Bureau Of Indian Standards

USTR flags hurdles for US med device exports to India before tariff move

Medtech manufacturers' groups expect negotiations may lead to fairer outcomes for both sides

BIS intensifies crackdowns e-comm warehouses, seizes substandard products

Earlier this week, officials conducted a search and seizure operation at the warehouse of Amazon Sellers Pvt Ltd, located in the Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area in Delhi

Govt mandates quality norms for hinges to curb substandard imports

The government has issued mandatory quality norms for hinges to curb the import of sub-standard goods and boost domestic manufacturing of these goods, according to a notification. The Hinges (Quality Control) Order, 2025 was issued in this regard by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on March 21, this year. Under these orders, items cannot be produced, sold, traded, imported and stocked unless they bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark. The notification said this order would not apply on these goods manufactured domestically for exports; and up to 200 articles imported for the purpose of research and development by manufacturers of hinges per year with the condition that such items would not be sold commercially. "Any person who contravenes the provisions of this order shall be punishable under the provisions of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016," it said, adding the order will be implemented from July 1, 2025. Violation of the ...

BIS raids Amazon, Flipkart warehouses; over 10,000 uncertified items seized

BIS raids Amazon and Flipkart warehouses at multiple locations, seizing substandard toys, blenders, bottles, electric water heaters, and speakers, violating the BIS Act 2016

BIS cracks down on e-commerce giants over non-certified products

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has conducted raids on warehouses of major e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Flipkart, seizing thousands of uncertified consumer products, the consumer affairs ministry said on Saturday. During a raid on March 7 at an Amazon warehouse in Lucknow, BIS officials seized 215 toys and 24 hand blenders that lacked the mandatory BIS certification, an official statement said. A similar operation at the e-commerce giant's Gurugram facility in February yielded 58 aluminium foils, 34 metallic water bottles, 25 toys, 20 hand blenders, 7 PVC cables, 2 food mixers and 1 speaker -- all without proper certification. At a Flipkart warehouse in Gurugram, operated by Instakart Services Pvt Ltd, authorities confiscated 534 stainless steel vacuum-insulated bottles, 134 toys and 41 speakers that failed to meet the required standards. BIS's investigations revealed that many of these non-certified products were linked to Techvision International Pvt ...

Govt expands quality compliance requirements for over 150 products

The government has expanded quality compliance requirements by mandating Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for over 150 products, ranging from household appliances to industrial materials, in a move aimed at ensuring stricter safety and performance standards. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) said it has listed out 150-odd products in advance for better awareness purpose. The scope of these mandatory standards is extended to various sectors with varied enforcement dates for different sectors. The BIS will oversee the implementation of these orders, and the list covers a diverse range of products including vacuum cleaners, stainless steel utensils, and massage appliances. For electrical appliances operating on 250V single-phase or 415V three-phase power, the compliance deadline is set for March 20. In the furniture industry, manufacturers must comply with quality norms for products such as block boards, plywood, and wooden flush doors. The steel sector faces regulations for items ..

Govt draft e-commerce norms need tweaks to suit varied biz models: Experts

The government's draft highlights new challenges in consumer protection and trust introduced by e-commerce

Nitrate in groundwater threatens public health in 440 districts: Report

High nitrate levels have been found in groundwater of 440 districts across India, with 20 per cent of the samples collected exceeding the permissible nitrate concentration, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has said in a report. Nitrate contamination is a significant environmental and health concern, particularly in agricultural regions using nitrogen-based fertilizers and animal waste. The "Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024" also revealed that 9.04 per cent of samples had fluoride levels above the safe limit, while 3.55 per cent showed arsenic contamination. A total of 15,259 monitoring locations were chosen nationwide to check groundwater quality in May 2023. Of these, 25 percent of wells (the most at risk per BIS 10500) were studied in detail. Groundwater was sampled at 4,982 trend stations before and after the monsoon to see how recharge affects quality. The report found that 20 per cent of water samples exceeded the nitrate limit of 45 milligrams per liter (mg/l), t

Bureaucratic interventions in the form of QCOs hurt Indian manufacturing

Steel is a case in point. The industry is naturally concerned about the impact of overcapacity in China, which might render Indian-made steel uncompetitive

