BIS certification online sellers india

BIS certification online sellers need is not a blanket requirement. It applies to products that the Central Government has notified for compulsory certification, usually through a Quality Control Order (QCO). If a product is on that list, selling, storing or even exhibiting it for sale without the Standard Mark is an offence under the BIS Act, 2016. This guide shows how to check a product, document the check and handle marketplaces.

Quick answer: For BIS certification online sellers should check every product against the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) compulsory-certification lists (Scheme I ISI Mark, Scheme II Compulsory Registration, Scheme IV and Scheme X) and its list of upcoming QCOs. If a product is covered, sell only units that carry a valid licence or registration number from the certified maker, and never claim conformity you cannot prove. Under section 29(3) the fine is not less than ₹2 lakh for a first contravention. Lists change often; sources read on 12 and 13 October 2026.

Voluntary by default, compulsory by order

BIS's own page on Products under Compulsory Certification (last updated 24 September 2026 when we read it) states that the BIS certification scheme is basically voluntary in nature. It then explains that the Central Government can make compliance with Indian Standards compulsory for certain products, for reasons such as public interest, protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of the environment, prevention of unfair trade practices and national security. For those products the Government directs use of the Standard Mark under a licence, or a Certificate of Conformity, through Quality Control Orders. Wikipedia gives neutral background on the Bureau of Indian Standards and on the ISI mark.

The practical meaning is that most things a small online seller stocks, such as a cotton kurta or a scented candle, are not on the compulsory lists we read, while a defined set of goods are covered without exception. Your job is to find out, product by product and before listing, which side each item falls on. The rest of this guide is built around that decision.

What the BIS Act, 2016 says about sellers

The wording below is taken from a legal reference reproduction of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. The Act is also published on the India Code portal.

• Section 17(1): no person shall manufacture, import, distribute, sell, hire, lease, store or exhibit for sale goods covered by a section 16 order without a Standard Mark, except under a valid licence. A licence holder also may not apply the mark unless the goods conform to the relevant standard.
• Section 17(2): no person shall make a public claim, through advertisements, sales promotion leaflets, price lists or the like, that goods conform to an Indian standard, or make such a declaration on the goods, without a valid certificate of conformity or licence.
• Section 17(3): no person shall use a Standard Mark, or any colourable imitation of it, except under a valid licence from BIS.
• Section 18(2) and (3): the distributor or seller must ensure that goods carrying the Standard Mark are purchased from a certified body or licence holder, and, before sale, that the goods bear the labels and marking details BIS specifies, displayed in the specified manner.
• Section 28: a certification officer who has reason to believe that goods have been dealt with in contravention of section 17 may enter and search premises or vehicles and seize the goods and related documents.
• Section 29(3) and (4): a contravention of section 17 is punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh for the first contravention and not less than ₹5 lakh for later ones, extendable up to ten times the value of the goods, or both. The offence is cognizable.
• Section 30: where a company commits an offence, those in charge of its business may be proceeded against, and the Act's explanation says "company" includes a firm or other association of individuals. A small partnership is therefore not outside the provision.
• Section 33: a first offence that is not punishable with imprisonment only can be compounded, before or after prosecution, by an officer authorised by the Director General, for a sum that cannot exceed the maximum fine under section 29. BIS publishes a "Compounding of offence" page under its enforcement menu.

Three points matter for an online seller. First, "sell", "store" and "exhibit for sale" are separate verbs, so a live product page can count as exhibiting goods for sale even before the first order. Second, section 18 puts a duty on the seller and not only on the maker, so a reseller who buys from an unlicensed source cannot rely on the maker's failure alone. Third, the Act defines "sale" widely, to include distribute, hire, lease and exchange for consideration or for commercial purposes, and defines a "seller" as anyone engaged in such sale.

Which schemes exist and what you will see on a product

BIS's compulsory-certification page lists four schemes. The table summarises them from that page and from the lists beneath it.

We read the Scheme I page (shown as last updated 10 July 2026) and the Scheme II page (last updated 22 September 2026) on 12 October 2026. The Scheme I page runs to hundreds of numbered Indian Standards and contains entries marked "De-notified from compulsory BIS certification" as well as withdrawal orders, which is a reminder that the lists move in both directions. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology also describes the registration regime on its Compulsory Registration Scheme page. BIS additionally keeps a list of products under a simplified procedure, which is a licensing route for the maker and not a relaxation for sellers.

The six-step check for every product

Use this flow for each new product, and repeat it for the whole catalogue on a schedule. Once you are used to it, one product takes about ten minutes.

