BIS Certification (ISI Mark) for Manufacturers
If your product is covered by a Quality Control Order, you cannot make, import, sell or even store it for sale in India without a BIS licence to use the ISI mark. We prepare and file the licence application under Scheme-I on the Manakonline portal and follow it through to grant.
What it is
BIS certification is a licence from the Bureau of Indian Standards that lets a manufacturer put the Standard Mark, the familiar ISI mark, on a product. The mark tells buyers that the product meets a named Indian Standard (IS) and that BIS keeps checking the factory that makes it.
The law is the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. Section 13 lets BIS grant the licence. Section 16 lets a ministry make the mark compulsory for a product through a Quality Control Order (QCO). The procedure sits in Scheme-I of Schedule II to the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018, and every application is filed online on BIS’s Manakonline portal.
Who it applies to
Makers of products under a QCO
Once a QCO is in force, Section 17 bars anyone from making, importing, selling or storing that product for sale without a valid licence. Toys (under the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020) and many steel products are well-known examples.
Importers of QCO products
Here is the catch: the licence belongs to the factory, not the trader. A Gurugram importer bringing in toys needs the overseas factory licensed first, or the container can sit at customs.
Makers who choose the mark
No QCO for your product? You can still apply. Some tenders and supply contracts ask for the ISI mark.
Why it matters
Stay legal to sell
For QCO products, no licence means no trade. Dispatching even one consignment without it breaks Section 17.
Give buyers a number to check
The ISI mark carries your licence number, which a buyer can look up with BIS before placing an order.
Clear imports without a hold
Customs checks QCO products for the Standard Mark. A valid licence keeps containers moving.
Documents required
About the business
- Certificate of incorporation, partnership deed or proprietorship proof
- Udyam certificate, if you want the MSME fee concession
- Factory address proof and factory licence, where your state requires one
- Authorisation letter for the person who signs the application
About the factory
- Site plan, layout and process flow chart
- Lists of production machinery and testing equipment, with calibration certificates
- Details of the person in charge of quality control
About the product
- The Indian Standard number and the varieties you want covered
- Brand name with trademark registration papers, or the brand owner’s authorisation
- Test report from a BIS or BIS-recognised lab, if you choose the faster route
Normal route vs faster route
| Option-1 (normal) | Option-2 (with test report) | |
|---|---|---|
| Testing | Samples drawn during BIS factory inspection; tested in the factory, a lab, or both | You submit a test report from BIS or a BIS-recognised lab with the application |
| Test report age | Not applicable at filing | Generally not more than 90 days old |
| BIS’s stated time | Four months from a complete application | Generally about one month |
How the choice plays out: a Faridabad maker of steel products with orders waiting will usually want Option-2: test first, then file. A first-time applicant still setting up its in-house lab may prefer Option-1, so the factory is ready when the BIS officer arrives.
How it works
Confirm the standard and the QCO
We identify the exact Indian Standard for your product, check whether a QCO covers it and from what date, and list the varieties to include in the licence.
Check the factory against the testing scheme
BIS expects the in-house testing equipment and quality checks its scheme for that product calls for. We compare your set-up with that list before you pay any fee.
Get the sample tested, if using Option-2
You send the sample to BIS or a BIS-recognised lab. The lab does the testing; we track the report and file before it goes stale.
File the application on Manakonline
We register you on the portal, file the application with its documents and pay the fee online.
Prepare for the BIS inspection
A BIS officer visits the factory, checks production and testing, and may draw samples. We help you keep records ready and reply to BIS queries.
Pay the licence fees and start marking
After BIS approves, you pay the annual licence fee and minimum marking fee. The licence is granted, and the ISI mark with your licence number can go on the product.
Timelines
Grant
About one month under Option-2 and four months under Option-1, from a complete application, per BIS. In practice, lab queues and inspection dates can stretch this.
First validity
A new licence is granted for up to two years, and only for the varieties named in it. Adding a variety later needs an inclusion request.
Renewal
Renewal can extend the licence by up to five years from the last date of validity. File early. A lapsed licence means marking stops.
