Lately, India government has made BIS certificate mandatory for certain items including few electronic goods and LED lights for custom clearance for goods imported from China or other countries. This has a wider implication in the future imports to India after 6th May 2015.
What is BIS certificate?
The product certificate scheme, BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), provides quality assurance certification and use of
ISI marks to manufacturers who confirms to the quality standards mandated by BIS.
The BIS Product Certification Scheme is open to manufacturers in all countries without discrimination. By following their certification and licensing guidelines as follows, any business entity foreign or Indian are free to apply for a BIS certificate
- Indian producer can apply for grant of BIS license under the simplified scheme by furnishing test reports of samples that tested by the approved laboratories followed by a field visit by BIS staff to the applicant’s factory. Once field visit and test reports are found satisfactory and meeting BIS standards, the license is granted within 30 days
- Indian Importers are treated at par with Indian producer provided they maintain a fully equipped lab to conduct tests confirming to BIS standards.
- The Procedure of granting BIS license is little more complicated for a foreign manufacturer. Do I need a BIS certificate for importing from China?
BIS certificate is not needed for all products because it is not country dependent. Items for import under mandatory BIS certificate are notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade vide their notification.