1. Name the product precisely. Write the plain description, material, intended user and rating if electrical, for example "domestic pressure cooker, 5 litre, aluminium" or "toy for children under 14".
2. Search the lists. Search the Scheme I, Scheme II and Scheme X pages for the product name and its synonyms. A "kids' play set" may be listed as a toy; a "charger bank" is a power bank.
3. Match the Indian Standard number. Each list row shows the IS number and the QCO. Note both.
4. Read the QCO. Check the effective date, the scope wording, any exemptions and any transition or amendment order. The Scheme I page, for example, shows a "Transition Facilitation (Quality Control) Order, 2026" (S.O. 3417(E), 25 June 2026) beside an entry on air-conditioner components.
5. Check the upcoming list. Open BIS's upcoming QCOs page for orders that have been notified but are not yet in force.
6. Look up the maker and keep a file. Ask for the licence or R-number, look it up on BIS Care, and save the list page with its date, the QCO, the certificate and photographs of the mark.

A decision table: is this product covered?

The table turns the six steps into outcomes. Treat the third column as the minimum, not the maximum.

Reading a QCO: scope, dates and exemptions

The list row is only the entry point. The notification itself decides whether your product is inside the order, and sellers most often go wrong in three places.

Scope wording

A QCO names goods by an Indian Standard and sometimes by a definition in the order. A product that seems adjacent may still be inside it. The upcoming-QCO page, for instance, includes an entry for all electrical appliances for household, commercial or similar use under IS 302 (Part 1):2024, followed by an illustrative list that runs from juicers and hair clippers to humidifiers and beauty-care devices. A seller who looks only for the word "appliance" in the Scheme I list could miss a product described by its function.

Effective dates and stock

Each order carries a date from which the prohibition applies. Whether stock manufactured or imported before that date may still be sold depends on the order and on any transition or facilitation order. Do not assume a sell-through period exists; the order sets the date from which the prohibition applies.

Exemptions and amendments

Orders are amended and sometimes carry exemptions for specified uses such as export, research or samples. The Scheme I page lists amendment orders against many entries, with dates from 2020 to 2026. If you rely on an exemption, keep the exact clause and your evidence that you fall within it.

Categories that appear on the lists: a reading aid

The categories below appeared on the lists we read on 12 October 2026. They show the breadth of the lists and are not a complete or current inventory; always search for your own product.

Gold and silver jewellery sit under a separate BIS regime. BIS's hallmarking pages list the Hallmarking Regulations, 2018, a Mandatory Hallmarking Order and its amendments (the latest listed on the page we read being dated 3 August 2026) and phase-wise district coverage. If you sell jewellery, read those pages; they are outside the scope of this article.

What is coming: the upcoming QCO list as read on 12 October 2026

BIS's upcoming page describes its list as advance information for better awareness, with orders issued by the concerned ministry or department coming into force on the dates shown. When we read it (shown as last updated 12 October 2026), it listed 29 numbered entries. The table groups the ones most likely to matter to small online sellers; it is not exhaustive and the dates are those shown on the BIS page.

Two readings follow. First, two entries show 1 October 2026, which was before the day we read the page, so a seller of such goods should treat them as already in force and read the notification. Second, accessories such as screen protectors, which many phone-accessory sellers stock, are on the list for a future date, so supply chains need time to change. The point of this section is not the individual rows, which will change, but the habit of looking at this page every quarter.

How to verify a licence or R-number

A claim of certification is only as good as the check behind it. BIS's BIS Care app page, read on 13 October 2026, describes these functions: verify licence details to check a product's authenticity, verify an R-number under the Compulsory Registration Scheme for electronic products, verify a HUID for hallmarked jewellery, view products under compulsory certification, and make complaints about product quality or misuse of the BIS mark. BIS lists its apps on the BIS Apps page.

What to compare

• The licence or R-number printed on the product and pack against the number the maker supplied.
• The product description, brand and model on the BIS record against what you are buying.
• The validity status, since licences can be suspended or cancelled.
• The manufacturing site, where BIS shows it, against the name on your invoice.

What a failed check means

If the number does not match, if the licence covers a different product, or if the maker cannot give a number, treat the stock as uncertified until proved otherwise. Do not list it. A seller who notices a problem after listing should remove the listing and quarantine the stock.

What the penalty looks like in numbers

The following example uses assumed values to show why the exposure is not small. The arithmetic follows section 29(3) as reproduced above; actual outcomes are decided by courts.

