What is the ISI Mark and Where is it Mandatory?

What is the isi mark?

The ISI mark is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the BIS Act, 2016. It confirms that a product has been tested against a specific Indian Standard (IS code, i.e., the technical document specifying composition, dimensions, performance thresholds, and test methods for that product) and that BIS has issued a valid licence to the manufacturer.

BIS grants the mark after product testing at a recognised laboratory and under the ISI Mark Scheme or the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS), following a factory inspection. The mark cannot appear on a product until that licence is issued and activated after satisfying certain conditions.

The mark requires two mandatory identifiers: the IS number at the top and the manufacturer’s BIS licence number in the format CM/L-XXXXXXXX at the bottom. Both are verifiable at the official BIS website (Official BIS Portal) . A product displaying the ISI mark against an expired, suspended, or non-existent licence is considered a misuse of statutory certification mark under the BIS Act, 2016, attracting penalties under various sections.

Note: Before accepting any shipment, importers should verify the supplier’s CM/L number on the official BIS website(www.manakonline.in).

Where is the isi mark mandatory?

Mandatory ISI mark requirements are triggered by Quality Control Orders (QCOs) issued in public interest, protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of environment, prevention of unfair trade practices and national security. A QCO designates a product category, assigns a mandatory IS code and prohibits manufacture, import, sale and storage without a valid BIS licence. The obligation applies equally to domestic manufacturers, foreign exporters and importers.

Current mandatory categories, among others, include Portland cement, LPG cylinders, pressure cookers, immersion water heaters, automotive tyres, two-wheeler helmets, TMT bars, structural steel and electrical wires and cables. However, electronics and IT products including mobile phones, laptops, tablets and power adapters are governed by the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS). This mandatory list is dynamic and new QCOs are notified by various ministries regularly.

Product applicability is determined by checking current QCO notifications against the product’s HS (Harmonised System) code. The notified list is accessible at the official BIS website.

The certification pathways

Three BIS schemes govern ISI mark certification. Applying under the wrong scheme is one of the most common errors leading to rejection and delay.

Indian manufacturers apply under the ISI Mark Scheme i.e. product testing at a BIS-recognised laboratory, a factory inspection and if conformant, a licence is issued subject to ongoing surveillance.

Foreign manufacturers must apply under The Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS). The application must be filed directly by the foreign supplier and the importer cannot apply on the supplier’s behalf. BIS sends an inspection team to the foreign facility. Timelines under FMCS typically run six to nine months in practice, and sometimes longer, depending on the product category and inspection scheduling.

Note: A manufacturer entering the FMCS process should plan for at least six months before a licence can be expected. Committing to commercial supply timelines before a licence is in hand is a structural planning error.

Legality and risks

Customs verification at Indian ports is conducted in real time against the BIS portal. A lapsed, suspended or mismatched licence results in immediate consignment detention. Demurrage and ground rent begin accruing from the first day, re-export, apply for conditional exemption or confiscation are the available options but each materially costlier than pre-shipment verification. There may be cases where the goods may be seized with heavy penalties and re-export may not even be allowed.

A BIS licence is specific to both a product and a manufacturing facility. Any change in raw material, manufacturing facility, product specification or a model variant falling under a different IS code may render a shipment non-compliant even where the licence remains active.

Penalties under Sections 29 to 33 of the BIS Act, 2016 include fines calculated on the value of the goods and for serious or repeated violations may lead to criminal liabilities.

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