What happens if you sell without a licence
Prosecution under Section 29(3)
Breaking Section 17 is punishable with imprisonment up to two years, or a fine of at least ₹2 lakh for a first offence and at least ₹5 lakh after that, which can go up to ten times the value of the goods.
A cognizable offence
Section 29(4) makes this offence cognizable, so police can register it and act without a warrant.
Misusing the mark
Using the ISI mark without a licence, or on varieties outside your licence, breaches Section 15. Section 29(2) provides imprisonment up to one year or a fine of at least ₹1 lakh, up to five times the value of the goods.
Frequently asked questions
Is BIS certification the same as the ISI mark?
Yes, for most factory products the two mean the same thing. A BIS licence under Scheme-I of the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018 lets you apply the Standard Mark, which the public calls the ISI mark, along with your licence number and the Indian Standard number. Electronics registered under the separate Compulsory Registration Scheme use a different mark. We confirm which scheme your product falls under before anything is filed.
How do I know if my product needs compulsory BIS certification?
Your product needs it if a Quality Control Order issued under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016 covers it and that order is in force. BIS publishes the list of products under compulsory certification on its website. QCOs also change: on 12 November 2025 the government withdrew QCOs for 14 items, including some polymers and synthetic fibres. We check the current position for your exact product before you spend anything.
What are the BIS fees for a Scheme-I licence?
BIS charges an application fee of ₹1,000, an inspection fee of ₹7,000 per man-day, and an annual licence fee of ₹1,000 plus the minimum marking fee fixed for your product. Lab testing charges are paid to the lab separately. Micro and small units, startups and women entrepreneurs can get a concession on the minimum marking fee. A small Ballabgarh unit with Udyam registration, for example, should claim it from day one.
How long does it take to get a BIS licence?
BIS says the average is about one month under Option-2, where you file with a test report from a BIS-recognised lab, and four months under Option-1, counted from a complete application. Delays usually come from incomplete documents or failed samples. We check the file and the factory set-up before filing, so these surface early.
Do I need a testing lab inside my factory?
Usually yes, to the extent the BIS testing scheme for your product requires. Most Indian Standards list routine tests that the manufacturer must run on every batch, and BIS checks these facilities during the factory inspection. You do not need to test everything in-house; the full product test is done at BIS or a BIS-recognised lab. We share the equipment list early so you can plan.
Can a trader or importer hold the BIS licence?
No, a Scheme-I licence is granted for a specific manufacturing unit, so the factory holds it. A trader can sell QCO products only if they carry a licensed maker’s ISI mark. An importer needs the overseas factory to be licensed by BIS before the goods are shipped. If you plan to start making the product yourself, we can file for your own unit.
How long is a BIS licence valid?
A new licence is granted for up to two years, covering only the varieties named in it. On renewal, BIS can extend it for up to five years from the last date of validity. The annual licence fee and minimum marking fee keep running throughout. We diarise the expiry date and file the renewal in good time, so your marking does not stop.
What is the penalty for selling a QCO product without the ISI mark?
It can be serious. Under Section 29(3) of the BIS Act, 2016, the punishment is imprisonment up to two years, or a fine of at least ₹2 lakh for a first offence and at least ₹5 lakh for later ones, extendable to ten times the value of the goods. The offence is cognizable. Getting licensed before the QCO date avoids all of this.
Does Taxhint test my product or inspect my factory?
No, testing is done by BIS or a BIS-recognised lab, and the factory inspection is done by BIS officers. Our role is the paperwork and the follow-through: identifying the standard, preparing documents, filing on Manakonline, coordinating with the lab and BIS, answering queries and tracking renewals. You deal with one point of contact throughout.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
BIS fees under Scheme-I: application fee ₹1,000; inspection fee ₹7,000 per man-day; annual licence fee ₹1,000 plus the product’s minimum marking fee. BIS has announced concessions on the minimum marking fee for micro units of up to 80%. Lab testing charges are extra and paid to the lab.
Ready to begin?
Send us your product name and its Indian Standard. We will map the quickest route to your ISI licence.