Worked example 1: stock value and the fine ceiling

Assume you hold 200 units of a notified product bought at ₹850 each, with no valid mark. Stock value is 200 × 850 = ₹1,70,000. The statutory range for a first contravention begins at a fine of ₹2,00,000, which already exceeds the stock value. The upper bound of the fine is ten times the value of the goods: 10 × 1,70,000 = ₹17,00,000. For a second or later contravention the minimum rises to ₹5,00,000. Imprisonment of up to two years may be imposed instead of or with a fine.

Worked example 2: when the value cannot be determined

The proviso to section 29(3) says that where the value of goods cannot be determined, one year's production is presumed to be in contravention and the annual turnover of the previous financial year is taken as the value. Assume a small business with annual turnover of ₹40,00,000. Ten times that figure is 10 × 40,00,000 = ₹4,00,00,000. This is the ceiling a court could in principle consider, not a forecast, but it shows why "we only sold a few pieces" is a weak assumption to rely on.

Worked example 3: the cost of compliance against the cost of risk

Assume a seller can buy 500 power banks from an uncertified source at ₹400 each, or from a registered R-number holder at ₹460 each. Uncertified source: 500 × 400 = ₹2,00,000. R-number holder: 500 × 460 = ₹2,30,000. The extra cost of compliance is ₹30,000, or 15 per cent of the cheaper order (30,000 ÷ 2,00,000 = 0.15). The minimum fine for a first contravention is ₹2,00,000, which is more than six times the extra cost (2,00,000 ÷ 30,000 = 6.67). The numbers are assumed; the comparison method is the useful part.

What enforcement against online sales looks like

Two official releases show that online channels are within the enforcement view.

• A PIB release of 6 August 2025, reporting a written reply in the Lok Sabha, said BIS procured 344 samples of goods under mandatory certification from e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms in FY 2024-25, found 142 without valid BIS certification, and that investigations since FY 2024-25 led to search and seizure operations at 22 warehouses of e-commerce platforms across 12 States and Union Territories.
• A PIB release of 16 February 2026 reported that the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposed a penalty of ₹5,00,000 on Snapdeal for facilitating the sale of toys that did not meet the Toys (Quality Control) Order, 2020. It records that many listings lacked the manufacturer's name, address and BIS certification numbers, that the platform relied solely on seller self-declarations without independent verification, which the CCPA called inadequate, and that the CCPA described the shift from caveat emptor to caveat venditor.

Wikipedia has background on the Central Consumer Protection Authority and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The second release matters most for sellers: a platform that is penalised for weak checks has a reason to tighten its checks on the sellers it hosts. The CCPA's remark that the burden of product safety rests on both seller and facilitating platform is a regulator's view recorded in a press release, not a statute, but it signals the direction of enforcement.

Marketplace listing impact

Amazon's seller FAQ says documentation requirements vary by category, and Flipkart's seller site is at seller.flipkart.com. Each seller portal lists the documents its category policy requires; the table sets out what to prepare.

Illustrative scenario: a listing is blocked

Illustrative scenario: a home-appliance seller in Surat uploads a handheld juicer. The platform removes the listing and asks for the BIS licence number and a copy of the certificate. The seller, who bought through a trader and not directly from the maker, has only a trader invoice. Using the six-step flow, the seller asks the trader for the maker's name and licence number, finds the product's IS standard in the upcoming QCO list, looks the licence up on BIS Care, and cannot match the licence to this model. The seller does not re-list. The lesson is that evidence has to trace from the product back to the licence holder, and a trader's assurance is not that evidence.

Your own store is an e-commerce entity too

If you sell from your own website, you are an "e-commerce entity" in the sense of the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, which apply to goods and services bought or sold over digital or electronic networks, and an inventory e-commerce entity if you own the stock you sell. We read the Rules as published by the Department of Consumer Affairs. Rule 4 requires e-commerce entities to show their legal name, address, website and contact details of customer care and the grievance officer, to avoid unfair trade practices, and to acknowledge complaints within 48 hours and redress them within one month. Marketplace entities must also require sellers by undertaking to ensure that descriptions, images and other content are accurate and correspond with the appearance, nature, quality and purpose of the goods.

A Gazette notification of 9 September 2026 amends those rules. In the English text we read, it covers prominent disclosure of the entity's details, the importer's name and the full country of origin for imported goods as provided under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, a prior-price indication when a price reduction is announced, and compliance with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. Wikipedia has a general note on legal metrology; labelling rules under that regime are a separate topic from BIS marks.

None of these provisions replaces the BIS Act. They add to it. A product page that is accurate, names the manufacturer and shows a verifiable certification number is also the page that serves both regimes. The government's National Consumer Helpline is one of the channels through which a buyer may complain, which is another reason to keep your own grievance process working.

