If you list products on Amazon, Flipkart or Meesho, a missing BIS certificate can get a listing blocked, stock seized or a notice sent to your door. This guide covers which products need BIS certification, who must hold it, what the penalties are and the steps to get listed safely.
Quick answe
Yes, for notified products. BIS certification is mandatory on Amazon and Flipkart only for products notified under a Quality Control Order (QCO) or the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). The manufacturer, not the seller, holds the certificate. Sellers must upload valid BIS details matching the listing’s brand and model number before the product goes live.
Manufacturers of LED luminaires, enclosures, connectors, industrial electronics and outdoor equipment are often asked for an IP rating by buyers, tender documents or distributors. The practical question is not only “what is IP65?” but “who tests it, what do they need from me, and will the report be accepted?” This guide answers those in order.
JS Certification is a certification and compliance consultancy. It coordinates product testing through third-party laboratories; it does not operate a laboratory, and the test report is issued by the laboratory that performs the tests.
Is BIS certification mandatory to sell on Amazon and Flipkart?
BIS certification is mandatory only for products the government has notified under a Quality Control Order (QCO) or the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). For those products, selling, storing or listing without a valid BIS licence or registration is illegal, whether you sell offline or on Amazon, Flipkart or Meesho.
Most products are not covered, but the notified list keeps growing, so never assume. A QCO stops anyone from manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, storing or displaying the product for sale without a valid BIS licence or certificate of conformity.
Enforcement has moved to the marketplaces themselves. In March 2025 BIS searched warehouses linked to major e-commerce platforms in cities including Lucknow, Gurugram and Delhi and seized uncertified goods such as toys, hand blenders and steel bottles. BIS also told Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra and BigBasket to list only certified products where certification is mandatory. Press reports later said BIS was preparing legal action against the platforms. The result for sellers: marketplaces now ask for proof.
CRS is different from the ISI-mark licensing route. Under CRS the product is tested at a BIS-recognised laboratory and registered. BIS does not carry out a factory inspection for the grant. This is Scheme II of Schedule II in the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
How to check whether your product is covered
- Search the BIS list of products under compulsory certification on bis.gov.in, or use the BIS CARE app.
- Match your product’s HS code and Indian Standard (IS) number against the QCO or CRS notification.
- Check how the marketplace classifies it. An insulated flask can be treated as a hot flask or bottle, which changes the standard that applies.
- Still unsure? Send the product name and photos to JS Certification and we will confirm the scheme.
Who must hold the BIS certificate: you or the manufacturer?
The manufacturer, Indian or foreign, applies for and holds the BIS licence or registration. Traders and importers cannot apply in their own name. What they must do is collect valid documents and make sure the certificate covers the exact brand and model they sell.
| You Are | Who Applies to BIS | What You Do |
|---|---|---|
| Indian manufacturer selling your own product | You, under the ISI Mark or CRS scheme | Test at a BIS-recognised lab, apply, then mark the product and packaging. |
| Importer or brand owner of foreign-made goods | The foreign manufacturer, through an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) | Confirm the certificate covers your brand and model before you ship, not at the port. |
| Trader or reseller of a branded product | The brand’s manufacturer already holds it | Keep a copy of the licence or registration and verify brand, model and number. |
| Private label or white label seller | Your factory, in your brand and model name | Ask the factory to register your brand. Another brand’s certificate may be rejected. |
Amazon’s own seller guidance tells sellers who are not manufacturers to get the certificate from the supplier before listing and to check that it shows the right brand, model number and registration number. Think of it as a three-way match.
Certificate
BIS licence or registration
Product and pack
Standard mark printed
Your listing
Same details uploaded
Need help with a specific route? See our pages on ISI Mark for domestic manufacturers, ISI Mark for foreign manufacturers and BIS CRS for electronic products.
ISI Mark vs CRS: which BIS scheme applies to your product?
Industrial and household goods under a QCO, such as steel bottles, fans and toys, use the ISI Mark (Scheme I). Notified electronics and IT products, such as chargers, power banks and LED lights, use CRS registration (Scheme II). Many catalogues need both.
| Point | ISI Mark (Scheme I) | CRS (Scheme II) |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Products notified under QCOs: household, industrial, building and similar goods | Notified electronic and IT products |
| How It Works | Lab testing plus BIS factory inspection, then a licence | Testing at a BIS-recognised lab in India, then a registration number |
| Mark You Display | ISI Mark with licence number | Standard Mark with registration number |
| Typical Time | 3 to 6 months | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Foreign Manufacturers | FMCS route with an AIR | Apply through an AIR |
Times are indicative and depend on the product, lab slots and how complete the documents are.
A brand selling wireless earbuds, a smart scale and an electric kettle can end up under two different BIS schemes inside one launch, each with its own application. Wireless products may also need a separate WPC approval, which is a different regulator and a different certificate.
What Amazon and Flipkart check before your listing goes live
For products in a mandatory category, marketplaces ask for the BIS licence or registration details and images showing the standard mark. They compare the brand name, model number and registration number on the certificate with what you list.
- Registration or licence number that can be verified for the product.
- Images of the standard mark on the product and packaging.
- Brand name on the certificate that matches your listing.
- Model number that matches your listing exactly, not only the product type.
- Legal Metrology details on the label if you sell pre-packaged goods. See our LMPC certification page.
Not sure which of these your product needs? JS Certification can review it and tell you the scheme, documents and timeline. Just send the product name.
