have some understanding of India's product certification system.
Introduction to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
According to the BIS Act, 1986, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the Indian standardization and certification authority, specifically responsible for product certification. It is also the only product certification agency in India. It was formally established in 1987 to replace the Indian Standards Institute established in 1946.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is affiliated to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. Although it is a social legal entity, it exercises government functions. Its main tasks are to formulate and promote national standards; implement conformity assessment systems; and participate in international standardization activities such as ISO and IEC on behalf of the country. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is a financially independent organization, and certification income is its main source of income. BIS has 5 regional bureaus and 19 branches. The regional bureaus supervise the corresponding branches. The eight laboratories under BIS and some independent laboratories are responsible for the inspection of samples taken during the product certification process. These laboratories all implement ISO/IEC17025:1999.
