Bureau of Indian Standards Act 2016 + Quality Control Orders

Applies to

Manufacturers, importers, sellers and distributors of products notified under sector-specific Quality Control Orders (QCOs). As of 2026, QCOs cover ~700 product categories — toys, electronics, steel, chemicals, footwear, textiles, electrical appliances, medical devices, paper-board, and many industrial inputs. ISI Mark mandatory for compulsory-certification products; BIS Compulsory Registration (CRS) mandatory for notified electronics.

Key points

• QCOs make BIS conformity legally mandatory; non-conformance = product seizure + penalty.
• ISI Mark: factory inspection + product testing.
• CRS: self-declaration + sample testing for electronics.
• Importers: licence from BIS plus per-shipment compliance evidence.
• Foreign manufacturers: Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS).

Applicability triggers

• Product manufactured / sold / imported is on a notified QCO list
• Electronic or IT product under CRS schedule

Practitioner questions

• Has BIS notified a QCO covering our product since the last review?
• ISI Mark vs CRS — which scheme applies to our SKU?
• What is the FMCS timeline for our overseas supplier?

Sources

• Bureau of Indian Standards
• BIS Act 2016 (India Code)