Reselling, private labels and imports

If you resell another company's goods

Section 18 expects you to buy from a certified body or licence holder. Ask for the licence number, check it, and keep the invoice. If a supplier says a product "does not need" a mark, ask which list and which QCO it falls outside, and search that list yourself.

If you put your own brand on a maker's goods

A Standard Mark licence is granted to a manufacturer for specified products and sites. The licence holder named on the record is the maker, so the maker's name and licence number are the identifiers to trace.

If you import

Section 17 covers importing as well as selling. BIS runs a Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) whose menu on the BIS site includes nominating an authorised Indian representative, and electronics under Scheme II apply to imported goods as well. DGFT issues the Import-Export Code; customs procedure is outside the scope of this guide.

If you drop-ship

If you list goods that a supplier ships directly, the goods are still offered for sale on your page. Obtain the same licence evidence from the supplier before listing, and agree in writing that the supplier will tell you when a licence lapses.

Marketing claims and the mark itself

Section 17(2) and (3) govern how product copy may describe certification. Do not write "ISI certified", "BIS approved" or "meets BIS standards" unless the product has a valid licence or certificate of conformity, and do not use the mark, or a lookalike, in listing images. If a maker's certification lapses, pull the claim and the listing together.

Safe and unsafe wording

Template: the supplier verification request

Send a short written request to every supplier of a product that appears on a list. The wording below is a template to adapt.

Subject: Certification details for [product name, model]

Message: We intend to list [product, model] for sale online in India. Please state in writing (1) the applicable Indian Standard number, (2) the BIS licence number or R-number under which this exact model is made, (3) the licence holder's name and manufacturing address, (4) a copy of the licence or registration certificate, and (5) the date of its validity. Please also undertake to notify us immediately if the licence is suspended, cancelled or not renewed. Photographs of the mark on the product and the pack are requested with the reply.

Keep the reply with the invoice. A supplier who declines to answer has told you something useful.

Scoring a supplier before you place an order

A simple score helps when several suppliers quote for the same product. The sheet below is our own illustrative method, not a BIS requirement. Give each line a score from 0 to 2 and add them.

Assume Supplier A scores 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 9 out of 10 and Supplier B scores 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 1 = 4. A policy of ordering only from suppliers scoring 8 or more would exclude B regardless of price. Choose the threshold to suit your risk; the value of the sheet is that it forces each line to be checked.

Illustrative scenario: a kitchenware and gadgets seller reviews the catalogue

Illustrative scenario: a seller in Pune lists 40 kitchen and small-electronics products. At ten minutes per product the first review takes 40 × 10 = 400 minutes, or six hours and forty minutes, which can be split over two days. The outcomes below describe what the lists we read on 12 October 2026 showed for each description; they are a method illustration, and the seller must re-run the check on the exact products.

The last two rows matter as much as the first six. A dated "not found" is evidence that you checked, and it prompts you to re-check when something new is notified. Do not rely on a single search term: use the IS number, the product class and common synonyms.

Illustrative scenario: a reseller discovers a lapsed licence

Illustrative scenario: a gift-store owner in Jaipur sells wireless earphones sourced from a distributor. At the quarterly review she searches Scheme II and finds wireless headphones and earphones on the list, then asks the distributor for the R-number again. The distributor gives the same number as before, but the BIS Care check shows it as not valid for the model on her invoice. She does three things: removes the listing the same day, stops buying, and writes to the distributor asking for documents and a replacement plan. She keeps the screenshots, invoices and messages together. The scenario shows why a repeat check matters: a number that was valid once may not remain valid for a given model.

How often to re-check

QCOs are issued, amended, deferred and withdrawn through the year. The lists we read carry orders dated from 2020 to 2026, and entries described as de-notified or withdrawn. A reasonable routine is to review the full catalogue when you add a product, at the start of each quarter, when BIS's upcoming list changes, and whenever you hear of a new order in a category you sell. Assign one person to own the file and record the date of each review.

Document file and checklist

Keep one folder per product, whether on a drive or inside your catalogue tool. The following checklist is a reasonable minimum.

• Product name, description and rating, written precisely.
• Screenshot of the BIS list page showing the product's presence or absence, with the date.
• The IS number and QCO, with the effective date and any exemption you rely on.
• The maker's licence or R-number, with a verification screenshot.
• Purchase invoices from the certified maker or authorised distributor for every batch.
• Photographs of the mark and labelling on the product and pack.
• The supplier's written assurance and the supplier score.
• A note of the next review date and who owns it.
• A listing copy review that removes unsupported "certified" claims.

