Who will issue a BIS certificate?

The BIS is the authority that is in charge of providing BIS certifications in India. With operations established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act of 1986 and further reinforced under the BIS Act of 2016, BIS is functioning as the National Standards Body of India to cover various fields to ensure quality safety, and reliability in the products and services. The BIS certification is regulatory and compulsory on some products in India for conformity with stipulated safety and quality measures. Companies can also seek this certification on their own to add credibility to a particular product in the marketplace.

In this article, there is an analysis of what BIS is, its functions as an issuing authority, the steps involved in the process, and the types of certificates it offers.

What is the Role of BIS in Certification?

BIS is an autonomous body that works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. BIS is responsible for generating industry classifications, standards creation, product certification, and ensuring that products meet these standards. The role of BIS as the issuer of certificates includes:

• In today’s world, BIS has a role in creating standards for products, services, and processes using national and international standards. They are archived under Indian Standards or IS.
• BIS monitors that products meet Indian Standards through testing and quality assurance standards.
• A manufacturing unit requires certification from BIS and for this; the organization conducts inspections of the manufacturing units to ensure that they meet its standards.
• BIS grants licenses for the use of ISI certification marks such as the ISI mark, CRS mark, and Hallmark. It also has surveillance in place to make sure the client complies with the requirements after the initial assessment has been conducted.
• BIS certification helps to keep away substandard or unsafe products and guarantee consumers quality products.

Who Can Apply for a BIS Certificate?

The BIS certification is available to manufacturers within and outside India. The following entities are eligible to apply:

• Domestic Manufacturers: The Indian companies producing goods come under this category.?
• Foreign Manufacturers: Foreign manufacturers who have their products manufactured in other countries but want to sell them in the Indian markets can apply under the Foreign Manufacturer Certification Scheme (FMCS).
• Jewelry Manufacturers: BIS also authorizes jewelers under the Hallmarking scheme to check the purity of gold, silver, and other valuable metals.

Also Know about ISI Certification vs. BIS Certification: A Comparison Guide

Types of BIS Certification Issued

Depending on the type of the product, its regulation, and the applicant’s location, BIS offers different kinds of certificates. Key certifications include:

1. ISI Mark Certification: This certification pertains to products that must conform with current Indian Standards, including electrical appliances, bottled water, and cement. The ISI mark is a mark of quality as well as the mark of safe products.

1. Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS): According to CRS, every electrical and IT application product manufacturer ranging from mobile phones, laptops, LED lights, etc., has to get their products certified with the BIS to ensure compliance with safety standards.
2. Hallmarking Certification: This certification is obtained by jewelers and it certifies the purity of metals, especially the precious ones such as gold and silver. It has been mandatory in many of its regions, especially in the northern parts of India.

1. Eco-Mark Certification: Eco-Mark certification is given by BIS to the products that are less hazardous for the environment to encourage the use of such products.

1. Foreign Manufacturer Certification Scheme (FMCS):

This scheme enables foreign manufacturers to affix BIS certification for their products so that they don’t compromise on the quality of their products and match the Indian Standards upon their arrival in the country.

How is a BIS Certificate Issued?

The BIS certification process involves several steps, all managed by the Bureau of Indian Standards:

1. Application Submission

• Manufacturers are required to fill out forms online at the BIS online portal or the regional BIS office.
• The information that should be submitted to the application includes information about the product, the manufacturing process, and conformity with standards.

2. Document Verification

• Documents include the registered certificate of the factory, details of Quality Control personnel, a flow chart of the manufacturing process, and a test report from the laboratory of BIS.
• For foreign applicants, the document that must always be included is the nomination letter for an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR).

3. Inspection of Manufacturing Facility

• The officials from the BIS pay a visit to the manufacturing unit where they check whether the company has implemented necessary standards at its plants or not and whether there are proper mechanisms for quality checks.
• The brand product samples are taken for testing by a third party.

4. Product Testing

• Samples are tested in laboratories accredited by BIS to conform to Indian Standards.
• If the product is compliant with all the quality and safety measures then the certification proceeds.

5. Issuance of Certificate

• After the passing of all the requirements, BIS awards the applicant a certificate, which gives the applicant authorization to use the specific certification mark (for example, the ISI mark, or CRS mark).

BIS Regional and Branch Offices

For smooth implementation of the certification process, BIS functions through its regional and branch offices across the country. These offices, too, supervise certification activities and conduct inspections, tests, and the issuance of licenses.?

Key regional offices are located in:

• New Delhi
• Mumbai
• Kolkata
• Chennai
• Chandigarh

For ease of access, each of the regions is then subdivided into branch offices.

Foreign Manufacturer Certification

Foreign manufacturers seeking BIS certification must apply under the Foreign Manufacturer Certification Scheme. The process is similar to domestic certification, with the following distinctions:

• The foreign manufacturer must appoint an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) to liaise with BIS.
• BIS officials may conduct inspections of overseas manufacturing units.

Post-Certification Surveillance

Once a BIS certificate is issued, the organization conducts periodic surveillance, which includes:

• The enforcement agencies must conduct relational inspections of manufacturing units.
• Market sampling - to market the products, which bear the certification mark.
• Evaluation of reports presented by the licensee regarding its compliance.

Consequently, failure to maintain compliance will lead to the cancellation of the certificate or suspension of the certificate.

It is worth noting that only the Bureau of Indian Standards or BIS is the main body authorized to issue BIS certificates. The basic idea of product certification is to guarantee their safety, quality, and reliability to protect the consumer’s interests and facilitate the introduction of standards in different industries. For a domestic manufacturer as well as a foreign manufacturer, it is mandatory to get the BIS certification because it helps to conform to the statutory rules of India and to gain the confidence of customers. BIS, with its certification system and online platform, remains in the central position in cementing a safer and more reliable market in India.