Introduction

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the National Standards Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016 for the harmonious development of the activities under Standardization and Conformity Assessment. BIS has been providing traceable and tangible benefits to the economy through standardization, certification, and testing – providing safe reliable quality goods; minimizing health hazards to consumers; promoting exports and imports; control over the proliferation of varieties among others.

What is CRS Certification (Compulsory Registration Scheme)?

In 2012, the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) was introduced by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (Deity), jointly with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The scheme aims to provide momentum to the rapidly expanding sectors of Electronics & IT, while simultaneously protecting Indian consumers from spurious and substandard products. It has upgraded the Competitiveness of domestic manufacturers and given Indian Consumers the right to enjoy world-class quality-complaint goods. This strategy adopted by the Government of India has helped in preventing the dumping of non-compliant goods & bridged the gap between People, Technology, and Safety.

The scheme covered 15 electronic and consumer products in 2012. Then another 15 products were added to the scheme in 2014 and again added products respectively. Under this scheme, it is mandatory for manufacturers to get their products registered before launching them in the market. The products are tested for safety as per the applicable IS standard. Overseas manufacturers are required to have a local representative in India who will be responsible for placing the product in the market. To make this program robust, Market Surveillance has been designed to ensure compliance. Deity’s authorized representatives will pick the product from the market and send it to the designated lab for testing and verification.

Who Can Apply for CRS

• Manufacturers (Factory Owner) of any of products notified in Compulsory Registration Order( dated 03rd October 2012, dated 14th November 2014, and dated 23rd August 2016 issued by Moiety) and dated 5th September 2017 issued by MNRE), located in India or outside India can apply for a grant of Registration under Compulsory Registration Scheme(CRS).
• Manufacturers have to apply for separate Registration numbers for products being manufactured at different locations.
• Manufacturers have to apply for separate Registration numbers for each brand being manufactured at the same location.

What is the Purpose of the BIS Certificate?

Product certification according to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is intended to guarantee the quality, safety, and reliability to third parties. The certification is intended to ensure product conformity for the Indian market in accordance with Indian Standards (IS).

BIS Certification is Thus Encouraged by the Government for the Following Purposes:

• For providing a safeguard to the public.
• For providing quality assurance
• For protecting the consumer from the Hazardous products
• For promoting consumer confidence.

Steps Involved in Registration:

• Obtain Login Credentials
• Generate Test Request
• Submit Sample to Lab
• Apply on the portal on the release of confirmation (Release of Test Report online).

How to Obtain Login Credentials?

• Upload the Business License in English (A copy of certified translation is required, if the document is in foreign language), establishing the name & address of the factory and indicating manufacturing activity.
• Get a link on email id for verification.
• Verify your email by clicking on the link.
• The login request is approved after online verification of documents.

How to Generate Test Requests and Select Available Laboratory?

• Login using existing credentials
• Enter Sample details
• Select any approved Laboratory from the list.
• Await for confirmation from the selected Laboratory.
• Additional Step – In case of non-availability of the selected Laboratory, select any other approved Laboratory.
• Print the Test Request with QR Code.

How to Submit the Sample to the Lab?

• Display/Paste the QR Code on the sample/packet to the lab for easy scanning along & submit with a copy of the test request.
• Send Sample and Test Request within 60 days of generation of Test Request to the Laboratory
• On acceptance by the Laboratory, an acknowledgment is sent on a registered email.
• Receive notification from the Laboratory on completion of the test along with Test Report Number.

How to Apply Online for License Online?

• Applicants are required to apply online for a grant of Registration.
• Test reports, in original, issued from labs recognized by BIS under CRS to be submitted with the application.
• All foreign applicants having no liaison office or branch office located in India have to appoint Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) as per the guidelines issued by BIS in the prescribed nomination form.
• Authorized Indian Representatives of applicants located outside India have to submit an affidavit cum undertaking as per Format A/Format B as mentioned in the guidelines.
• All applicants located in India have to submit an affidavit cum undertaking as per Format C.
• The fee is to be deposited as per the fee structure for CRS.
• Fill out the application form (Form VI) online. Refer to the checklist of documents to be submitted along with the application form.
• BIS will scrutinize the applications. (Refer to some of the commonly observed shortcomings observed by BIS during scrutiny of the application.)
• All queries on the application will be raised by BIS online and have to be replied to by applicants online.
• The shortcomings communicated have to be complied with by the applicant without any delay.
• The applicant will be responsible for the overall delay in the Grant of Registration in case of incomplete application and delayed response to queries.
• Once the query is satisfactorily resolved and the affidavit cum undertaking has been submitted, Registration is granted by BIS.
• The grant of Registration letter will be uploaded on the applicant's portal.2
• Registered manufacturers can request for inclusion of new models of the same product and brand under the same registration number. For details on inclusion, click here.
• Registration is initially granted for 2 years which has to be renewed after every 2 years. 
• Refer to guidelines for use of Standard Mark and labeling requirements under the BIS Compulsory Registration Scheme for Electronics and IT Products, after Grant of Registration.

Fees Structure: 

BIS fees structure for Online Registration:

Fee Structure applicable with effect from 04 June 2018

• Fee for new application:

Fee for Inclusion

• Fee for renewal

Renewal can be applied for 2/3/4/5 years.

Concession in a processing fee of twenty percent (20%) shall be applicable to micro small and medium enterprises (MSME)

• Fee for other activities

Documents Required for Registration Process:

The document List for BIS Registration is divided into the following steps: 

Firstly, you need to provide a sample(s) along with the Technical Information of the Product for the lab test. It’s all about construction / structural details of the product like –

• PCB Layout
• Schematic Diagram
• User Manual
• Technical Specification
• Critical Component List (CCL) 

Read Our Blog: What is BIS Certification for the Indian Market?

Secondly, need to provide the Factory Documents & Information to complete the BIS Application Form & Process. It’s all about basic information about the manufacturing unit like –

• Legal Address Proof of Factory like Business License (Manufacturing License Copy)
• Trade Mark Registration Copy (Brand Name Registration)
• IS 9001 Certificate Copy 
• Documents of Authorized Indian Representative (AIR), in case of foreign manufacturer
• Brand Authorization Letter (On Brand letterhead)
• Letter if Nomination
• Affidavit