Kitchen & Household Articles
The Indian kitchenware industry generates roughly ₹38,000 crore in annual turnover and serves more than…
ISI MARK · 213 LINES · 87 STANDARDS
The Indian kitchenware industry generates roughly ₹38,000 crore in annual turnover and serves more than 280 million households, with stainless steel utensils holding the dominant share and aluminium cookware concentrated in pressure cookers, kadhais, and tawas. Manufacturing geography splits along three clusters: the Wazirpur Industrial Area in north Delhi for stainless steel sheet stamping and utensil finishing, Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh for stainless steel hollow-ware and tableware, and Rajkot in Gujarat for aluminium pressure cookers and non-stick cookware. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified 109 eight-digit HSN codes across Chapter 73 (articles of iron or steel) and Chapter 76 (aluminium and articles thereof) as compulsory-certification products, drawn from a controlled pool of 45 Indian Standards covering stainless steel utensils, aluminium cookware, and the upstream sheet, strip, and circle stock that feeds the cluster supply chain.
The dominant scheme is the ISI Mark Scheme under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018. All 109 HSN codes in the industry sit within this scheme, with no Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) or Scheme-X overlap. The governing instruments are the Stainless Steel Utensils (Quality Control) Order mandating IS 6911 (stainless steel for utensils and other domestic and allied applications) and IS 15997 (low nickel austenitic stainless steel for utensils), together with the Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Products (Quality Control) Orders covering IS 1660 (aluminium and aluminium alloy circles for utensils), IS 21 (cast aluminium and aluminium alloy utensils), and IS 7155 (recommended practice for the production of utensils from aluminium and aluminium alloy circles), each issued under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016.
Six operational pain points dominate enforcement. First, nickel migration testing under IS 6911 on food-contact surfaces requires a representative production-finish sample, not a polished show piece, and a polished-sample submission triggers re-test demand and licence-grant delay. Second, hexavalent chromium presence on cheap imported stainless cookware fails the heavy-metal limits under IS 6911 read with the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, and customs sample testing routinely detains such consignments. Third, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) carries parallel jurisdiction under Section 3 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 over food-contact articles, creating a dual-regime exposure for cookware manufacturers and importers. Fourth, lead and cadmium migration limits on aluminium utensils tested under IS 1660 are stricter than the chemical-composition envelope of the underlying circle stock alone, and a compliant ingot does not guarantee a compliant finished utensil. Fifth, the Wazirpur, Aligarh, and Rajkot cluster MSME compliance gap remains material — several thousand small stamping and finishing units operate without a CM/L licence and supply unbranded stock into mandi trade. Sixth, e-commerce marketplaces face listing removal under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 read with Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016 for uncertified cookware SKUs, with platform-level takedowns becoming routine after BIS surveillance sweeps.
At a glance
213
Tariff lines (8-digit HSN)
87
Indian Standards in industry
73 · 76
HSN chapters mapped
ISI
Primary mark scheme
Who it affects
Indian manufacturers
The Indian kitchenware industry splits between organised brands (Hawkins, TTK Prestige, Stovekraft, Vinod Cookware, Borosil, Cello) that hold BIS licences against the full IS 6911, IS 15997, IS 1660, IS 21, and IS 7155 cohort, and several thousand cluster MSME units in Wazirpur, Aligarh, and Rajkot that must hold cohort-specific CM/L licences against the applicable stainless or aluminium utensil standard to legally manufacture, store, or sell in India. Operating a sheet-stamping line, deep-draw press, spinning lathe, or anodising bath without a CM/L licence against the applicable IS standard exposes the unit to seizure of finished stock, retrospective duty on past sales, and prosecution under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016. The clusters face concentrated enforcement risk because BIS surveillance officers conduct cluster-level surprise inspections, with food-contact utensils drawing additional scrutiny under the IS 6911 nickel migration limits and the IS 1660 lead and cadmium migration limits.
Foreign manufacturers
Foreign kitchenware mills exporting to India — predominantly Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and Turkish producers of stainless steel cookware, pressure cookers, non-stick aluminium pans, and household stainless tableware — must obtain a Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) licence under Scheme-I of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018 before any ISI-marked consignment can pass Indian customs, with the typical timeline running 6 to 9 months from application to grant. For a Chinese cookware manufacturer in the Guangdong or Zhejiang cluster, the FMCS pathway comprises application filing on manakonline.in, appointment of an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR), BIS officer travel to the factory for inspection of the press line, anodising or PTFE coating bath, and finishing area, sample drawing for testing at a BIS-recognised Indian laboratory against IS 6911 or IS 1660 specifications including the nickel, lead, and cadmium migration protocols, and grant of the product-and-facility-specific CM/L licence. The AIR named on the application carries personal statutory liability under Rule 11 of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018 for sample submission, surveillance-fee remittance, and the foreign factory's ongoing compliance.
