The BIS has added the following as mandatory product categories to the ISI scheme:
- Steel Tubes
- PVC Insulated Electric Cables
- Wheel Rim
- Terephthalic Acid
- Toluene
- Ethylene Glycol
- n- Butyl Acrylate
- Methanol
- Aniline
- Ether
- Acetic Acid
- Potassium Carbonate
- Phenol (Carbolic acid)
The implementation timeline for these new categories is not clear, but certification could be mandatory as early as Q1 of 2021. We will continue to update this information as details emerge. If you are planning to import any of these product types into India going forward, we recommend getting started soon, as the ISI certification process is a lengthy one.
General Information:
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is a government-based certification body. They have two main certification marks; the Standard Mark for Compulsory Registration (CRS), and the ISI mark. The CRS certification pertains to product safety, whereas the ISI certification is more focused on product performance and quality. This page will focus specifically on the ISI certification scheme.
The ISI mark has some mandatory product categories, but also allows voluntary certification in other product categories. See below for illustrations of the ISI mark, and further down for mandatory product categories. The ISI certification scheme was implemented to control the safety, reliability and quality of goods placed on the Indian market. The ISI mark scheme is one of the largest in the world. Manufacturers from many industries like Household, Electrical goods, Automobile Accessories, Medical Equipment, Steel, Chemical, Cement, Electrical Transformers and motors, etc., can apply for the ISI mark. In general, it is mandatory to have most all testing capability at the factory.
ISI Certification Scheme: The typical process for obtaining the BIS-ISI certification is as follows:
- Factory as an applicant is required to prepare an application file and preliminary test report as per Indian standards to be submitted as a hardcopy application to the BIS office. The preliminary testing can be conducted at the manufacturing facility, or if all the test equipment is not yet available at the manufacturing facility, testing can be done in India at an approved BIS laboratory. Again, the majority if not all testing capability will be required at the factory before certification can be achieved.
- Post submission, a preliminary evaluation will take place by the corresponding BIS officer and directed to fulfil the gaps, if any.
- Further, on-site factory audit will be done on a mutually agreed date where all the information including factory layout, quality control, staff details, testing & manufacturing equipment details, process flow, etc. will be physically validated. Testing as per the Indian standard(s) will be required by the audit officer.
- At the time of audit, a requisite number of random samples are selected and sealed. These samples are sent to a BIS recognized lab within India to perform independent testing. .
- Once positive results are received from the independent testing, applicants will be eligible to get the CM/L number in order to use the ISI mark on their particular product. This CM/L number along with the ISI logo and corresponding Indian standard need to be marked on the product before selling it on the Indian market.
- In the end, applicants must submit a few of the documents like agreement copy, performance bank guarantee along with marking label fee depending on the individual factory’s production capacity.
This certification process can be conducted via online portal for factories located within India. For factories located outside of India, the process cannot be done via online portal. For such applications an in-country representative is required to apply for ISI on behalf of the applicant.
Challenges Obtaining and Maintaining ISI Certification
The ISI process is complex and can take many months to achieve. Obtaining this type of certification requires planning, focus, and persistence. The following are some common obstacles that can be avoided with the right guidance:
- Determination of proper standards
- Setting up testing facilities
- Achieving maximum coverage of family models
- Reports written with little flexibility for design modifications
- A qualified, responsive Authorized Representative is difficult to identify
How Can We Help?
G&M Compliance has an established office in India. Our experienced personnel in both the U.S. and India utilize the following practices to achieve a fast and efficient certification experience:
- Initial pre-certification discovery phase to identify potential issues before application
- Review and assistance determining applicable standards
- Review of internal testing capabilities
- Document product construction to maximize model coverage.
- Have existing relationships with knowledgeable and reliable in-country representatives
Mark – An ISI certification mark is required to be placed on the product.
In-Country Representative: AIR required
In-Country Testing: Required.
Expiration Details – The initial validity period of the licence is one year. Licence can be renewed for further subsequent periods of one/two years.
Product Surveillance – Factory follow-up inspections are mandatory and would typically be conducted at the time of license renewal, but the decision whether to inspect during this period is subject to the discretion of BIS. Market surveillance is common.
For electrical products, depending on the type of equipment, certifications other than ISI may be required for India. Among these are BIS-CRS, WPC for wireless products, and TEC for telecom products. For more information about what certifications are required for your product please contact us.
We have found that often times certification bottlenecks can occur within a manufacturer’s organization. As a result, we offer a service to provide internal help managing regulatory certification tasks. Because G&M is not a certification body, we are in a unique position to offer valuable regulatory expertise without any conflict of interest issues. In such cases we place G&M certification experts into our customers’ organizations to manage the certification process for them. Once on the inside, our managers can leverage G&Ms collective experience to guide certification processes in an efficient and cost-effective manner. To learn more about this service see our Homologation Management Service Page.
Untimely expirations of certificates can cause delays in product deliveries. Re-certification of products will generally be treated as new submittals instead of certificate renewals. This can be time-consuming and costly. G&M provides a web-based certification tracking system that alerts users when expirations are coming, provides on-line storage of important certification documentation, and is searchable by certification specific criteria. For more information on this system see our CATS page.
ISI MARK SCHEME – LIST OF MANDATORY PRODUCTS:
- Cement
- Household Electrical Goods
- Batteries
- Food and related products
- Oil pressure stoves
- Automobile accessories
- Cylinders, Valves and Regulators
- Medical Equipment
- Steel Products
- Electrical Transformers
- Electrical Motors
- Capacitors
- Chemicals & Fertilizers
- Kitchen Appliances
- Domestic Water Heaters for use with LPG
- Air Conditioner and its related Parts, Hermetic Compressor and Temperature Sensing Controls
- Plugs and Socket-Outlets and Alternating Current Direct Connected Static Prepayment Meters for Active Energy
- Domestic Gas Stoves for use with Liquefied Petroleum Gases
- Transparent Float Glass
- Domestic Pressure Cooker
- Cables
- Rubber Hose for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
- Aluminium Foil
- Toys
- Flat Transparent Sheet Glass
- Safety Glass
- Woven Sacks
- Valves
- Bicycle Reflectors
- Paper
- Cattle Feed
For more information, additional questions, or to request a quote – Please submit an online RFQ, Contact Us, or call.