How BIS is fulfilling its BIS Certification issuing responsibilities?

The purpose behind creating the Indian Standards Institute (ISI) was to develop standardization in the Indian market. The ISI was later changed to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in 1986 through the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. The Bureau is mainly responsible for product Bureau of Indian Standards Certification and method certification.

What do applicants need to do before applying for BIS Certification?

In order to get their products certified by BIS, manufacturers or applicants are required to have their products test at BIS approved labs in the country.  The Bureau today is also responsible for hallmarking of precious metals and is involved in resolving complains related to Consumer Affairs. The National Standardization Training Institute was set up by the Bureau in 1995.

While most goods and services being sold, distributed, exported, imported and stored for sale in the country can seek voluntary BIS registration, under the notification from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, there are about 49 products related to electronics and Information Technology that need to be mandatorily certified by the Bureau before being launched commercially in the Indian market. These products feature under the Compulsory Registration Scheme CRS Scheme – II.

Which products have been identified by the Ministry for compulsory BIS certification?

The products identified by the Ministry for compulsory BIS Certification are-

• Amplifiers with an input power of 2000W and above;
• automatic data processing machines;
• electronics clocks with mains power;
• electronic games (video);
• electronic musical systems with input power 2000Watts and above;
• Laptop/Notebook/Tablet;
• microwave ovens;
• optical disc players with inbuilt amplifiers of input power 200Watts and above;
• plasma/LCD/ LED TVs of screen size 32” and above;
• printers/plotters; scanners;
• set-top box;
• telephone answering machines;
• Visual Display Units and video monitors of screen size 32” and above;
• wireless keyboards;
• passport reader;
• cash registers;
• copying machines/duplicators;
• POS terminals;
• mail processing machines/postage machines/franking machines;
• smart card reader;
• power banks for use in portable applications;
• mobile phones;
• self-ballasted LED lamps for general lighting;
• DC or AC supplied electronic control gear for LED modules;
• power adaptors for audio, video and similar electronic apparatus;
• power adapters for IT equipment;
• fixed general purpose LED luminaries,
• UPS/Investors of rating<= 5KVA; LED Floodlights;
• LED hand lamps;
• LED lighting chains;
• UPS/Investors of rating <=10 KVA;
• sealed secondary cells/batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes to be used in portable applications;
• Indian language support for mobile phone handsets;
• recessed LED luminaries;
• LED luminaires for emergency lighting;
• Plasma/LCD/LED TV of a screen size up to 32;
• Visual Display units, video monitors of a screen size up to 32; 
• CCTV cameras/CCTV recorders;
• Adapters for household and similar electrical appliances;
• USD driven barcode readers, barcode scanners, IRIS scanners, optical fingerprint scanners;
• smart watches;
• crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules;
• Thin film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules;
• power inverters for use in the photovoltaic power system;
• Storage battery; and
• Utility-interconnected photovoltaic inverters.

Here is a checklist of things that are required to be done by the manufacturers of Visual Display Units, Videos Monitors of Screen Size 32” and above and Wireless Keyboards to obtain BIS certification.

Product Description

Product Name	Applicable Indian Standard
VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS, VIDEOS MONITORS OF SCREEN SIZE 32″ AND ABOVE	IS 13252(Part 1):2010*
WIRELESS KEYBOARDS	IS 13252(Part 1):2010*

Details of IS13252(Part 1):2010*

• This Indian standard pertains to mains-operated and battery-operated IT equipment and goods.
• It applies to even the components and subassemblies that form part of the IT equipment.
• The objective is to minimize risks associated with hazards like fire, electric shock or physical injury to the user or operator of the equipment, a layman who comes in contact with the equipment and the person who services the equipment.
• The IS or the Indian standard does not in any way cover the functional and performance related aspects of the equipment. It mentions only standards pertaining to safety aspects of the equipment. It also is not applicable to instruments that run without electric power, are part of installation wiring and where the power-supply system is not a built-in part of the equipment.

BIS Certification procedure

1. The first step in the process is to submit a sample product along with the applicable fees to a BIS recognized laboratory in the country for testing the sample for conformity to Indian Standard IS 13252(Part 1):2010*. The lab fees applicable for the products are as mentioned below:-

Product Name	Labor Testing Fees (INR)
VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS, VIDEOS MONITORS OF SCREEN SIZE 32″ AND ABOVE	40,000 /-
WIRELESS KEYBOARDS	28,500/-

• In the next step, the manufacturer or his designated applicant needs to register the brand online to generate the User Id and password. This needs to be done online at https://www.crsbis.in/BIS/login.do.
• Once the online registration is done, the manufacturer or the applicant needs to fill the application form online. The prescribed form for BIS registration is Form VI.
• Along with the form, the applicant needs to submit the required BIS Certification costs. This can be done online via NEFT or through a demand draft that needs to be physically mailed to the BIS headquarters. The mandated government fees for the two products are:-

Product Name	Government Fees (INR)
VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS, VIDEOS MONITORS OF SCREEN SIZE 32″ AND ABOVE	53,000 /-
WIRELESS KEYBOARDS	53,000/-