Importers
Customs verification at Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mundra, Chennai, Tuticorin, and every container-handling Indian port is conducted in real time against the BIS portal (manakonline.in), overlaid on the food-contact side with FSSAI scrutiny under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018. A lapsed, suspended, or specification-mismatched FMCS licence on a cookware consignment results in immediate consignment detention at the wharf, and BIS sample-test failure on nickel migration, hexavalent chromium content, or lead and cadmium migration triggers parallel FSSAI action on the same goods. Demurrage and ground rent on cookware containers accrue from day 1 of detention at rates that compound rapidly given containerised mixed-SKU loads. Importers should verify the supplier's CM/L number, the specific IS standard code, the steel grade or aluminium alloy designation, and the food-contact finish specification on manakonline.in before placing each purchase order, because migration-test failures identified after arrival in India cannot be cured at the port and end in re-export or confiscation.
Applicable Indian Standards
IS 302IS 302 is the general safety standard for household and similar electrical appliances, applied as the parent code with appliance-specific Part-numbers (washi…IS 1804:2004IS 1804 is cited across cordage, twine and netting products of Chapter 56, alloy steel wire of Chapter 72 and stranded wire and ropes of Chapter 73 covered u…IS 17876:2022IS 17876 specifies the requirements for welded stainless steel tubes and pipes of circular and non-circular cross-section produced by longitudinal, helical o…IS 17803:2022IS 17803 specifies the safety and performance requirements for cookware and kitchen utensils made of stainless steel, copper, copper alloys and aluminium, in…IS 5082:1998IS 5082 is the Indian Standard governing hollow, circles, wire rods, covering 19 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mar…IS 01IS 01 is the Indian Standard governing wire netting, other utensils, other, including parts, covering 21 tariff items under HSN Chapters 73, 72 and 84. Compl…IS 7902:2001IS 7902 specifies the requirements for aluminium and aluminium-alloy wrought articles used as fabricated components, including dimensional tolerance, mechani…IS 15833:2009IS 15833 specifies the requirements for steel wood screws, machine screws, self-tapping screws and associated fasteners used in joinery, light construction a…IS 16014:2018IS 16014 specifies the requirements for mild-steel wire of varying gauge supplied as galvanised stay wire and binding wire for construction, fencing and elec…IS 10238:2001IS 10238 specifies the requirements for slotted countersunk-head screws, including thread profile, head geometry and mechanical property class. The standard …IS 12427:2001IS 12427 specifies the requirements for cold-forged hexagon-headed and machine screws, wood screws, coach screws, self-tapping screws and screw hooks. The st…IS 1363IS 1363 specifies the requirements for hexagon head bolts, screws and nuts of product grade C, covering threaded steel fasteners used in general engineering,…IS 1364IS 1364 specifies the requirements for hexagon head bolts, screws and nuts of product grades A and B, governing precision threaded steel fasteners used in ma…IS 3757:1985IS 3757:1985 specifies the dimensional, material grade, hardness and surface-finish requirements for high-strength structural bolts of property class 8.8 and…IS 4621:1975IS 4621 specifies the recommended dimensions for hexagon socket-head cap screws, prescribing thread series, head diameter, socket size, depth-of-engagement a…IS 5187:1972IS 5187 specifies the requirements for slotted countersunk flat head wood screws, including dimensions, head form, thread profile, mechanical properties and …IS 6623:2004IS 6623 specifies the requirements for high strength structural nuts, prescribing dimensions, mechanical properties, proof load, hardness and surface finish …IS 17153:2019IS 17153:2019 covers electric ovens, cookers, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters classified under HSN 8516 60 00. The standard sets safety,…IS 10109IS 10109 is the Indian Standard governing other stoves, cookers and kitchen stoves, other stoves and appliances, covering 12 tariff items under HSN Chapter 7…IS 1342IS 1342 is the Indian Standard governing other stoves, cookers and kitchen stoves, other stoves and appliances, covering 12 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73…IS 16011:2012IS 16011 specifies the requirements for plain, embossed, coated, perforated and printed aluminium foil supplied for packaging, lamination and household use. …IS 2787IS 2787 is the Indian Standard governing other stoves, cookers and kitchen stoves, other stoves and appliances, covering 12 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73…IS 734:1975IS 734 is the Indian Standard governing ingots, billets, circles, covering 11 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark S…IS 15392IS 15392 specifies the requirements for aluminium foil supplied in plain, embossed, perforated, coated, printed and backed forms for packaging, insulation an…IS 18427:2024IS 18427 specifies the requirements for