Why BIS listings get blocked, and how to fix each cause
Most blocked listings come from mismatches, not from a missing certificate. The certificate exists, but the brand, model or category on the listing does not line up with it, so the marketplace will not accept it.
| Point | ISI Mark (Scheme I) | CRS (Scheme II) |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Products notified under QCOs: household, industrial, building and similar goods | Notified electronic and IT products |
| How It Works | Lab testing plus BIS factory inspection, then a licence | Testing at a BIS-recognised lab in India, then a registration number |
| Mark You Display | ISI Mark with licence number | Standard Mark with registration number |
| Typical Time | 3 to 6 months | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Foreign Manufacturers | FMCS route with an AIR | Apply through an AIR |
Based on marketplace guidance and seller reports. Individual cases can differ.
BIS penalties for selling uncertified products
For a notified product, the BIS Act 2016 provides imprisonment up to two years and a fine of at least ₹2 lakh, which can extend to ten times the value of the goods, for a first offence. Repeat offences carry a minimum fine of ₹5 lakh.
| Situation | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Selling, storing or distributing a notified product without BIS (Section 17) | Up to 2 years in prison, fine from ₹2 lakh up to 10 times the goods’ value. Repeat: fine from ₹5 lakh. |
| BIS search and seizure (Section 28) | Officers can enter warehouses and shops, inspect and seize non-compliant stock. |
| Using or faking the ISI Mark without a licence | Treated as a criminal offence with imprisonment and fine. |
| Marketplace Action | Listing removed, repeated compliance requests, stock pulled from fulfilment centres. |
| Importing a notified product without BIS | Customs may refuse clearance. Goods stay at the port, with demurrage, until you re-export or destroy them at your cost. |
Check the Act text. Legal summaries cite the prohibition under Section 17 and the penalty under Section 29. Confirm the current wording on the official BIS and Government of India sources before you rely on a figure.
How to get BIS compliant and list safely: 8 steps
Confirm that your product is notified, pick the right scheme, get the manufacturer to test and apply, then match the certificate to your listing. Skipping the first step is the most common and most expensive mistake.
Use the BIS compulsory certification list, the QCO notification or the BIS CARE app.
ISI Mark for QCO products, CRS for notified electronics and IT goods.
The manufacturer applies. Foreign manufacturers appoint an Authorised Indian Representative.
CRS testing must be done in a BIS-recognised lab in India. Foreign lab reports are not accepted for CRS.
Typical documents: application form, process flow chart, equipment list, technical specification, test report and trademark proof.
BIS inspects the manufacturing unit and checks the quality control set-up.
Check that brand, model and number on the certificate are correct before printing anything.
Print the mark and number on the product and pack, then upload the same brand, model and number in Seller Central or the Flipkart seller dashboard.
Want someone to run all eight steps for you? JS Certification handles them end to end for manufacturers, importers and online sellers.
Listing readiness check: are you safe to list?
Tick what is already true for your product. Each box you leave empty is a gap that can get a listing blocked.
BIS updates in 2026 that affect sellers
More products are being brought under mandatory certification, and the dates are close. Check the current date for your product on the BIS site before you plan stock.
- Electrical appliances QCO 2026: BIS certification became mandatory for 90+ household, commercial and similar electrical appliances from 1 Oct 2026.
- Aluminium products QCO 2026: 17 aluminium product standards use the ISI Mark route, with a second phase for large and medium enterprises from 1 Dec 2026.
- Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026: introduced on 25 Jun 2026, it gives eligible firms in 10 product groups an approved route to keep selling while a licence application is processed. It does not remove the certification requirement.
Frequently asked questions about BIS certificates for online sellers
Only for products notified under a Quality Control Order (QCO) or the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). For those products, BIS certification is a legal requirement, and Amazon India asks sellers for the licence or registration details before the listing stays live. Products outside the notified list do not need it, although some buyers and tenders prefer it.
Yes, for the same notified products. BIS has directed Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Myntra and BigBasket to list only certified products where certification is mandatory, so each marketplace can ask sellers for BIS proof. The rule follows the product, not the platform, so it applies to offline sales too.
The manufacturer, whether Indian or foreign, applies for and holds the BIS licence or registration. A seller must collect valid documents from the supplier before listing and check that the brand name, model number and registration number on the certificate match the listing.
Generally no. BIS certification is issued to the manufacturer, so traders, distributors and retailers cannot hold it in their own name unless they also manufacture the product. A trader can sell certified goods by keeping a copy of the manufacturer's licence, and a trader appointed as Authorised Indian Representative can manage the process for a foreign manufacturer.
Products covered by a QCO (ISI Mark) or by the CRS list for electronics and IT goods. Items seized in BIS warehouse checks included toys, hand blenders, steel bottles, insulated containers, ceiling fans and speakers. The list keeps growing, so check the BIS list of compulsory products or the BIS CARE app for your exact product.
Common reasons are a missing certificate, a model number or brand on the listing that does not match the certificate, a certificate held only in the factory's name, or a product that falls under a mandatory standard once Amazon classifies it. Fix the mismatch or get a certificate that covers your brand and model, then answer the compliance request with the documents.
For a notified product, the BIS Act 2016 provides imprisonment up to two years and a fine of at least ₹2 lakh, which can go up to ten times the value of the goods, for a first offence. Repeat offences carry a minimum fine of ₹5 lakh. BIS can also search premises and seize stock, and platforms can remove the listing.
It depends on the product, the scheme and lab testing. As a guide, the ISI Mark scheme typically takes 3 to 6 months, and CRS registration for electronics can take 4 to 8 weeks. Correct documents and an early lab booking are the biggest ways to avoid delay.
Yes, if the product is notified. The registration is tied to the brand and model, so the factory must register your brand name and model number with BIS. A certificate in another brand's name, or a generic factory certificate with only an authorisation letter, may not be accepted for your listing.
Not as a general rule, because a notified product needs a valid licence or registration before sale. The Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026 gives eligible firms in 10 product groups an approved route to keep selling while their licence application is processed. It is not a blanket relaxation, so check eligibility before relying on it.
