Government Rescinds the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Quality Control Order (QCO)
On 14 January 2026, the Ministry of Heavy Industries issued gazette notification S.O. 239(E) under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016, rescinding S.O. 3649(E) dated 28 August 2024, the…
What happened
On 14 January 2026, the Ministry of Heavy Industries issued gazette notification S.O. 239(E) under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016, rescinding S.O. 3649(E) dated 28 August 2024, the Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 with immediate effect.
The original Omnibus Order had sought to create a single, consolidated Quality Control Order (QCO) covering machinery and electrical equipment safety across 20 product categories. Its rescission removes that consolidated framework entirely. There is no amended or replacement order in its place.
Which industries and products were covered
The rescinded order applied to the following 20 product categories and their assemblies, sub-assemblies and components. Products covered exclusively by this order and not by any separate, product-specific QCO are no longer subject to mandatory BIS certification:
- Pumps for handling liquids and liquid elevators
- Compressors of all types
- Machinery for treatment of material involving temperature change
- Centrifuges, filtering and purifying machinery for liquids and gas
- Machinery for filling, closing, sealing, labelling, packing or wrapping
- Cranes of all types
- Machinery for construction, earthmoving and mining
- Weaving machines (looms)
- Machinery for making embroidery
- Metal cutting machine tools
- Machine tools for working stone, ceramics, concrete, asbestos cement or glass
- Machinery for working rubber and plastics
- General-purpose machinery and mechanical appliances not specified elsewhere in Chapter 84
- Gears, gearing, toothed wheels, chain sprockets, gear boxes and speed changers
- Rotary electrical machines (generators, etc.)
- Diesel generators
- Transformers of all types
- Power semiconductor converters
- Switchgear and control gear operating at voltages not exceeding 1000V
- Switchgear and control gear operating at voltages exceeding 1000V
The order explicitly excluded products already covered by any other QCO made under Section 16 of the BIS Act, and also excluded construction equipment covered under CMVR Rules 1989 issued by MoRTH. Those exclusions remain unchanged — the rescission only removes the Omnibus Order's own obligations.
What this means immediately
If your product was covered exclusively by the Omnibus Order: the mandatory BIS certification requirement ceases from 14 January 2026. You are not required to hold or obtain a BIS licence under S.O. 3649(E).
If your product is also covered by a separate, product-specific QCO: that order continues in force independently. The rescission of the Omnibus Order does not affect it.
Have a question about a specific product or QCO? Ask Chat QCO or speak to an expert at bisqco.accessindiaplatform.com
This news update is for guidance only. Verify with a qualified compliance advisor before acting.