• All supporting documents (refer list below of required documents) need to be uploaded on the site along with the application. Incomplete documents can lead to delayed BIS certification. Hence, this step needs to be done with great care.
• The Test report needs to be uploaded online. The test report cannot be older than 90 days on the date of submission otherwise it will be rejected.
• After online submission of the form, fees and required documents, it is important to save the acknowledgment of the submission. This acknowledgment along with the signed and stamped Form, documents and test reports in original needs to be submitted at the BIS headquarters in New Delhi within 15 days of online submission.
• The concerned department officials at BIS will now scrutinize and review the form and the papers submitted. In case of any further query, additional documents required or any shortcoming in the application, test report or documents BIS will inform the applicant and he needs to act immediately to have all issues resolved. More the delay caused by the applicant in reverting back or compiling as required, more time will the certification take.
• On satisfactory revert to queries and provided all documents are as per requirement, the Bureau goes ahead and certifies the product.
• BIS certification is uploaded online for the applicant to view the status.

Documents required for BIS certification

1. Screenshot of online submission of Form VI or the acknowledgment received.
2. NEFT confirmation or the DD along with a photocopy.
3. Form VI signed by authorized signatory and bearing the company stamp.
4. Test reports in original.
5. Undertaking accompanying the test report for conformity with the required Indian Standard.
6. Undertaking for IS 13252 (Part 1): 2010 amendment 2 to confirm that the product complies with the amendments made to IS 13252 (Part 1):2010.
7. Business license or any other Government document as proof of the registered address of the manufacturing unit.
8. Authorization letter from CEO if the application is signed by an authorized signatory.
9. Brand name registration certificate. In case the brand is still under registration, the Trade Mark application form.
10. For Indian manufacturers, an affidavit as per Format C. In case the affidavit is not signed by the CEO, authorization letter along with Photo Id of the signatory.
11. In case of foreign manufacturers, official documents to prove that the mentioned liaison office belongs to the manufacturer, affidavit cum undertaking as per Format A and authorization letter from CEO/MD if signed by an authorized signatory and his ID proof.

FAQ’s Regarding BIS Certification

1.What is ISI Certification?

Under the Scheme-I of CRS, about 136 products have been identified by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution where the manufacturer needs to obtain the ISI certification in order to sell, import/export, distribute or even store for sale such products. These products that need the ISI registration mandatorily have been sub-grouped under 9 categories – cement, electrical transformers, steel products, medical equipment, cylinders valves and regulators, automobile accessories, oil stoves, food items, and household electrical items. The ISI certification is a mandatory requirement for Indian as well as foreign manufacturers.

2. What is the process of obtaining ISI certification?

There are two ways of obtaining the ISI Mark.

• The first process is called the Normal process where the manufacturer first applies for the registration along with the ISI Mark certification costs. BIS officials then conduct a factory evaluation on the premises post which the product samples are tested in the factory as well as sent to BIS-approved lab for offsite testing. The ISI registration is approved only when the test reports and the factory evaluation report are up to the mark and the manufacturers agree to pay the parking fees. This method takes about six months for the certification to come through.
• The other process is the Simplified process. Here the manufacturer first has his product samples tested at a BIS recognized lab. He then files the application and submits the test report. If the report is found satisfactory, BIS officials visit the factory premises for an onsite visit. The documents submitted and the factory report is evaluated and if found to be satisfactory, the ISI registration is granted. In this process, the product is certified within a month’s time.

3. What are ISI Mark certification costs?

The costs have different components to it –BIS application fees, factory audit fees, initial lab testing fees, sample testing fee, annual license fee, consultancy fee, and the Performance Bank Guarantee.

4. What is the validity of the BIS certification?

The BIS certification is valid for a period of two years. Which means that it needs to be renewed before the certification expires. Typically, manufacturers should apply for renewal at least a month prior to the expiry of the ongoing term. It is a simple process. The renewal application needs to be filled online. The renewal fees need to be submitted too. Generally, if other conditions remain the same, the Bureau does not ask for a retesting. However, if conditions have changed, for example, the IS has undergone alteration and amendment, retesting would be required. Officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology can, however, pick up samples for testing at any point.

5. What is the Standard Mark?

The Standard Mark is made up of three components – the monogram, the IS number and the registration number of the manufacturer.

6. How is the manufacturer penalized for not obtaining the BIS Certification under CRS?

Any manufacturer if found to be selling such products that require mandatory registration before selling or launching in the Indian market, can be punished by law. Such products are seized and deformed so that they cannot be sold, or the manufacturer is bound to sell them off as scrap.

7. What are the necessary specifications regarding Standard Mark?

The Mark needs to be either printed or embossed on the product and its packaging. If the product is too small, Mark can be printed on the packaging alone. For products that have display screens, the Standard Mark can be re-displayed too.

Conclusion

Enterslice, one of the leading BIS Certification consultants offer professional support and advice to manufacturers to obtain fast and cost-effective BIS certificationand ISI certification. With our years of experience, acquired skills and knowledge, our team of BIS certification agentshelp Indian as well as foreign manufacturers to have their product samples tested at the right BIS approved labs, do all the paperwork, fill up the application and revert to queries of BIS and even help in swiftly overcoming shortcomings as pointed by the Bureau during registration process. We charge quite nominally as our consultancy fee, typically in the range of Rs. 25000/- per product. Forgetting your product BIS certified in a short period of time, contact us.