plain, lacquered, printed and embossed tinplate and aluminium containers used for packing food, beverages, edible oil…IS 1269:1997IS 1269 is cited under successive Quality Control Orders covering narrow-fabric textile articles of man-made fibres and forged or fabricated steel articles c…IS 2067:1975IS 2067 is the Indian Standard governing hard drawn bare-solid, covering 9 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Sche…IS 14407:2024IS 14407 specifies the requirements for aluminium collapsible tubes and rigid cans used as packaging for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and other consumer …IS 736:1986IS 736 is the Indian Standard governing circles, electrolytic plates or sheets, covering 8 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under t…IS 737:2008IS 737 is the Indian Standard governing circles, electrolytic plates or sheets, covering 8 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under t…IS 17875:2022IS 17875 specifies the requirements for cold-drawn and cold-rolled (cold-reduced) tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of stainless steel intended for general en…IS 18471IS 18471 specifies the requirements for hexagon-head and socket-head bolts, screws and studs of property class 8.8 and above used in structural, automotive a…IS 18476:2023IS 18476 specifies the requirements for hexagon-head and flange-head bolts and screws of property classes up to 6.8 used in general engineering, light struct…IS 18480IS 18480 specifies the requirements for self-tapping, self-drilling and thread-forming screws used to join sheet metal, timber, plastics and composite substr…IS 18507:2024IS 18507 specifies the requirements for slotted, cross-recess and other machine screws of small diameter used in electrical, electronic, instrumentation and …IS 18508:2024IS 18508 specifies the requirements for set screws, grub screws and headless threaded fasteners used in shaft-collar, pulley, gear and machine-element retent…IS 18509:2023IS 18509 specifies the requirements for wood screws, screw hooks and screw rings used in joinery, furniture, light construction and fitting applications. The…IS 1879:2010IS 1879 specifies the requirements for malleable cast iron threaded pipe fittings used for water, gas, steam and air service. The standard governs material g…IS 21IS 21 (Wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys for manufacture of utensils) is the Indian Standard specifying chemical composition, mechanical properties and …IS 2403:2014IS 2403:2014 specifies the dimensional, material and load-bearing requirements for short-pitch transmission precision roller chains, bush chains, attachments…IS 7483:2018IS 7483 specifies the requirements for cross recessed pan head tapping screws, prescribing dimensions, thread form, drive recess geometry and mechanical case…IS 7485IS 7485 specifies the requirements for cross recessed countersunk head tapping screws, prescribing head form, recess geometry, thread profile and case-hardne…IS 7486:2018IS 7486 specifies the dimensional and mechanical requirements for hexagon screws used in industrial fastening, covering machine screws, self-tapping screws, …IS 1285:2002IS 1285 is the Indian Standard governing hollow, hollow profiles, covering 6 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Sc…IS 14756:2024IS 14756 specifies the safety and performance requirements for domestic pressure cookers manufactured from stainless steel, aluminium and other ferrous and n…IS 4246IS 4246 (Specification for domestic gas stoves for use with liquefied petroleum gases) is the Indian Standard covering construction, safety and performance r…IS 5484:1997IS 5484 is the Indian Standard governing wire rods, bars and rods, other than wire rods, hard drawn bare aluminium conductors steel re-inforced (a.c.s.r.), c…IS 733:1983IS 733 is the Indian Standard governing wire rods, bars and rods, other than wire rods, hard drawn bare aluminium conductors steel re-inforced (a.c.s.r.), co…IS 739:1992IS 739 is the Indian Standard governing hard drawn bare-solid, covering 6 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Schem…IS 1254:2007IS 1254 is the Indian Standard governing circles, electrolytic plates or sheets, covering 5 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under …IS 1660:2024IS 1660 specifies the requirements for cast aluminium alloy utensils for household and similar use, including pressure cookers, non-stick cookware, solar col…IS 17682:2021IS 17682 is the Indian Standard governing hollow, circles, covering 5 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme an…IS 210:2009IS 210 is the Indian Standard governing sg iron cast fittings, sponge iron cast fittings, covering 5 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandato…IS 1161IS 1161 (Specification for steel tubes for structural purposes) is the Indian Standard covering the dimensions, material grades and mechanical-property requi…IS 14255:1995IS 14255 specifies the requirements for aluminium-clad steel wire used in earth-wire and overhead-conductor applications. The standard prescribes wire diamet…IS 1726:1991IS 1726 specifies the requirements for cast iron manhole covers, frames, gratings and ancillary articles supplied for drainage chambers, road