Why Manufacturers Need Expert BIS Consultants

BIS stands for the Bureau of Indian Standards. It functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is responsible for issuing BIS licences to both domestic and foreign manufacturers.

Any manufacturing company intending to sell its products in India is required to first ascertain whether BIS registration is mandatory for its product. There is a large number of products for which BIS registration is compulsory.

If a product for which BIS registration is mandatory is manufactured, imported, or sold without obtaining the required BIS certification, such products are liable to seizure, and the company may be subject to heavy fines and penalties under applicable laws.

Why does a manufacturer need an expert BIS consultant?

Since BIS is a vast regulatory framework, it operates through different certification schemes under which product certification is required. Before proceeding with BIS certification, a manufacturer must first ascertain whether its product mandatorily falls within the scope of BIS and, if so, under which specific BIS scheme the certification is required to be obtained.

There are two main BIS schemes under which most products are covered.

1. Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) :- This scheme is also known as Scheme–II. Under this scheme, most electronic products and certain notified chemical products are covered. The procedure under CRS is comparatively simpler and less time-consuming than the ISI Scheme, as it does not involve factory inspection prior to grant of registration.

2. Foreign Manufacture certification Scheme or ISI Scheme: - This scheme is also known as Scheme–I. It is a more time-consuming and detailed process compared to the CRS Scheme, as it involves inspection and audit of the manufacturing facility by the BIS inspection team before the grant of certification.

Before applying for BIS registration, the most important step is for the applicant to ascertain whether the product mandatorily falls within the scope of BIS certification or not. Determining whether a product is covered under BIS involves a detailed and technical assessment of the product’s technical features, material composition, and end-use application.

This assessment is often complex and requires specialised expertise, which is where the role of an expert BIS consultant becomes crucial. An expert BIS consultant evaluates all aspects of the client’s product, including its application, technical features, material composition, and its usage, to determine whether the product falls within the scope of BIS certification.

Once it is confirmed that the product is covered under BIS, the consultant identifies the specific Indian Standard under which BIS registration or certification is required to be obtained. Since the BIS application process involves extensive documentation, technical drafting, and coordination with BIS-recognised testing laboratories, the guidance of an expert BIS consultant becomes essential to ensure smooth, timely, and successful grant of BIS registration.