BIS Certification for Electronic Products: Cost & Process

BIS Certification for Electronic Products in India

Imagine this. You've ordered a few thousand power banks from a supplier abroad. Packaging is done. Listings are written. The ad budget is ready. Then your customs broker calls and asks, "Where's the BIS registration?"

And you realise you don't have one.

It happens more often than you'd think. BIS certification for electronic products is one of those rules nobody explains until it's already holding up your shipment. People also mix it up with the ISI mark, and many importers don't know that BIS certification for import has rules of its own. So let's go through all of it, step by step, in plain language, including what it costs and what happens if you get it wrong.

What is BIS in electronics?

BIS stands for the Bureau of Indian Standards, the body that sets safety and quality standards in India. When we talk about BIS in electronics, we mean this: certain gadgets can't be made, imported or sold here until they've proved they meet an Indian safety standard. That proof is BIS certification for electronic products.

For most IT and consumer electronics, the route is the Compulsory Registration Scheme, or CRS (you'll also hear it called Scheme II). It started in 2012 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. In simple terms, the manufacturer gets the product tested at a BIS-recognised lab, files an application online with a self-declaration of conformity, and receives a registration number called the R-number.

Why is BIS certification required?

Think about a cheap charger or power bank that's been put together badly. It could overheat, catch fire or give someone a shock. Now picture thousands of them sold online with nobody checking. That's exactly what this rule is meant to stop.

There's a fairness side too. A manufacturer who pays for proper testing shouldn't lose sales to someone who skipped it to save money. A mandatory scheme levels the field and keeps unsafe imports off Indian shelves.

Which products need a BIS certificate?

Please don't treat this as the final list. Entries get added and amended from time to time, so check the current one before you plan a launch.

The list is long, and it keeps getting longer. Going by the official BIS Scheme II page, it covers things like:

1. TVs and monitors
2. Mobile phones, laptops and tablets
3. Printers and scanners
4. Set-top boxes
5. Power adapters and power banks
6. Smart watches
7. CCTV cameras
8. External hard disk drives
9. LED lamps and luminaires
10. UPS units
11. Microwave ovens and rice cookers

How to check if BIS is required or not

If your product is on the list, you need registration before you sell it. You can also look up any R-number on the CRS portal to check whether a supplier's or competitor's registration is real.

This is the question we hear the most, and you can answer it yourself in a few minutes:

1. Open the official Scheme II product list on the BIS website or the CRS portal.
2. Look for your product by what it does, not by what you call it in your marketing. A "smart audio gadget" might still fit under an existing entry.
3. Note the Indian Standard listed next to it.
4. Check for recent amendments, because entries do change.
5. Still not sure? Ask a BIS-recognised lab. They answer this question every day.

ISI mark vs CRS registration

This is where most people get confused. Everyone says "ISI mark", but the ISI mark for electronic products and CRS registration are two separate routes.

Here's the part that surprises people. Some products that look like ordinary home appliances, such as microwave ovens and rice cookers, are actually under CRS, not ISI. And your phone or laptop carries the Standard Mark with an R-number, not the ISI mark. So find out which scheme your product belongs to before you spend anything on testing.

What are the BIS standards for electronics?

Every notified product is tested against the Indian Standard named in its order. Older guides mostly talk about IS 13252 (Part 1) for IT equipment and IS 616 for audio and video equipment, and you'll still see those on many consultant websites.

But the official BIS list now shows many products, including TVs, monitors, laptops, mobile phones, power banks and CCTV cameras, against IS/IEC 62368-1:2023, a newer combined safety standard for audio, video and IT equipment. The safest approach is to test to whatever standard the official list shows on the day you apply, and ask your lab to confirm it in writing.

Can I import without a BIS certificate?

If your product is on the notified list, no. BIS certification for import isn't something you can sort out at the port. If goods land without a valid registration, customs can hold them, and fixing it after that is slow and costly.

Importers tend to slip up on the same four things:

1. The registration belongs to the manufacturer. An importer can't hold a CRS registration in its own name.
2. Foreign manufacturers need an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR). Your importer can take that role, but the registration still sits with the factory.
3. Registration is per factory. If you switch suppliers or add a second factory, that factory needs its own registration.
4. Do it before the shipment leaves. Finish testing and registration first. Then put the Standard Mark and R-number on the product and its packaging.

How do I get a BIS certificate for my product?

The ISI route adds factory assessment and licence formalities, so expect it to take longer.

CRS products, this is how it usually goes:

1. Confirm your product is on the notified list and note down the standard.
2. If you're a foreign manufacturer, appoint an AIR and get the authorisation papers ready.
3. Send samples to a BIS-recognised lab.
4. Collect the test report, along with your factory, brand and product details.
5. File the application on the BIS CRS portal with the self-declaration of conformity, and pay the fees online.
6. Reply to any query BIS raises.
7. Receive your registration and R-number.
8. Mark the product and packaging the way BIS requires.

Documents you'll need. The exact list depends on your product, but get these ready:

1. Test report from a BIS-recognised lab
2. Manufacturer name, address and factory details
3. Brand name and trademark registration certificate (or a copy of the application)
4. Authorisation letter, if the brand owner isn't the manufacturer
5. AIR documents for foreign manufacturers
6. Model numbers and technical specifications
7. Product manual and label photos
8. Self-declaration and undertaking in the BIS format

What does BIS certification for electronic cost?

