BIS Act 2016- Explaining Process, Meaning and Documentation

  • BIS Act 2016 brings the Bureau of Indian Standards' rulebook into modern times, raising the bar for quality and safety.

  •  It helps businesses stay compliant while building trustjust what you need if you’re signing off on product launches. 

  • In this blog, you’ll learn how the BIS Act 2016 works, why it matters, and simple steps to implement it effectively.

Introduction

Imagine you’re launching a new line of kitchen appliances and your brand. Let’s call it TastyTech faces an unexpected roadblock because the product doesn’t meet the required safety norms. Suddenly, you're stuck with shipments held up, retailers cancelling orders, and your CEO calling, asking, Why didn't we plan for BIS Act 2016 compliance upfront?" That happened to one of my clients, a mid‑sized SME in Noida. They had to redesign wiring and labels overnight. Moral: Understanding the BIS Act 2016 is not optional. It’s business-critical.

This blog demystifies the BIS Act 2016 for you: what it is, why the Government of India rolled it out, how you can comply, and how top brands like Bosch or LG handle it gracefully. Let’s get into it. Think of this as your compliance blueprint.

What is the BIS Act 2016?

The BIS Act 2016 is the legislation passed by the Government of India, which gives legal authority to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to regulate Indian standards, enforce certification, and impose penalties for conduct that is not in compliance with the standards. 

  • It replaces the earlier BIS Act 1986 and provides statutory authority to address today's challenges.

  • It mandates the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) and sets penalties up to ₹18 lakh for violations.

  • It strengthens powers to inspect, seize, or stop non‑compliant goods at ports, factories, or warehouses.

Benefits of BIS Act 2016 Certification?

  • Consumer Safety and Quality Assurance:- BIS certification (Bureau of Indian Standards) enables third, party assurance (in simplicity) the product has met the legislation; inclusive of defined safety, environmental and quality, hence a - trust - in the product. 

  • Regulatory Compliance & Mandated Usage:- Quality Control Orders (QCOs) wish to mandate the BIS certification of certain goods (mostly health, safety, and critical infrastructure types of goods). These goods are prohibited from sale and/or import without the appropriate BIs certification, relevant to the QCO. 

  • Boosts Brand Trust and Marketability:- Where a product holds certification, an ISI mark (the standard quality emblem) or BIS -sanctioned marks (like ECO mark), the product can carry the marks and trust those marks domestically and internationally, helping brand credibility.

  • Simplified Procedures & Business Ease:- The BIS Act 2016 introduced more streamlined processes , like:(1)Simplified registration procedures for faster licensing.
    (2) Options such as self-declaration of conformity (SDOC) for certain schemes, improving, ease of doing business.

  • Government Enforcement Tools:- Under the Act, the government can:(1) Impose penalties, enforce product recalls, and cancel licenses if products don’t conform to standards.
    (2) Strengthen consumer protection and deter misuse.

  • Support for Exporters and Foreign Manufacturers:- International manufacturers can participate in the Indian market and obtain BIS certification by the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS). International manufacturers can get BIS certification and access the Indian market.

  • Environmental Responsibility:- They can get BIS certification for products that conform to BIS standards, that often eliminates harmful substances and reduces risk to the environment and human health. BIS offerer other forms of certification, such as the ECO mark which identifies an environmentally friendly products.

  • Wide Scope Across Products & Services:- The Act that established the Bureau of Indian Standards also empowered BIS to certify services, systems, processes, and hallmarking. Therefore, ISO can be seen as a standardization and certification framework with a greater scope than a conventional standardization framework.

Why It Matters (as of 2025)?

The importance of BIS certification continues to expand. BIS has recently made certification compulsory for about 750 product categories. Some common product areas included in BIS's certification include furniture and footwear, and demonstrate an expanding breadth and relevance of scope as well as significance.

Why Choose BIS Certification (BIS Act 2016)?

  • Legal Requirement:- For some products, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification is mandatory to sell in the Indian market. If you manufacture products such as electronics, steel, toys, and cookware, BIS certification is a legal requirement under government regulations (Quality Control Orders).

  • Assurance of Quality & Safety:- BIS certification guarantees a product meets Indian standards for quality, safety, and performance. To assist in preventing potential accidents, health risks, and product failure.

  • Consumer Trust:- The ISI mark (provided by BIS) is recognized as an indicator of safe, tested goods in India.Consumers will prefer BIS certified consumer goods more than those not certified.

  • Business Expansion & Market Access:- BIS certification is often required to enter government tenders or large institutional buyers.
    Also necessary for importers and foreign companies who want to sell products in India.

  • Boosts Brand Image:- BIS-certified products carry a reputation for quality.
    It differentiates your brand from low-quality competitors.

  • Simplified Compliance System (under the 2016 Act):-The BIS Act 2016 introduced (a) Faster licensing and registration; (b) Self-declaration of conformity (SDOC) for specific products; (c) More transparent processes; and (d) Additional enforcement tools (penalties, recalls etc).

Environmental and Consumer Welfare:- BIS also provides certification to products with Eco Mark for environmental wellbeing.
Promotes sustainability and responsible production.

Step‑by‑Step Compliance Process?

  • Identify Applicable Products (CRS scope)
     Not all goods need compulsory BIS registration, but if you're dealing with toys, helmets, or electronics, check BIS. government in list. Explore CRS list for clarity.

  • Product Testing & Lab Approval
     Get your products tested at BIS‑recognized labs. I’ve advised brands who discovered compliance discrepancies only during testing—better to catch it early than recall later.

  • Apply for BIS Certification
     Submit application via BIS portal with test results and factory audit documentation. The process typically takes a few weeks.

  • Factory Inspection & Grant of License
     BIS inspects your manufacturing setup. If all goods, you receive licence renewable annually.

  • Market & Audit Compliance
     After license granted, you can mark ISI or Standard Mark. But BIS may audit or seize non‑compliant items anytime. One Pune‑based FMCG brand found non‑conforming pumps during a random check lesson, consistency matters.

Conclusion

The BIS Act 2016 isn’t just another regulation It’s your guardrail for quality, brand reputation, and legal peace of mind. By planning compliance into product development (like TastyTech did), aligning with BIS standards, and staying audit‑ready, you protect your brand and customers alike.
 Ready to secure your product journey with bullet‑proof compliance under BIS Act 2016? Let’s chat I can help you build a compliance plan that keeps regulators satisfied and your brand shining.

Get in touch


🌐 https://www.diligencecertification.com/


☎️ 919471642921

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