infrastructure …IS 1729:2002IS 1729 is the Indian Standard governing soil pipe, spun pipe, rain water pipe, covering 4 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under t…IS 1856:2005IS 1856 specifies the requirements for steel wire ropes used for general engineering purposes, covering black and galvanised constructions used in hoisting, …IS 2266:2019IS 2266 specifies the requirements for steel wire ropes used in general engineering, hoisting, elevator and material-handling applications. The standard pres…IS 2365:2018IS 2365 specifies the requirements for steel wire suspension ropes used for lifts, escalators and similar passenger and goods-conveying installations. The st…IS 4521:2001IS 4521 specifies the requirements for steel wire ropes and strands for general engineering applications, including dimensions, lay construction, wire grade,…IS 1536:2001IS 1536 is the Indian Standard governing soil pipe, spun pipe, rain water pipe, covering 4 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under t…IS 15905:2011IS 15905 is the Indian Standard governing soil pipe, spun pipe, rain water pipe, covering 4 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under …IS 3989:2009IS 3989 is the Indian Standard governing soil pipe, spun pipe, rain water pipe, covering 4 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under t…IS 13349:1992IS 13349 is the Indian Standard mapped to 2 tariff items under HSN Chapters 73 and 84. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme and the controlling …IS 13983:1994IS 13983 specifies the requirements for stainless steel sinks for domestic and commercial use, including single-bowl, double-bowl and drainboard configuratio…IS 15155:2020IS 15155 is the Indian Standard mapped to 2 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme and the controlling Quality …IS 1537:1976IS 1537 is the Indian Standard governing soil pipe, rain water pipe, covering 2 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark…IS 2347:2017IS 2347 specifies the safety and performance requirements for domestic pressure cookers manufactured from stainless steel and aluminium. The standard prescri…IS 278:2009IS 278 is the Indian Standard governing barbed wire, covering 2 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme and the …IS 3196IS 3196 is the Indian Standard governing liquefied petroleum gas (lpg) cylinder, low pressure cylinder (working pressure up to 35.2 kg/sq.cm other than lpg),…IS 3298:1981IS 3298 is the Indian Standard governing rivets, covering 2 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme and the cont…IS 6913IS 6913 is the Indian Standard governing welded ,of stainless steel, other, welded, of circular cross-section, of stainless steel, covering 2 tariff items un…IS 7092IS 7092 is the Indian Standard governing of aluminium, not alloyed, covering 2 tariff items under HSN Chapter 76. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark …IS 740:1977IS 740 specifies the requirements for aluminium pressure cookers for domestic use, including body wall thickness, weld integrity, gasket performance, safety …IS 8329IS 8329 is the Indian Standard governing spun pipe, tubes and pipes, covering 2 tariff items under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark…IS 1239IS 1239 is the Indian Standard mapped to 1 tariff item under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme and the controlling Quality Co…IS 1284:1975IS 1284 is the Indian Standard governing nails, tacks, staples (other than those of heading 8305), screws, bolts, nuts, s, covering 1 tariff item under HSN C…IS 14899IS 14899 is the Indian Standard governing liquefied petroleum gas (lpg) cylinder, covering 1 tariff item under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under …IS 16012:2012IS 16012 specifies the requirements for aluminium and aluminium alloy collapsible tubes supplied for packaging of pharmaceutical, cosmetic, dental and food p…IS 1855:2022IS 1855 specifies the requirements for cold-drawn round steel wire used as feedstock for the manufacture of steel wire ropes. The standard governs tensile st…IS 2141:2000IS 2141 specifies the requirements for hot-dip galvanised stranded steel wire used in overhead transmission lines, stay-wire applications and similar tension…IS 4270IS 4270 is the Indian Standard governing above 219.1 mm outer diameter, covering 1 tariff item under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Ma…IS 6392IS 6392 (Specification for steel pipe flanges) is the Indian Standard covering the dimensions, materials and tolerances for steel pipe flanges used in proces…IS 7142IS 7142 is the Indian Standard governing high pressure cylinder (working pressure exceeding 35.2 kg/sq.cm), covering 1 tariff item under HSN Chapter 73. Comp…IS 7285IS 7285 is the Indian Standard governing high pressure cylinder (working pressure exceeding 35.2 kg/sq.cm), covering 1 tariff item under HSN Chapter 73. Comp…IS 7312IS 7312 is the Indian Standard mapped to 1 tariff item under HSN Chapter 73. Compliance is mandatory under the ISI Mark Scheme and the controlling Quality Co…
Tariff lines by chapter
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Speak to an Expert Frequently asked
Do all stainless steel utensils need BIS certification?