Centre must remove unnecessary obstacles for steel import clearances

The government has also introduced registration requirements such as steel import monitoring system (SIMS), paper import monitoring system (PIMS)

Adidas to Nike: Global footwear majors put best foot forward in Tamil Nadu

State eyes building raw material ecosystem to woo majors like Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, and Reebok

Govt to probe e-scooter maker Ola Electric over service, product standards

Last month, the Central Consumer Protection Authority sent Ola Electric seeking an explanation after the consumer rights agency received an unusually high 10,000 complaints

'Use of fire-resistant upholstery fabrics must in non-domestic furniture'

The government has introduced stringent regulations mandating the use of fire-resistant upholstery fabrics in non-domestic furniture, a move expected to improve public safety with respect to fire-related tragedies. Effective from October, the Quality Control Order (QCO) now requires all upholstery components used at public spaces to comply with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms. The QCO applies to upholstered composites and fabrics used in non-domestic furniture found in public areas such as offices, malls, airports, restaurants, underground shopping complexes, museums, hospitals, places of worship, and educational institutions. The order is also applicable on all imports of complete furniture or sub-assemblies having upholstered fabric meant for public use, however relaxation till March 31, 2025 has been provided on the request of industry. "This decisive action underscores the government's commitment to enhancing fire safety in public spaces and ensuring that all ...

BIS launches environment department, aims to set global benchmark

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Monday announced the launch of a new Environment and Ecology Department (EED), aiming to set global benchmarks in sustainability and environmental standardisation. The national standards body organised a workshop to mark the department's creation, with over 100 experts attending from across the country, an official statement said. BIS Director General Pramod Kumar Tiwari said the new department would address "all ecological needs" and create standards for both India and the world. Leena Nandan, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stressed the importance of collaboration between BIS, her ministry, and other stakeholders in developing standards on issues like ECO-Mark, sustainable wood practices, and Blue Flag Beaches. BIS plans to host seminars in the coming months to solidify its position as a leader in environmental standardisation, Tiwari said. The move comes as India seeks to strengthen its role in global

Centre introduces new standards to enhance safety, performance of EVs

The two new standards, IS 18590: 2024 and IS 18606: 2024, brought by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), focus on the critical components of EVs, particularly the powertrain and batteries

Govt continues curbs on import of unregistered IT, electronic goods

Rules referred to 2012 have been replaced with 2021 and there is no change in policy, says senior government official

Measuring up to the standard

In today's world, standards wield not only technical but also strategic significance. India needs a change in mindset to elevate its industry standards to a global level

Foreign luxury shoes unable to expand footprint in India over BIS norms

The Bureau of Indian Standards for imported footwear requires the companies to float their products in India only after receiving the ISI mark

Govt to bring more products under mandatory quality norm: Piyush Goyal

Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said the government will bring more products under the mandatory quality norm as India moves towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. Addressing virtually the 77th foundation day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Goyal said complying with high quality standards in products and services will help India achieve high goals and become a developed nation. Towards this direction, the BIS should become an ambassador of quality standards. "It should not just become an adopter of standards, but should be a pioneer of standards," he said. That apart, the BIS should frame quality standards comparable to international standards wherever possible. "For example in products like lift, air filters and medical devices, I think India can be a front-runner and set international standards." He also urged for much greater stakeholder engagement for making quality standards and asked the industry to be more demanding to set labs for testing t

Govt to come up with 65 QCOs to curb imports of sub-standard goods

The government will issue 65 quality control orders (QCOs) covering over 500 products to contain imports of sub-standard goods and boost domestic manufacturing, a senior government official said on Thursday. Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Sanjiv said these orders are promoting safe products to consumers. Under these orders, items cannot be produced, sold, traded, imported and stocked unless they bear the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark. "We are coming up with almost 65 QCOs, covering more than 500 products. QCO is benefitting consumers and reducing sub-standard imports," he told reporters here. These orders are already issued for goods like smart meters, nuts, bolts and fasteners. Violation of the law can attract a penalty of up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of at least Rs 2 lakh for the first offence, which increases to Rs 5 lakh minimum for the second and subsequent offences. These orders are issued by the .