- ✓Mandatory BIS registration extended to 50+ new product categories
- ✓Revised testing timelines — stricter lab submission deadlines
- ✓New Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) route for low-risk products
- ✓Penalty for non-compliance increased up to ₹2 lakh per violation
- ✓Foreign manufacturers must appoint Indian Authorized Representative (IAR)
- ✓BIS portal overhaul — all applications migrate to new system by Q3 2025
Background — What Are the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations?
The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, empowers BIS to prescribe and enforce Conformity Assessment Regulations (CAR) — the framework that governs how products are tested, certified, and marked with the Standard Mark (ISI Mark) or registered under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) before they can be sold in India.
The original regulations, notified in 2018, have been periodically amended. The 2026 amendment is the most substantial revision since the framework was established — covering scope expansion, procedural reforms, penalty escalation, and the introduction of a new self-declaration route.
For manufacturers, importers, and brand owners, these changes affect timelines, documentation requirements, lab empanelment, and the consequences of non-compliance. Understanding the amendments before they take effect is critical to maintaining market access and avoiding regulatory exposure.
Scope Expansion — New Product Categories Added
The most immediately impactful change in the 2026 amendment is the expansion of mandatory BIS certification to 50+ new product categories across electronics, electrical appliances, chemicals, and consumer goods.
Key new categories now under mandatory BIS registration include:
- Smart home devices — smart plugs, smart switches, smart lighting controllers
- Wearable electronics — smartwatches, fitness bands, wireless earbuds
- Lithium-ion powered consumer products — power banks, portable chargers, e-scooter batteries
- Industrial electrical equipment — variable frequency drives, soft starters, motor control centres
- Chemical products — certain lubricants, adhesives, and surface coatings
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) — helmets, safety footwear, protective gloves
⚠️ Action Required: Businesses currently selling any of the newly covered categories must initiate BIS registration immediately. Products already in market without a valid licence after the effective date will be subject to enforcement action, seizure, and penalties regardless of prior compliance status.
Revised Testing & Application Timelines
The 2026 amendment introduces stricter processing timelines for both BIS and applicants — compressing the end-to-end certification window while simultaneously increasing consequences for delays.
New BIS Review Timelines
- Stage 1 document review: 15 working days (reduced from 30)
- Grant or rejection of licence: 45 working days from complete application
- Factory inspection scheduling: 30 working days from application acceptance
- Surveillance inspection frequency: increased from annual to bi-annual for high-risk categories
Applicant Obligations
- Response to BIS queries: 10 working days (down from 21)
- Document corrections after rejection: 15 working days
- Pre-application product testing: must be from BIS-empanelled lab, tested within 12 months of application date
💡 Practical Implication: The 10-day window for responding to BIS queries is operationally tight — especially for foreign manufacturers who need to coordinate documentation across time zones. We recommend having all supplementary documents prepared before filing, not after.
New Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) Route
One of the most significant procedural changes in the 2026 amendment is the introduction of a Self-Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) pathway for low-risk product categories — replacing the mandatory third-party certification requirement for these products.
- Test report from a NABL-accredited or BIS-empanelled laboratory
- Technical file including design documentation, risk assessment, and test records
- Signed declaration of conformity by the manufacturer's authorized representative
- Registration on the BIS portal with annual renewal obligation
Categories Currently Eligible for SDoC
- Certain categories of IT equipment (non-safety-critical peripherals)
- Low-power consumer electronics under defined wattage thresholds
- Non-food-contact packaging materials
- Specific furniture and household items
⚠️ Important: Using the SDoC route for a product that should be under mandatory third-party certification is treated as fraudulent self-certification — attracting significantly higher penalties. Category eligibility must be verified before choosing the SDoC route.
Penalty Escalation — New Enforcement Framework
The 2026 amendment significantly escalates penalties for BIS non-compliance, reflecting BIS's increased enforcement posture and the expansion of mandatory categories.
- First violation: Up to ₹2 lakh (increased from ₹1 lakh)
- Repeat violation within 3 years: Up to ₹5 lakh + product seizure
- Fraudulent use of BIS Standard Mark: Up to ₹10 lakh + criminal prosecution
- E-commerce platforms listing non-compliant products: Platform liability introduced
- Importers: Consignment detention + mandatory re-export or destruction at importer's cost
The introduction of platform liability is a landmark change — e-commerce operators must now actively verify BIS compliance status of products on their platforms.
Indian Authorized Representative (IAR) — Now Mandatory for Foreign Manufacturers
The 2026 amendment formalizes and strengthens the IAR requirement — all foreign manufacturers applying for BIS certification must now appoint a legally registered Indian entity as their Authorized Representative.
- Responding to BIS surveillance inspections and queries
- Maintaining technical files and test records in India
- Facilitating product recall if BIS orders withdrawal
- Receiving and acting on BIS enforcement notices
💡 Note for Foreign Brands: We provide IAR services — acting as your legal representative in India for BIS registration, ongoing compliance, and enforcement response. Contact us for a quote specific to your product categories.
BIS Portal Migration — Critical for All Existing Licensees
All BIS certifications — existing and new — are migrating to the new unified BIS portal by Q3 2025. This affects all current BIS licence holders.
- Create a new account on the updated portal and link existing licences
- Upload and verify all historical test reports and compliance documents
- Update product model details and manufacturing unit information
- Complete portal migration before the deadline to avoid licence suspension
The portal migration is not automatic — existing licensees who do not migrate their accounts by the specified deadline will have their licences flagged as inactive in the BIS enforcement database.
Action Plan for Businesses
Given the breadth of the 2026 amendments, businesses should prioritise the following actions immediately:
- Audit your product portfolio against the updated mandatory category list
- Check BIS portal migration status for all existing licences
- Review query response processes — ensure your team can respond within 10 working days
- Assess SDoC eligibility for products currently under third-party certification
- Appoint or review your IAR — foreign manufacturers should confirm IAR legal capacity
- Schedule lab testing early for products in newly covered categories