Yes for products falling within the scope of the Stainless Steel Utensils (Quality Control) Order — domestic stainless steel utensils, pressure cookers, vacuum flasks, and household stainless tableware within the notified HSN cohort of Chapter 73 (principally 7323 and 7615 utensil entries) require an ISI Mark licence against IS 6911 (stainless steel for utensils and other domestic and allied applications) or IS 15997 (low nickel austenitic stainless steel for utensils) under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018. Industrial stainless products outside the utensil-and-domestic perimeter — surgical instruments, laboratory ware, structural and architectural stainless — fall under separate standards and Quality Control Orders.
Is aluminium cookware under BIS QCO?
Yes. Aluminium pressure cookers, kadhais, tawas, deep-draw cookware, anodised hard-coat cookware, and non-stick PTFE-coated aluminium cookware fall under the Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Products (Quality Control) Orders, certified through the ISI Mark Scheme against IS 1660 (aluminium and aluminium alloy circles for utensils), IS 21 (cast aluminium and aluminium alloy utensils for cooking), and IS 7155 (recommended practice for the production of utensils from aluminium and aluminium alloy circles), each issued under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016. Pressure cookers carry an additional IS 2347 specification for design and safety, and the certified licence must name the specific cooker capacity, working pressure, and lid design.
What is the FSSAI overlay on cookware food-contact?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) carries parallel statutory jurisdiction over articles in contact with food under Section 3 read with Section 23 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 set heavy-metal migration limits on lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, nickel, and other elements migrating into food from cookware surfaces. A valid BIS licence under IS 6911 or IS 1660 satisfies the standards-and-conformity arm of the regime, but the cookware manufacturer or importer must additionally comply with the FSSAI packaging regulations on food-contact migration, and FSSAI inspectors can act on cookware SKUs in retail trade independent of any BIS surveillance action.
Does the kitchenware QCO apply to e-commerce sellers?
Yes. The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, framed under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, read with Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016, hold e-commerce marketplaces and direct sellers liable for listing or shipping uncertified cookware that requires an ISI Mark licence under the applicable Quality Control Order. Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, and Tata Cliq routinely take down stainless and aluminium cookware SKUs after BIS surveillance sweeps that match listed products against the BIS portal CM/L database, and persistent uncertified listings expose the platform to monetary penalty under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the cookware seller to confiscation, monetary penalty under Sections 29 through 33 of the BIS Act, 2016, and criminal liability for repeat offences.
How does FMCS work for a Chinese cookware manufacturer?
A Chinese cookware manufacturer in the Guangdong, Zhejiang, or Jiangsu cluster files a Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) application on the BIS portal (manakonline.in) under Scheme-I of Schedule-II of the BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018, appoints an Authorised Indian Representative (AIR) carrying personal statutory liability under Rule 11 of the same Regulations, hosts a BIS officer inspection at the producing factory in China — covering the press and spinning line, anodising or PTFE coating bath, finishing area, and quality-control laboratory — submits product samples to a BIS-recognised Indian laboratory for testing against IS 6911 (stainless cookware) or IS 1660 with IS 21 and IS 7155 (aluminium cookware) including the nickel, lead, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium migration protocols, and obtains a product-and-facility-specific CM/L licence carrying the manufacturer's CM/L number. The typical timeline runs 6 to 9 months from application filing to licence grant, and the CM/L must name the producing factory address, not a trader or warehousing intermediary in Yiwu or Hong Kong.
Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-23. Source: BIS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.
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