There isn't one number, because lab charges depend on your product. But the government side is clearer than most people expect. Going by BIS's published CRS fee schedule, you pay:

Micro, small and medium enterprises get a 20 percent concession on the processing fee.

Two warnings before you budget. First, you may see ₹25,000 quoted as the processing fee on some consultant sites. That was the figure before BIS revised the schedule in June 2018, so it's worth checking the current number on the CRS portal before you plan. Second, lab testing is billed separately by the lab, not by BIS, and it's often the biggest line in your budget. Add sample shipping, GST and any consultant or AIR fees on top.

How long does registration last?

Until recently, a CRS registration was valid for 2 years, and plenty of websites still say that. From February 2026, under the amended BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, new registrations and renewals run for 5 years.

There's a catch. You still have to pay the annual fee, in advance, and submit your production details every year. If BIS doesn't receive them by the due date, the rules on suspension, deferment, cancellation or expiry can apply. Put the dates on a calendar the day you get your R-number. Also keep in mind that if you shift your manufacturing set-up away from the registered premises, you must stop using the R-number and inform BIS.

How long does it take?

Many consultants quote around 20 to 30 working days for BIS to grant a registration once your application is complete. That doesn't include lab testing, which comes first. So plan for lab time plus BIS time, not one or the other.

BIS itself is rarely what slows people down. It's more often a sample that fails the lab test, a missing document, a trademark paper that doesn't match the brand on the label, or the wrong standard. Each of those sends you back a step.

How to mark your product correctly

Getting the R-number is only half the job. Your registration letter comes with marking guidelines, and BIS expects you to follow them. In practice, that means:

1. The Standard Mark must appear on the product and/or its packaging, easily visible.
2. The IS number, the registration number and the words that go with the mark should be no smaller than Arial font size 6.
3. The marking should be durable, in line with the relevant Indian Standard.
4. If your device has a built-in display, you can show the Standard Mark electronically (e-labelling) instead of printing it on the product.

What happens if you sell without registration?

Nothing good. Here's what the law says. Under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016, nobody can make, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store or exhibit a notified product without the required registration and Standard Mark. Section 29(3) sets the penalty: imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of at least ₹2 lakh for a first offence and at least ₹5 lakh for later ones, which can go up to ten times the value of the goods, or both. The offence is cognizable, which means BIS and the police don't need a complaint to act.

This isn't just theory. Under Section 28, BIS officers can search premises and seize goods, and they have raided e-commerce warehouses. In one raid on a large warehouse in south India, BIS seized around 17,500 units, including earbuds, speakers and cables, worth about ₹2.5 crore.

On top of that, shipments can be held at customs, marketplaces can pull your listings, and once a retailer has flagged your brand, it takes a long while to earn their trust back.

Mistakes we see again and again

Almost every delay we come across traces back to one of these:

1. Assuming a product is exempt without checking the list
2. Mixing up the ISI mark with CRS
3. Testing at a lab that isn't BIS-recognised
4. Applying as the importer when the manufacturer has to be the applicant
5. Shipping before registration is done
6. Printing the wrong mark, or forgetting the R-number
7. Forgetting the annual fee and production details
8. Changing the model or design without checking if a new registration or an inclusion is needed

How Maanak Consultancy can help

BIS paperwork is fussy, and a small error can cost you weeks. At Maanak Consultancy, we help manufacturers, importers and brands figure out whether they need CRS or the ISI mark, confirm the right standard, arrange lab testing, file the application and handle BIS certification for import. We also act as AIR for foreign manufacturers and help you stay on top of annual compliance.

FAQs About BIS certification for products

1. Is BIS certification mandatory for electronics?

Yes, but only for notified products. If yours is on the list, the factory, importer, brand owner and online seller all need the registration and Standard Mark before selling.

2. Is there one BIS notification for 2026?

No, there are a few. Along with the 5-year validity change, S.O. 1246(E) of 10 March 2026 and S.O. 2204(E) of 5 May 2026 amended the Compulsory Registration Order, 2021. Read the Gazette text for your product.

3. How can I tell if a BIS mark is genuine?

Look up the R-number on the CRS portal. For ISI-marked goods, you can also use the BIS CARE app.

4. How much does BIS CRS registration cost?

BIS charges ₹1,000 as the application fee, ₹1,000 as the annual fee and ₹50,000 as the processing fee, which includes one test report. Lab testing is billed separately.

5. How long does BIS registration take?

Many consultants quote 20 to 30 working days for BIS after a complete application. Lab testing comes before that and adds its own time.

6. How long is a CRS registration valid?

Five years under the 2026 amendment. You still have to pay the annual fee and submit production details every year.

7. Can an importer apply for BIS registration?

No. The manufacturer is the applicant. A foreign manufacturer appoints an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR), and your importer can take that role.

8. What is the penalty for selling without BIS registration?

Up to two years in prison, or a fine of at least ₹2 lakh for a first offence and at least ₹5 lakh after that. The fine can go up to ten times the value of the goods.

The bottom line: BIS certification for electronic

If your product is on the notified list, BIS certification for electronic products isn't optional. And it's far cheaper to sort out before launch than after a shipment gets stuck at the port. 

Find out which scheme applies to you, deal with the import requirements before anything ships, test at a recognised lab, mark your products exactly as BIS asks, and put your annual dates on a calendar. If you'd rather hand it over to someone, Maanak Consultancy is happy to help.