Register layout

If you keep the register in a spreadsheet, these columns are enough: SKU, product, IS number, scheme, QCO and date, maker, licence or R-number, validity checked on, supplier score, last review date, next review date, and notes.

Mistakes and how to avoid them

• Assuming a mark on the pack is enough. A mark can be copied. Verify the number on a BIS channel and match it to the exact model.
• Accepting "applied for" as certification. A pending application is not a licence. A covered product should not be listed until the licence is granted.
• Searching once with one word. Use the IS number, the product class and synonyms.
• Ignoring the upcoming list. Stock bought today may be unsellable on a later date; check the list before large purchases.
• Treating the supplier's guarantee as a defence. Section 18 places a duty on the seller. Keep your own evidence.
• Using the mark in your own branding. Section 17(3) restricts use of a mark or colourable imitation without a licence.
• Not recording a negative result. A dated "no matching row" shows diligence; an undated memory does not.
• Letting the file lapse. Licences expire and QCOs change; schedule the reviews and name an owner.
• Relying on a marketplace to police you. A platform's rules and the law are different things, and the law applies to your own store too.

Where your store and records fit

A store that keeps product attributes, supplier details and invoices in one place makes the document file easier to maintain. ShopMate's own materials describe product management with variants and image galleries, GST invoicing and procurement records for vendors and purchase orders. Our live guides on GST compliance for ecommerce sellers and the online store launch checklist are useful companions, and selling across all India covers distribution once a product is cleared. Our sibling guides on hallmarked jewellery and on Ayurvedic products are mentioned only as separate regimes.

Frequently asked questions

Do all products sold online need BIS certification?

No. BIS describes certification as basically voluntary, and compulsory only for products the Government has notified through Quality Control Orders. Check each product against the Scheme I, Scheme II and Scheme X lists and the upcoming list, read the QCO, and keep a dated record of the check. Lists change, so repeat the check on a schedule.

Who is liable if my supplier sells me an uncertified product?

Section 18 makes the seller responsible for ensuring that goods carrying the Standard Mark are purchased from a certified body or licence holder, and section 17 bars selling, storing or exhibiting notified goods without the mark. Look up licences yourself on BIS Care and keep purchase records.

How do I look up a licence or R-number?

BIS's page on the BIS Care app describes functions to verify licence details and to verify an R-number under the Compulsory Registration Scheme. You can also ask the maker for the certificate and cross-check it with BIS. Record the date of each check, because licences can be suspended or cancelled, and match the record to your exact model.

What is the penalty for selling a notified product without the mark?

Section 29(3) provides imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh for a first contravention and not less than ₹5 lakh for later ones, up to ten times the value of the goods, or both. The offence is cognizable. Section 33 allows compounding of some first offences.

Will a marketplace remove my listing if I lack the BIS number?

Platforms can. PIB releases report regulators penalising a platform that listed non-compliant goods and criticising reliance on seller self-declarations, so platforms have reason to check sellers. Read the policy for your category inside the seller portal, upload the licence or R-number if asked, and expect listings without evidence to be suppressed or removed.

Does my own website need to follow the same rules?

Yes. The BIS Act applies to anyone who sells or exhibits notified goods for sale, including on your own site. The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules add display and accuracy duties for e-commerce entities. A marketplace's rules may be stricter or different, but they do not replace the law that applies to your store.

What if my product is not on any list today?

Record the date and search terms, then check again at your next review and when BIS's upcoming list changes. A product not on a compulsory list can still be certified voluntarily, but you may not claim certification without a licence or certificate. Other rules, such as labelling and consumer law, still apply.

Can I sell old stock after a new order takes effect?

It depends on the order. Some orders have transition provisions, and the Scheme I page shows an example of a transition facilitation order from June 2026. Read the exact notification and any transition order for your product. A sell-through period exists only where the order or a transition order provides one.

Is hallmarking the same as BIS certification?

No. Hallmarking of gold and silver jewellery is a separate BIS regime with its own regulations, an order and district coverage, described on BIS's hallmarking pages. The marks, centres and numbers differ from the ISI mark and registration marks discussed here. If you sell jewellery, read those pages.

Next step: BIS certification online sellers can document in one place

Managing the checks is easier when catalogue, supplier and invoice information sits together. You can book a ShopMate demo to see how products, variants and descriptions are managed, review the pricing page, and read about ShopMate. Whichever platform you use, BIS certification online sellers rely on is a checking habit, not a one-time form.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. ShopMate is the publisher of this guide and has a commercial interest in the platform it describes. Rules, thresholds, fees and platform terms change, and your situation may differ. Consult a qualified chartered accountant or legal professional before making decisions.